Why Pittsburgh should watch the World Cup
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Christian Pulisic is a Pennsylvania native whose father was once an assistant coach of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Photo: Omar Vega/USSF/Getty Images
World Cup games start Thursday, and we think the soccer tournament should be your new summer obsession.
The big picture: The U.S., Canada and Mexico are hosting the games. It's been 32 years since the world's biggest sporting event was played on American soil.
Context: This year is the largest field in the tournament's 96-year history.
- 48 nations will compete across 104 matches starting Thursday and running through July 19.
Zoom in: The U.S. Men's National Team is loaded with Pennsylvania natives, including the team's star striker Christian Pulisic, who's from Hershey.
- Pulisic's father, Mark, was an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in 2018.
Reality check: In places like Pittsburgh, soccer plays fourth or fifth fiddle to more popular sports. The Riverhounds won the USL championship last season, and it didn't register with many locals.
- For example, the highest ever crowd for a Riverhounds game, set last year, was 6,220. The Steelers have sold out all home games since 1972, averaging over 67,000 a game last season.
Yes, but: The World Cup is the peak of competition for global soccer. The last tournament in 2022 pulled in over 5 billion viewers.
- And dramatic moments bring in American fans, like when Landon Donovan scored against Algeria in 2010 to launch the U.S. into the knockout round.
- Check out this video to see how much it meant to Americans across the country.
Ryan's thought bubble: I didn't play soccer growing up and don't watch that much now, but Donovan's goal made me a World Cup fan, and I still get chills watching the highlights.
Between the lines: America's chances at winning it all aren't very high, but playing on home soil is likely their best chance in decades, and who doesn't love rooting for an underdog?
- Legends like Argentina's Lionel Messi and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo are playing in their final World Cup.
- Superstar Kylian Mbappé, of France, is chasing the all-time World Cup scoring record.
Where to watch: East End Brewing's location in Larimer is hosting watch parties throughout the tournament.
- Tom's Watch Bar in the North Shore is showing the matches on its dozens of screens, according to TribLive.
- Acrisure Stadium is hosting free watch parties for the knockout rounds starting in July.
What's next: Mexico plays South Africa at 3pm Thursday in Mexico City to kick off the tournament.
- The U.S. plays Paraguay at 9pm Friday in Los Angeles.