American Soccer Nation

A comprehensive recounting of the beautiful game on American soil . . . and a look at soccer’s boundless potential in the USA Soccer is the most popular game in the world, but does it truly belong in the heart of American sports culture? The answer is a resounding yes—and the 150-year journey of elite men’s soccer in the US is filled with drama, surprises, reversals, and triumphs that rival any world-class match. With meticulous research and lifelong passion, Mark C Franek delivers a fast-paced, foundational soccer book that also serves as a celebration of American soccer. This book is a must-have for all fans, players, parents, coaches, and professionals across the sport. In brisk, punchy prose that moves in a confident tiki-taka style, Franek explores: - The soccer-like games played by Native Americans long before the arrival of Europeans - How organized soccer predates gridiron football, started in American colleges, and was carried forward by immigrant communities - Why soccer has always been more inclusive and immigrant-friendly than other professional sports - The rise and fall of the original ASL and the Golden Age of American soccer - America’s Olympic and World Cup highs and lows dating back to the early 20th century - Soccer’s growing popularity today, from MLS and USL to elite youth academies - The accordion-like journey of the USMNT over the past 40 years, leading to the USA’s co-hosting of the 2026 World Cup - A roadmap for how the US can go from good to great on the international stage—based on firsthand accounts from professional athletes and experts in the sport With forewords by Cavan Sullivan and Tim Howard, American Soccer Nation is the definitive text affirming that the US really is a soccer nation.

Mark C Franek is an American sports writer, former attorney, and educator. Franek (JD and EdD) has published over 75 opinion-editorials on a variety of educational and human interest topics, and has taught writing pedagogy and sportswriting electives at the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson University, and Cabrini College. He currently teaches English classes and a series of electives, including a History of US Soccer course, at YSC Academy, an independent, college-preparatory school embedded completely within Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union franchise. The Academy, established in 2013 by Richie Graham, a minority owner of the Philadelphia Union, sits on a 15,000-square-foot campus adjacent to the stadium and integrates rigorous academics with professional-level soccer training. Franek also served as an English teacher and dean of students at the William Penn Charter (Quaker) School, one of the oldest independent schools in the nation. Over nearly three decades, Franek has had the privilege of teaching dozens of student-athletes who went on to play professional soccer in MLS and Europe. His former students include Olympic and World Cup players. Others, after hanging up their boots, graduated to become coaches, technical directors, and general managers of professional teams. Their DNA and dreams are in this book.