Big Bear Nolan's Blog

The team begins the knockout rounds vs Bosnia and Herzegovina tonight.

I can’t lie I’m not as big into Soccer as say some of my other friends are, but one thing that you know i’m always doing every four years is watching the World Cup. And this year with it being in North America and FOX doing it, the network’s advertisement with Mike Eruzione who was on the 1980’s US Men’s Hockey “Miracle on Ice” team spoke the question “What, you don’t believe in miracles?” and he could possibly be right.

It could possibly end tonight but this has been one of the most fun times I have had watching the Men’s soccer team play in the tournament. Not only is it because we are the host, but the team themselves the crowds that have shown up, the support from around this country and doing this in a decently tough group has made it fun.

Obviously the main man to this team is Christian Pulisic who is the captain of this team. But players like Folarin Balogun, Weston McKennie, Chris Richards, and Gio Reyna are some of the big names of this team. As a Green Bay Packers fan, it also is fun to see Alex Freeman who is the son of Packer legend Antonio Freeman play, especially when he got his goal in the game against Australia two weeks ago.

One of the most notable things I have noticed with this team is the effect that new coach Mauricio Pochettino. The team has had more fire in their games especially after missing the dang thing in 2018 and only getting one win in group play in 2022. And this year, their wins in the group stage this year were not against weak competition either in Paraguay and Australia.

I was at the St. Louis Cardinals/Minnesota Twins game during the US match vs Paraguay, and when a rain storm delayed the Twins game Target Field turned on the match. Every goal that was scored Target Field erupted and I got to say that was the most united I have ever heard Target Field, especially when a team that draws like the Cardinals come to town. I did watch the match at Lumen Field (or Seattle Stadium as it is Fifa’s temporary name) against Australia and that Seattle crowd which has haunted my Packers for NFL games it was nice to be with their same team. If you are an NFL fan, you know that Lumen Field can get pretty loud, and as loud as it was from my TV I can only imagine being there.

Although tonight should be considered easy for the team, it does start to get tougher throughout the tournament for the U.S. If they win, Senegal/Belgium would be waiting in the round of 16 and if the U.S can advance to their first quarterfinals since 2002 that is when they will start to see the big boys that are known in the soccer world. My head says that unfortunately this run will probably end soon, but my heart says you just never know! With how fun it’s been being united with everyone in this run and how the boys on the field have been. Hopefully they make this country proud when the 2026 World Cup reaches its conclusion.