A Black History Month Feature on Black Soccer Fandom

Now that the Super Bowl is over, and Before Black History Month comes to a close, I wanted to take a look at the issue of the sometimes overlooked fans of another kind of football.

Yes, Virginia, despite what you may have heard, black Americans do like soccer. I’ll start with the growing fan base in Atlanta, sparked by the MLS team’s arrival in the city in 2017. Atlanta United supporters made corporate America, among others, take notice. The sport’s impact has been particularly noticeable on youth, as the team made sure to factor the young audience into their community outreach plans. There are other grassroots movements across the country, like FC Harlem in New York, and Philadelphia’s Starfinder Foundation, promoting values and creating opportunities for local communities. Black Star Initiative launched this past October, and will specifically work to reach black American communities.?

The intentions are clear – these focused audience development efforts will hopefully see increased access to the sport, and that in turn can lead to more supporters.?

Following the George Floyd murder in 2020 players from both Major League Soccer and the National Woman’s Soccer League formed organizations to address racial inequities in the sport and in this country. Among other things, their advocacy is helping to show companies how they can be more visible in black and brown communities. Shortly after the 2014 World Cup, Aaron Dolores founded the Black Arrows FC platform to appeal to an African-American audience, to highlight and elevate black culture through the lens of, yep, soccer. Then there’s the handful of star athletes in other sports who have taken up soccer team ownerships, namely Naomi Osaka, Serena Williams, Russell Wilson and Kevin Durant. This one article by Mike Koeshartanto provides a deeper dive into this issue.?

Here’s the thing. Between the quality of players on the current U.S. men’s national team, with so many getting experience on the international level, and the potential for break-out players and stars to gain sponsorship dollars, the future is bright for this sport in this country. The MLS is thriving since launching in 1996, with the league expanding to 30 teams this year. For Soccer Ventures is one of a number of organizations started in the last three years, focused on growing the sport and the fan base in this country. The numbers imply Madison Avenue marketers want to be ready when this really takes off. The team qualifying for this year’s World Cup will further fan the flames.

There is a superfan in Washington, D.C., Donald Wine, who since 2008, has been intent on encouraging everyone to become supporters of the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams. Check out this video that demonstrates his dedication and passion, and his mission to see more diversity in the sport.?

And this just in, a survey done by research firm Ampere Analysis at the end of 2021, soccer replaced hockey as the fourth most popular sport in this country, behind football, baseball, and basketball. Did you read the news about the English Premier League’s recently renewed $2.7 billion, six-year, tv contract? No one is spending that kind of money unless they think it’s going to give them some serious ROI. The fans are here.?

In four years, when the 2026 joint Canada, Mexico, U.S. World Cup arrives on our home turf, you can bet we are going to be witnessing a different landscape and level of soccer supporters. And the black American community will be right there. Enjoy the ride.

Soccer and Black History

• Arthur Wharton is considered the world’s first black professional footballer. The goalkeeper, born in Ghana, played for several clubs in England during the 1880s. A statue honoring Wharton and the historic contribution he made to the game was unveiled in 2014 at St George’s Park in London, home of England’s national football teams.
• Oliver and Fred Watson, Rhode Island-born brothers who played on Pawtucket-area teams beginning in 1894, are the earliest known African-American soccer players in the U.S.?
• Eddie Hawkins made history on December 2, 1984, when he became the first African-American to earn a cap with the U.S. when he appeared in a 2-2 Miami Cup draw against Ecuador.?
• Desmond Armstrong was the first African-American to play for the U.S. Men’s national team when he played in the 1990 Italy World Cup.
• Brianna Scurry (175 caps, 71 shutouts, two-time Olympic Gold medalist, and 1999 World Cup Champion) is the first African-American female soccer player to be inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame.?

Looking for more on the U.S. national teams and world football? Sign up for The Club, covering all things on the beautiful game, delivered to your inbox. Subscribe here for News, Notables and Más. Read the February 2022 issue.