Los Angeles, June 28 -- Soccer has long lagged behind football, baseball and basketball in the American sports landscape. But by topping its group and advancing to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the United States Men's National Team (USMNT) has further ignited Americans' passion for the sport.
"It's disappointing to lose to Turkiye at the last minute, but we're still group winners. We've got every reason to be proud," Douglas, a fan from San Diego, California, told Xinhua at Los Angeles Stadium, after the U.S. suffered a 3-2 defeat to an already-eliminated Turkish side.
"I hope the U.S. can reach the quarterfinals, maybe even the semifinals," he said, noting that the World Cup will inspire more Americans to get into soccer...