Soccer Meets America - Season 1

First aired: 5/2/2026 3 episodes

Built around archival footage and firsthand stories, the 3-part documentary series chronicles the fits and starts of men's professional soccer in America alongside the journey of the U.S. Men's National Team. It traces the chaotic and unpredictable rise of the sport in the U.S. -- from forgotten leagues and false starts to packed stadiums, a record-breaking 1994 World Cup, and the unexpected forces that helped soccer finally break into the American mainstream.

← Back to Soccer Meets America

Episodes

1. The Hidden Game

Aired: 5/3/2026

Despite passionate fans and Pelé's superstar arrival in the NASL, the sport stumbled and slipped from the spotlight; when the pro league collapsed in the 1980s, American soccer seemed finished; then came the 1984 Olympics and a startling success.

2. The '94 Effect

Aired: 5/3/2026

U.S. Soccer Federation president Alan Rothenberg takes on the task of staging the 1994 FIFA World Cup; he must deliver a tournament that satisfies FIFA and the global soccer community while convincing Americans that soccer belongs in their country.

3. The Soccer Boom

Aired: 5/3/2026

Major League Soccer launches in 1996 with the promise of building on the success of the 1994 World Cup; cable television, the internet, and video games connect American fans to soccer around the world.