Moments can define World Cups, and moments can inspire generations. 

From Pele’s header, to Diego Maradona’s hand, to Roberto Baggio’s miss, to Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt, to Mario Gotze’s volley, and everything in between, the World Cup has long been defined by a series of moments, etched in the annals of soccer history.  

However, for the United States, these moments have been few and far between. Of course, we’ll always have Brian McBride’s thumping finish against Mexico in 2002, Landon Donovan’s winner against Algeria in 2010, and Clint Dempsey’s left-footed strike against Ghana in 2014. 

For myself, and I’m sure many others of a similar age, the latter two moments land particularly strongly. As I look back, I have vivid memories of being a wide-eyed kid on my couch, just beginning to fall in love with the beautiful game, and watching my heroes win the hearts of the American people on the world’s biggest stage. 

But while I had the opportunity to experience these moments, an entire generation of American kids didn’t. The failure to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup was undoubtedly the lowest moment in American soccer history, and undid years of progress made by previous generations. Millions of American kids never had the chance to create these life-lasting memories and fall in love with soccer, like I and many others once did. 

In Qatar, that must change. It NEEDS to change. It HAS to change. Many have dubbed the United States the ‘sleeping giant’ of international soccer, and while there’s certainly some truth to that, these things don’t happen overnight, and they certainly don’t happen without effort. The onus to fulfill these expectations lands heavily on the shoulders of the players, the coaching staff, and even the fans who so graciously made the trip to Qatar, to will this team forward and to change the way this country views soccer.

Granted, we’re not Argentina, we’re not Brazil, and we’re certainly not England. Guess what? That’s perfectly fine. Bring me Lionel Messi, and I’ll put forth Christian Pulisic. Show me Neymar, and I’ll raise you Giovanni Reyna. Non-Americans will scoff at such a statement, and while I don’t necessarily blame them, I don’t care, and neither should you. 

We know what we are, and that’s enough. 

Of course, we’re a long way away from competing with these nations, and I do believe that’s something us Americans have trouble accepting. For a country so used to dominating the international sports stage, success in soccer has always eluded us. We’re all told from a young age that we’re “#1” in everything we do, and it’s hard for many Americans to gravitate towards a sport in which we’re so clearly the one of the last dogs at the bowl. But frankly, it shouldn’t matter. I think back to the moments that made me fall in love with the beautiful game, and almost every single one resulted in my tears the following match.

Will the United States win the 2022 World Cup? No. Will I watch every game? Absolutely. Therein lies the essence of what soccer, or even just sports in general, is all about. A deep tournament run would almost certainly foster such feelings across the United States, but in my eyes, so would a few golden moments here and there. A Christian Pulisic goal, a Brenden Aaronson assist, or even a Tyler Adams last-ditch tackle, would almost certainly get me off my seat, jumping around the room, screaming with jubilation. Question is, will it get you off yours?

On Monday, the United States will take on Wales in their opening match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, playing on the world’s biggest stage for the first time in 3,065 days. I urge you to tune in, and take notice of the culture that’s slowly and surely building in this country. In an age where every waking moment of our lives is clipped, shared, and retweeted into oblivion, the 2022 FIFA World Cup will undoubtedly be defined through a blend of similar moments. For the United States, one can only hope those moments are enough to galvanize a generation. 

“Great moments are born from great opportunity.” – Herb Brooks.