Those following the U.S . Women’s National Team in the FIFA Women’s World Cup will likely recognize the commercial that depicts the squad walking through a tunnel before going on the pitch.
Little known fact: that commercial was shot at Carter-Finley Stadium. What they don’t show is the light at the end of that tunnel does not lead to anything that has ever been used as an actual soccer field. At least not yet.
The Herbalife World Football Challenge, in its second U.S . summer tour since 2009, will make its first ever stop in Raleigh on July 28. And no, we’re not talking about American football. We’re talking about the sport that is actually played predominantly with the feet that we Americans have so cleverly coined as ‘soccer.’
Where else in Raleigh can you find a field suitable for soccer with more than 55,000 seats and impeccable accommodations? Look no further than RBC’s neighbor, Carter-Finley.
With the tour come some big names in the world of international club soccer, including 2010-11 English Premier League champions, Manchester United F.C .; 2010-11 European and Spanish La Liga champions, F.C . Barcelona; and their country rivals and Copa del Rey holders, Real Madrid C.F . Among the 13 teams touring the U.S . are, for the first time ever, five Major League Soccer squads.
The event in Raleigh will host a standoff between one of the most successful Italian clubs, Juventus F.C ., and Mexico’s most-winning team, C.D . Guadalajara.
Globally recognized and revered Italian players such as Alessandro Del Piero , Gianluigi Buffon and Luca Toni will face off against the only club on the planet comprising players of purely Mexican heritage, including Alberto Medina, Luis Michel and Jonny Magallón .
But what does all of this mean for State, or for that matter, the U.S .? If anything, it’s definitely a sign that soccer’s global popularity is finally becoming more mainstream in the U.S . It’s a sign Raleigh is being recognized as a soccer-supporting community.
The venue would not have been chosen had the soccer fan base from N.C . State, the Carolina Railhawks , and the Capital Area Soccer League not been prevalent.
The tour itself is a great opportunity to spread the game’s worldwide influence on a country that has been reluctant to adopt the sport. It gives the involved club teams a chance to show off their talents to American fans who can’t afford to travel abroad. In addition, the teams can make some money while they’re out of season play. Tickets for upper-level endline seats are $35, and lower-level sideline seats are $75.
Anyone who knows the story behind the New York Cosmos recognizes that it will take a lot more than just financial backing for American soccer to finally boom the way it has in other countries. It will also take passion and a genuine understanding of the lifestyle surrounding the sport.
With the hiring of Kelly Findley as the men’s soccer coach providing further momentum behind the N.C . State soccer’s ever-growing fan base, it seems only a matter of time before the successes of their squad becomes paramount.
But one thing is for sure: when international soccer comes knocking, State answers the door.
