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 Soccer 01:08 Early History of Soccer in the USA 02:00 Challenges and Attempts to Establish Soccer 02:38 Soccer's Struggle for Popularity 06:06 The Role of Universities in American Football 17:16 Immigrant Influence on American Soccer 17:43 Regional Hotbeds of Soccer 24:18 Formation of Early Soccer Leagues 27:43 The Rise of Fall River and Early American Football 28:31 Economic Challenges and League Suspensions 29:18 Comparing Football Cultures: UK vs. US 33:11 Baseball's Influence on Early American Soccer 38:53 The Birth of the US Football Association 41:36 Challenges and Growth of Early US Soccer 46:52 Bethlehem Steel and the Industrial Influence 51:01 The Challenge Cup and Regional Rivalries 52:09 Concluding Thoughts and Future Prospects Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.