North America has made great strides in developing soccer enthusiasm in anticipation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
As we all know, the FIFA Women’s World Cup has just wrapped up in Sydney, Australia, with Spain defeating England 1-0. Both live (1.9 million) and broadcast (93.5 million) audiences smashed previous records. The momentum associated with women’s soccer is growing in leaps and bounds … finally.
But … news headlines are suddenly on fire, with the President of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales, suspended by FIFA and under government investigation for kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips in his after-game exuberance. Rubiales said the kiss was consensual, but Hermoso denies this. All 23 players from the World Cup-winning team have refused to play under Rubiales’ leadership, and the entire coaching staff, except manager Jorge Vilda, have quit. Luis Rubiales’ mother is now on a hunger strike in the Church of the Divine Shepherdess in Motril, Andalusia, to protest what she called an “inhumane and bloody hunt” against her son. Spain and the soccer world are in a state of pandemonium over this unwanted sexual aggression.
Meanwhile, back on U.S. soil, Inter Miami CF and Houston Dynamo FC will battle each other for the Championship trophy at the upcoming U.S. Open Cup on September 27th, far away from Spain.
What is the U.S. Open Cup?
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is U.S. Soccer’s National Championship. The son of an oil tycoon, Lamar Hunt was the principal founder of Major League Soccer (MLS), as well as its predecessor, the North American Soccer League. He owned the Kansas City Wizards (now Sporting Kansas City), Columbus Crew and FC Dallas. The oldest ongoing national soccer tournament in America, the U.S. Open Cup (founded in 1914) now bears the Lamar Hunt name in honor of his pioneering role in the sport.
It will be an epic exhibition between Massi-led, emerging Inter Miami CF and Houston Dynamo FC (aka Orange Crush) in the September 27th Championship decider. Miami will potentially benefit from a home game advantage, with the final match being held at Miami’s DRV PNK Stadium. Eagerly anticipated, Miami Freedom Park, developed by Inter Miami owners, is slated to replace DRV PNK Stadium in 2025.
Inter Miami was only established in 2018, the same year Houston Dynamo won the U.S. Open Cup for the first time against Philadelphia Union 3-0. Also known as Vice City and the Herons, Inter beat FC Cincinnati in penalties 5-4 after a 3-3 draw in extra time to earn a place at the final shootout.
Houston Dynamo bought plane tickets to Miami after defeating visiting Real Salt Lake 3-1 in extra-time. Led by coach Ben Olsen (who won the U.S. Open Cup as a player in 2008 and coached winning team D.C. United in 2013), Houston Dynamo will seek its second Open Cup trophy when the team faces new Floridian, World Champion Lionel Messi and his newly anointed superstar teammates in Miami.
Let’s hope that between now and then, women’s soccer has settled down, justice has been served and women can play soccer with the dignity and respect they deserve.
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