Key Takeaways
- Soccer has grown rapidly in the United States over the years, with numerous Premier League clubs regularly playing preseason friendlies in America each summer, like Manchester United.
- Red Devils legend Wes Brown spoke to RG about why he's always loved coming to the US, while current United defender Luke Shaw also praised the top-notch facilities.
- “The facilities, I can't big them up enough. Where we're training at the moment- it's amazing,” Shaw said.
Luke Shaw with Manchester United teammates (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
The United States of America was the epicenter of the soccer world this summer. It will hold this status again next summer, except on a much grander scale. Across 11 different cities in June and July, the United States hosted the FIFA Club World Cup, a tournament that featured 32 different teams from all six FIFA confederations.
It culminated in the final match, Premier League giants Chelsea took down Champions League title-holders Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The largest stadium in the New York City metropolitan area, MetLife, will become just the second venue to have hosted both a Super Bowl and a World Cup final, which is scheduled for July 19 of next year. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, is the other.
The USA will be officially co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico, but 11 of the 16 host cities are within America's borders. In addition to the two globally relevant tournaments, the U.S. has become one of the two primary destinations for the world's biggest clubs whenever they stage preseason tours.
The global giants of the beautiful game all reside in Europe, but when it comes time to play preseason friendlies, there are only two top-tier choices- the United States or the Far East.
It's where the largest fanbases, and hence the best marketing opportunities, reside. We're long past the old shopworn tropes of "the game is growing in America," or "soccer is about to arrive in America" at this point.
To quote the popular Simpsons meme/gif of George Harrison condescendingly emerging from the backseat window of his limo: "It's been done."
Soccer or football, whichever you want to call this specific sport, arrived a long time ago. These tours would not be cash cows to these clubs if we were still in the "growth stages" in this country.
The Premier League Summer Series is an annual collection of preseason friendlies held in the U.S. that feature four top-flight English clubs.
Manchester United, arguably the biggest club in the entire world, came across the pond this summer. They were joined by Everton, West Ham United, and AFC Bournemouth.
Red Devils legend Wes Brown won 13 trophies, including five Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions Leagues, during his time at United. The legend of all legendary managers, Sir Alex Ferguson, once said that Brown is "without question the best natural defender this club has had for years."
So when Brown talks about the beautiful game, we must listen. Working in an ambassadorial role with the club, Brown was a part of the American tour this summer, where he noted how much the game has taken off in the 22 years since his first stateside tour.
"We do travel the world," he said at a youth soccer clinic held at the Chicago Fire pitch to RG. "It's great going out to meet the fans. That's pretty much what I've been doing the whole time we've been in the U.S.
"And it's got bigger and bigger, and it's crazy to see how many fans there is really, and they're telling me stuff that I don't even know, about myself."
Brown, who scored his first international goal for England on a cross from the iconic David Beckham, discussed what makes coming to America such a huge draw for the club.
"You're playing against other Premier League clubs- that's a big bonus," the former centre back and right back said. "I think sometimes when you maybe do go away, I think it's always good to just get your feet running, just gets you into the habit, for the next couple of weeks, before the season starts.
"You get great crowds here as well. So the atmosphere is good for the team, good for the youth, the young players coming through as they get a little bit of experience."
Red Devils Flourish in Preseason in US
United won, to the extent that a side can "win" a preseason tournament, as they acquired more points in the Premier League Summer Series than the three other clubs in the competition. Overall, they looked like the higher quality side in all three matches as well.
United's league opener is this Sunday, against bitter rivals Arsenal, who are considered a Premier League title contender after signing Swedish superstar Viktor Gyokeres.
One player who will be critical to whether they realize their lofty ambitions or not this season is Luke Shaw. A two-time United Player of the Year winner and two-time PFA Best XI honoree, he's also the first choice left back whenever England is playing in a major tournament final.
"I always love coming to America," Shaw said to an exclusive media round table at the same youth clinic.
"The facilities, I can't big them up enough. Where we're training at the moment- it's amazing."
United's longest serving current player then continued on, further praising the local, American soccer infrastructure: "the facility is so good, the pitch is so good, the recovery settings, the gym, everything's honestly world-class really."
It wasn't just the practice facilities that impressed; the gameday venues wowed 'em too.
"I mean, listen, the stadiums are unbelievable," Brown said.
"If you're talking about sort of future (oriented) stadiums (that currently exist in England), it's probably only Tottenham Hotspur's, maybe.
"Some of the ones I've been to here in the US are incredible. That's the sort of standard you want to be at. You know, time to move on (into the future)."
Premier League Took Inspiration From NFL
It's very well known that when the English Premier League was first formed in 1992, the leaders on the business side of things took inspiration from the National Football League. The two biggest sports leagues on the entire planet, they intertwine with each other, on some level, every single day.
The NFL obviously rules over everything in the American sporting landscape. However, the state-of-the-art stadiums, built first and foremost for NFL football, have been key to soccer reaching new heights in America.
It's primarily NFL venues that host the preseason exhibitions, hosted the Club World Cup and will host the World Cup matches.
And it's no coincidence that when Brown mentioned the one Premier League venue that stands out above all the rest, it was Tottenham Hotspur Stadium- the NFL's official home in London.
