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America’s 12th Man

After decades of false starts, U.S. Soccer C.E.O. JT Batson believes the World Cup finally gave the U.S. the momentum and corporate support to become a true soccer nation.

JT Batson
U.S. Soccer Federation C.E.O. and Secretary General JT Batson Photo: Omar Vega / USSF / Getty Images
John Ourand
July 21, 2026

For decades, the promise of soccer in America came with an asterisk. Every World Cup, every new league, every Pelé-to-the-Cosmos moment arrived wrapped in the same rosy prediction: This was going to become the catalyst that changed everything. And every time, the sport eventually settled back into the hazy middle of the American sporting consciousness. So there’s good reason for skepticism when anyone declares that the tipping point has finally arrived.