LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – People from across the planet are in the United States because the FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday.
Soccer, also known as the beautiful game, has a global following.
Officials with the Lexington Sporting Club believe having the matches on American soil will attract more youth to the already popular sport and motivate the local professionals.
Local players watching and learning
Wednesday morning the Lexington Sporting Club’s under-20 team is focused on practice.
When the players from around the world hit the pitch in those large American stadiums, these up and comers will be watching.
“You watch different players at a top level performing against each other. You can only get motivation from it and you can learn a lot from it as a player,” said Masaki Hemmi, Lexington Sporting Club men’s coach.
Hemmi believes the World Cup can have influence on the Bluegrass.
“It trickles down to the local level. Our hope is that we can continue to carry on that momentum and make sure the sport of soccer is growing in the city of Lexington,” Hemmi said.
Youth participation surges
Could it grow more? Currently on LSC’s property there are eight fields. In 2021 they had a few hundred kids in the youth programs. Five years later those numbers have kicked up to about 1,000.
“I really think this boom in youth soccer and accessibility is going to continue to grow the game not just because we have more young people interested in it but as they age we are going to have more young people interested in soccer,” said Noland Galbreath, director of communications for Lexington Sporting Club.
“I think having the World Cup here will help it grow in the country even more,” said Megan Wall, bartender at West Sixth Brewing.
Local fan heading to Atlanta match
Wall is a bartender at West Sixth Brewing in Lexington. She played soccer since she was three years old and played for Transylvania University.
Wall plans to go watch a match in Atlanta — Uzbekistan versus DR Congo. It’s Uzbekistan’s first World Cup.
“I just always wanted to see a World Cup match and those were some of the more accessible options and I think it will be really neat to see a country play in their first World Cup,” Wall said.
West Sixth Brewing will have a special watch party for the World Cup on Friday night. The U.S. plays at 9 p.m. If you want a good seat, you’re encouraged to get there an hour before the match.
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