USMNT: Meet me in St Louis: US men's football in America's first soccer capital

Words: Sam Chandler

Images: Sam Chandler

In America we say football weather and mean cool, crisp air, changing leaves and parties held outside of college town stadiums in the parking lot, where the beers cost a lot less and you can drink many before kickoff.

For the USA-Jamaica matchup in the CONCACAF Nations League, we got “proper” football weather, 60 degrees Fahrenheit and a steady drizzle.

No beers in the parking lot, but the happy hours at the downtown pubs meant we could stave off the stadium prices for a while.

The match took place in St. Louis, Missouri USA. Locals will happily tell you it’s America’s First Soccer Capital and we’re right. No matter what those malcontents across the state in Kansas City may say, Soccer in America flowed through St. Louis and our strong immigrant community.

Go take a peek at the 1950 USA World Cup roster and greet the 5 young men that hailed from St. Louis’ very own Little Italy, called The Hill. They turned in an upset over England, and set The Lou on a path that includes National team members like Josh Sargent and Tim Ream, the latter of who captained the US side in his hometown for the first time this night.

©Sam Chandler/ Terrace Edition. USA vs Jamaica. St Louis.

If you’re in town for a match in St. Louis I highly recommend the Schlalfy Tap Room for your pregame hydration. Plenty of good beers, plenty of fellow fans, and the gleaming new City Park standing triumphantly in the backdrop of the venerable old brick building.

The news cycle may deem St. Louis a lost cause, but don’t tell the fans that make the trek from here to the park each week during the MLS season.

In a city that’s infamous for knocking down buildings and putting up parking lots, they reversed the trend with this gorgeous stadium. I literally used to leave my car for work where one of the corner flags currently stands, and frankly I was happy to lose that primo parking.

These new stadiums in the MLS aren’t yet full of history, character or sticky mens room floors, but the trend of popping them up in urban areas that were, in many cases, blighted is a trend my urbanist soul can really get behind.

Specifically for City Park, it helped restore the road grid that used to be a mess of highway ramps. It appears to always be at street level, but in reality it was built subtly into the natural elevation of this block.

It’s fully surrounded by seats designed to enhance crowd noise, but sightlines were carefully considered to make our beloved Gateway Arch monument visible in the night sky.

In short, don’t pass up a chance to visit St. Louis for some groundhopping if the option comes your way.

We didn’t pass it up tonight, at least, and I was happy to head out for my first ever US Men’s National Team match. I have a well-documented history of attending off-year, international “give us something to do on the break before the club season gets serious” type of competitions in other countries, so why the hell would I miss it in my own backyard?

America is at a bit of a crossroads right now, caught between regimes both politically and soccer-wise. It remains to be seen how either is going to go frankly. But Mauricio Pochetino’s replacement of Gregg Berhalter might just be the most pivotal moment in US Soccer’s history.

In a qualifying campaign that’s just now getting off the ground, America is putting its hopes in Pochetino. Where others have failed so mightily (and in Gregg’s case, failed multiple times) can he finally build the winning culture that has eluded the Americans for so long?

Working with talented young players known as the “Gen Zeagles”, his work is cut out as American fans clamor for a deep run in the 2026 World Cup on home soil.

No pressure, Poch.

Rolling into City Park and finding our seats just before kickoff, the crowd was much more animated than I expected. This second leg match wasn’t exactly a major draw, but a win or a tie would send USA through to the semi-finals. USA legend Jozy Altidore was banging the drums along with the American contingent, and the stadium was reasonably full.

It became clear why soon enough, as a whole host of elementary and middle school aged kids took their seats near us. Since this wasn’t a marquee game, the opportunity to see stars like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie was extended to local youth groups who were more than happy to spend a night out watching the action.

This same theme rang true for others around us, tickets were affordable for this one and the new stadium still draws folks in with its, ahem, newness. That and the incredible food options from some of the top restaurants in town. Seriously if you can’t find scran that suits you in St. Louis, you either gave up looking or never left your seat in the first place.

This match gave fans braving the rain plenty to cheer about from the off. Christian Pulisic is having a bit of a season for himself already, and he opened the scoring tonight with a beautiful half-volley and a slightly less beautiful deflection off of Jamaican player Demarai Gray. Ricardo Pepi would add another long range belter to the scoresheet before halftime, all but putting the match out of reach.

They don’t ask how, they ask how many.

A walk around at half-time revealed many fans seeking cover from the intensified rain. Upon the resumption of play, the United States was suddenly seeking shelter from Demarai Gray who slotted home a brace of his own to redeem his deflected Pulisic shot. Nevertheless, recently fit Tim Weah would restore the two goal lead by the end for the Yanks and send them through to the Semi-finals.

Pochetino has a lot of work to do to keep this young group focused and intense. There won’t be many opportunities where his side can spot the opponent two goals and still win 4-2 (in fact, this was the first four goal game for the States since October of 2023).

That aside, it’s an exciting young team he’s working with, and fans are optimistic to have a name-brand manager for the first time in, well, ever. The expectations will build if even a fraction of these players develop the way that Pulisic has. Generational talent notwithstanding, there’s hope that a few can rise to approach that level, but will it be in time for 2026?

Nevertheless they pulled it off on a dreary night in St. Louis. I was happy to be in the stands and watch as this new era of US Soccer finds its footing.

I eminently recommend a trip to St. Louis for your own groundhopping pleasure, just make sure you opt for a rainy day over the usual mid-July sauna.