Key facts
- The World Cup is expected to boost the national relevance of soccer in the US.
- Santa Clara will host six World Cup games.
- The Bay Area anticipates increased interest from tourists and global soccer fans.
- Local soccer clubs like the Oakland Roots and San Francisco City hope the tournament will increase attendance and explain their unique models.
- The Bay Area has a diverse soccer landscape including professional, semi-professional, and amateur teams.
The upcoming World Cup in the U.S. is anticipated to significantly boost the national relevance of soccer, according to fans and local club representatives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Santa Clara is set to host six World Cup games, which is expected to attract a surge of tourists and international soccer enthusiasts. Jorge Bejarano, a fan of the Oakland Roots, expressed hope that the tournament will elevate the sport's profile nationwide and highlight the diversity of Oakland. The Roots, founded less than a decade ago, have seen increased attendance, filling a void left by relocated major sports teams. Head coach Ryan Martin views the World Cup games in Santa Clara as a significant indicator of soccer's growing interest in the Bay Area and hopes it will translate to more attendees for Roots games. The team is also organizing community watch parties and hosting the Australian national soccer team at their training facilities. The Bay Area boasts a rich soccer culture, including the Roots in the USL Championship, the San Jose Earthquakes in Major League Soccer, and Bay FC in the National Women's Soccer League, which set an attendance record. Semi-professional and amateur teams also thrive, with the San Francisco City soccer club operating on a member-ownership model. Volunteers like Aaron Mansfield believe the World Cup offers an opportunity to showcase local soccer initiatives. Fans like Josh and Shelley Estelle appreciate the community-supported, non-corporate feel of local clubs, though they find World Cup tickets prohibitively expensive compared to local games.