In recent years, the United States has concentrated efforts on boosting fan enthusiasm for soccer. The arrival of Lionel Messi to Major League Soccer has played a major role in that push, and now the Argentine forward—along with Lamine Yamal—has been cited as an example by NFL legend Tom Brady.
In an interview on the Men in Blazers podcast, Brady discussed why soccer still trails other sports in the U.S. “What’s being talked about in the schoolyard ends up often being talked about American football, basketball, baseball, hockey,” he said. “These other sports just become very dominant because of culturally what’s on television all the time.”
However, the seven-time Super Bowl champion made it clear that soccer has everything it needs to make an impact in the country—but one key factor is still missing. “We love rooting for winners. We love rooting for the best of the best,” he said.
According to Brady, what’s needed now is a superstar that can truly excite the fanbase. “We need the youth in America in soccer. We need a young phenom like a Lamine Yamal, a young Lionel Messi, to take over,” the NFL legend acknowledged. “And I believe that there will be the most amazing kind of cultural revolution for soccer here in America.”
Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal.
Brady is becoming increasingly involved in soccer
After officially ending his NFL career in 2022, Tom Brady began branching out into other sports ventures. He initially became a minority owner of WNBA team Las Vegas Aces, while also launching a team in the E1 Series, entering the world of electric boat racing with the Brady Team.
see also
Son Heung-min outshines Lionel Messi: New LAFC star breaks new ground in MLS before even kicking a ball
However, one of his most ambitious projects is directly tied to soccer. Tom is currently a minority owner and chairman of an advisory board at Birmingham City, a historic club founded in 1875 that currently plays in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English soccer, and is aiming to return to the Premier League after 14 years.
Soccer is gaining traction in the United States
Though gradual, the growth of soccer in the United States is undeniable. Over the past decade, Major League Soccer has gained global attention, with increasingly competitive teams and internationally renowned players joining some of its top clubs. Lionel Messi is the most prominent example, and others like Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez, Rodrigo De Paul, Hugo Lloris, Hirving Lozano, and Son Heung-min are also key cases.
However, the rise of soccer in America isn’t limited to the domestic league. In recent years, the country has made strategic moves to host some of the world’s biggest tournaments as a way to spark national enthusiasm for the sport.
In 2024, the Copa America—won by Argentina—was held in the U.S., and this year saw both the FIFA Club World Cup and the Gold Cup take place on American soil. Next year, the United States will co-host one of the biggest sporting events: the FIFA World Cup 2026, alongside Canada and Mexico.
Brady also touched on this in his Men in Blazers interview. “The World Cup is coming to America in 2026. You can’t imagine the fanfare when that happens. Every stadium will be sold out,” he predicted. “The American audience loves it.”
