I’m a big fan of soccer, and I want you to be one, too.

I grew up with the game. In a suburb of Washington, DC, I began playing as a kindergartner - and then transitioned later into coaching my kids.

Along the way, I’ve watched more games than I could possibly remember. And more importantly, I’ve observed soccer’s incredible growth in the U.S.

Back when the public opinion organization Gallup began asking Americans to name their favorite sport, soccer registered a whopping half-percentage-point (!) for decades - even into the 1970s. By 2004, on the heels of an incredible run in the prior World Cup by the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT), that number was still under two percent.

Today, according to the Washington Post, eight percent of Americans say that soccer is their favorite sport to watch. It now rivals basketball (12%) and baseball (11%). The craziest part is that it feels like we’ve just scratched the surface here, especially for a sport where youth participation continues to grow - meaning that an increasing number of kids are learning early about this incredible game.

Even with all that progress, we have a long way to go. I’m starting this blog - and accompanying newsletter - because I know that there are access issues to understanding (and obsessing over worshiping appreciating) soccer that need to be broken down.

Here at Soccer AF, I’m going to break down how I watch the best soccer games around the globe without breaking the bank. I’ll explain the offsides rule (or at least I’ll try). I’ll share more about the history - and the future - of both the men’s and women’s game(s) in a way that’s easy to digest.

If you come back and read regularly, you’ll get a little smarter on soccer. You’ll appreciate it a little more when you watch it (or play it). And it’ll be the best investment you could ever make in el hermoso juego - the beautiful game.