The elite athletes

U.S. Men’s National Team coach Bruce Arena on the increasing attraction of soccer to the best young American athletes:

I think any young kid that aspires to play a sport they always look to the top. In this country, traditionally, we’ve had an NFL, Major League Baseball, NBA, etc. We’ve rarely had a professional league in soccer. Over the past 10 years I think it’s been obvious to kids that they can become professional soccer players in the United States. They see the success of some of our young players, DaMarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan, now Eddie Johnson. They realize that that’s ahead of them as well. I think that inspires African-American players, Hispanics, Caucasians, etc. Professional soccer, I believe, is here to stay in the United States and it will now compete for our elite athletes and I think that’s been the reason. The existence and growth of MLS has developed a dream for young kids.

The U.S. plays Mexico in a World Cup qualifying match this Sunday at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City live on ESPN2 and Telemundo at 11AM MT. The whole interview with Coach Arena is here.