Is this a breakthrough moment for soccer in the US?

Is this a breakthrough moment for soccer in the US?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Interest in football in the US is on the rise, but still faces stiff competition from the other professional sports – such as American football and basketballByNardine SaadReporting fromLos AngelesPublished15 minutes agoIn many countries, football is not just a national sport but an obsession nurtured over decades.That can’t be stated about World Cup co-hosts USA where American sports have a longer history and dominate the media coverage, the sponsorship deals and the national conversation.Soccer, as it’s known in the US, has made big strides in the country since it last hosted the men’s tournament in 1994. But it’s still some way behind women’s football, which is a global powerhouse and higher up the sporting pecking order for US-based fans and players.As the men’s team prepare to face Belgium on Monday evening for a place in the last eight, could they capitalise on this rare national spotlight to elevate the game to new heights of popularity – and muscle in on baseball, American football, basketball and ice hockey?Americans are flocking to World Cup matches in every corner of the country, and celebrities and ardent football fans have been donning stars and stripes for the US Men’s National Team (USMNT).Pop-up shops are teeming with football merchandise and viewing parties are spread across parks, shopping centres and even museums. The sight of USA fans in colourful jerseys is commonplace throughout the host cities, and just about every restaurant with a TV has patrons transfixed on the just in drama.Die-hard fans, many clad in American flags and US squad regalia, told the BBC they were convinced that whether the team won or lost, this World Cup could be a tipping point for the country.While standing in queue for a burrito just before the USA v Turkey match in downtown LA, documentary filmmaker Erik Olsen, who has watched many World Cups, stated this tournament had been a unifying experience.”To have all these different people come together to cheer on the US team, and maybe even their own team – if you’re from Mexico or Argentina or someplace else – we need that kind of global spirit right now,” he stated.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, A fan zone in SeattleSteve Salcedo, a lifelong football fan who has been cheering during the tournament for both the US and Mexico teams, stated his son and his friends had embraced the sport, more than he and his friends did at their age. And he was confident that football fever would outlast the tournament.”The hype is definitely here for the World Cup, it’ll be here until the World Cup ends,” he forecasted. “Of course it’s going to die down, but in general I think soccer is here to stay.”Keenah Pacheco, 16, came to the fan zone with her mom and friend, and stated she used to cheer for Mexico but now backed the US team. The excitement prompted her to consider picking up the game herself.”The last time I played soccer was when I was eight years old. Watching the World Cup has really made me want to play again, so it’s really bringing out this passion back,” she stated.Red card system in disarray over Trump, Fifa and Balogun decision