Photo Courtesy:
Cleveland Sports Commission
MLS’ Columbus Crew and University Hospitals discuss unique effect of The World Cup
How impactful can The World Cup in the U.S. be for the future of youth soccer? Unmatched, according to the U.S. Soccer Federation, “FIFA World Cup 2026 has the potential to transform the trajectory of soccer in the U.S. forever.” But, does that mean there will be a sudden surge in more youth wanting to play soccer?
SOCCER ACADEMY CEO AND FORMER SWEDEN SOCCER PLAYER: ‘KIDS INSPIRED’
“Kids, teens, and adults will naturally be inspired by seeing some of the best soccer ever played right here in America, in a sense, in their own backyard, and the emotions tied to the game will be something they’ll want to keep experiencing,” said Nico Samaniego, CEO of Greater Firelands Soccer Association in Ohio. “With the soccer atmosphere happening right now in the USA, more youth will want to experience why this sport is so special and how it creates a unique sense of community,” said Samaniego, who starred in college at soccer and played soccer in Sweden.
THE MLS’ COLUMBUS CREW HOST WORLD CUP AND SUMMER OF SOCCER
Fun and fervent soccer fans cheered loudly on a sunny Sunday in June in Columbus, Ohio to watch Ecuador play Guatemala in a “friendly” warm-up match to help kick-off the Men’s 2026 World Cup. Many of those in attendance at ScottsMiracle-Gro-Field, home of the MLS’s Columbus Crew, were kids, and teens who play soccer. Ecuador also chose to make Columbus its homebase for the duration of the World Cup in North America, and is practicing at the home of three-time MLS Cup Champions Columbus Crew. The Crew have built one of Major League Soccer’s premier player development systems for ages eight through 18-years-old.
THE CHAMPION COLUMBUS CREW DECLARE ‘SUMMER OF SOCCER’
The World Cup is so important to American youth and local economies, the Columbus Crew built a whole summer around it. “This match (Ecuador and Guatemala) kicked off an exciting stretch of events as part of the Columbus Crew’s ‘Summer of Soccer’ which will bring the Columbus community together to celebrate the beautiful game while generating a significant economic impact in our region,” said Mary Shepro, Columbus Crew President of Business Operations.
The World Cup is being hosted in North America and includes 11 U.S. cities. It runs through July 19. Soccer fans, and those who just want to be a part of this global summer sensation are extra thrilled, because it’s the first time the World Cup is being held in the U.S. since 1994, 32 years ago.
THE WORLD CUP EFFECT AND THE OLYMPIC EFFECT
The 2026 Winter Olympics were held in Italy, where the USA’s Men’s and Women’s Hockey Teams both winning Gold Medals sparked a surge in kids and teens signing-up to play hockey. Sports Psychologists refer to it as the “Olympic Effect.” A phenomenon that inspires youth to sign-up for sports that Americans excel at during the Olympic Games, and when the Olympics are held in the USA. Now, this thrilling World Cup global event is taking place in America.
CEO’s and coaches of soccer academies said there’s no denying having The World Cup played all over America is already an impetus for more youth wanting to play soccer due to the ‘World Cup Effect.’
CHILD SPORTS PSYCHOLOGISTS SCORE POINTS
Like ‘The Olympic Effect’, ‘The World Cup Effect,’ is when elite athletes from the USA win on the global stage, or perform on the global stage when it’s held in America. Those athletes become a catalyst that drives youth to want to learn that sport. The World Cup being held in America, the bonus of the U.S. Men’s National Team winning their first two matches, and no matter what the team does going forward, doctors said the phenomenon of the ‘‘World Cup Effect’ will continue.
“The psychology for youth might be less about the athletes themselves, and more about the experience those athletes create,” said University Hospitals Dr. Vincent Caringi. “One of the fascinating things about soccer is that it’s arguably the world’s most universal sport,” he added.
THE FASCINATING ‘SIGNIFICANCE EFFECT’
When the WORLD CUP comes to town, it transforms an ordinary environment into something extraordinary. Suddenly, streets are decorated, restaurants are packed with fans from around the world, and conversations about soccer happen everywhere,” Dr. Caringi said. “For young people this creates what we sometimes call a ‘Significance Effect, because kids pay attention when adults pay attention.” According to Dr. Caringi, “For young people, that creates a sense of proximity and possibility which is important because children are more likely to pursue goals that feel attainable and relevant to their own lives, especially when a thrilling event like the World Cup comes to places like Cleveland.”
FOOTBALL LOVING CITY EMBRACES WORLD ‘FOOTBALL’
Cleveland kicked off ‘World Cup Weekend’ in Ohio Saturday, June 6 with a fire-up crowd of over 64,000 fans packed into Huntington Bank Field, home of the Cleveland Browns. The warm-up soccer match, which global fans call ‘football,’ was between Brazil and Egypt, also drew thousands of people without tickets because of the game. Many of those people just wanted to be in Downtown Cleveland along the shores of scenic Lake Erie to be part of all of the excitement.
“Kids and teens in Northeast Ohio got to see the most popular sport in the world, and international sports icons,” said Chris Lewis, Director of Marketing and Communications with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission.“ Lewis said enthusiastic Brazil soccer fans showed up first thing in the morning in Downtown Cleveland singing and celebrating in the streets over the start of The World Cup in the Rock and Roll Capital for a match that didn’t start until 6 p.m. “Most of the fans from other countries, and Northeast Ohio fans never sat down for the entire match, it was electric,” Lewis added. “I’ve worked for the NFL, and I’ve been to many other professional sporting events, but I’ve never seen anything like the World Cup, and all of the excitement from fans, like I did here in Cleveland.”
SOCCER EXCITMENT WILL CONTINUE FOR YOUTH LONG AFTER THE WORLD CUP
“I can sense that kids, and teens who haven’t even played soccer will want to play now, because of the unique excitement World Cup Soccer is causing, and their passion to learn to play soccer will continue.”
Cleveland soccer mom Linda Armstrong attended the match in Cleveland. “It’s exciting to see some of my daughter’s friends already showing a keen interest in playing soccer,” she said. Rec centers across Ohio are already seeing more youth signing-up to learn to play soccer.
ONE FOR THE AGES!
Based on FIFA World Cups’ rotating schedule historically in selecting host countries, many soccer coaches predict North America to be the front- runner 12-years from now to host the 2038 Men’s World Cup. That means, a kid in America, from Wisconsin to Wyoming and beyond, kicking a soccer ball around during kindergarten recess this year could be playing for their high school soccer team as a senior the next time The World Cup pays the USA a visit. Now, that’s one for the ages!
