Soccer: An American History - Part One: Origins and Challenges

In this episode of It Was What It Was, Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson dive into the early history of soccer in the United States.They look at efforts to establish professional leagues, the influence of immigrant communities, and the geographic and cultural factors that made it difficult for football to gain a foothold - compared to rival American sports.This episode is the first of a three-part series. Join us on Friday as the story continues! If you’re enjoying the podcast, please subscribe and consider leaving a five-star review to help others find the show.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to American Soccer01:08 Early History of Soccer in the USA02:00 Challenges and Attempts to Establish Soccer02:38 Soccer's Struggle for Popularity06:06 The Role of Universities in American Football17:16 Immigrant Influence on American Soccer17:43 Regional Hotbeds of Soccer24:18 Formation of Early Soccer Leagues27:43 The Rise of Fall River and Early American Football28:31 Economic Challenges and League Suspensions29:18 Comparing Football Cultures: UK vs. US33:11 Baseball's Influence on Early American Soccer38:53 The Birth of the US Football Association41:36 Challenges and Growth of Early US Soccer46:52 Bethlehem Steel and the Industrial Influence51:01 The Challenge Cup and Regional Rivalries52:09 Concluding Thoughts and Future Prospects Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.