Akbar Majeed takes a deep breath as he considers the legacy of the 2026 World Cup and, in particular, the effect of the US team's collapse against Belgium for a last-16 exit.
"Unfortunately, that performance in the last game did not help at all," he says.
"You have to be careful what you ask for, right?" he says. "You want people to watch the sport. You got the most people in America to watch that game and that is the product we put out there? It reinforced a lot of the thoughts about soccer."
Related: Arsène Wenger: US soccer development will depend on 'consistency' and 'education'
Majeed has a lot of thoughts about soccer. As the director of Can We Kick It?, a feature documentary released this summer, he has also heard the thoughts about soccer from a cast of players, coaches, administrators, parents and fans. The project explores how the sport has engaged – and often not engaged – with Black communities in the United States.
#majeed #people #engaged
"Unfortunately, that performance in the last game did not help at all," he says.
"You have to be careful what you ask for, right?" he says. "You want people to watch the sport. You got the most people in America to watch that game and that is the product we put out there? It reinforced a lot of the thoughts about soccer."
Related: Arsène Wenger: US soccer development will depend on 'consistency' and 'education'
Majeed has a lot of thoughts about soccer. As the director of Can We Kick It?, a feature documentary released this summer, he has also heard the thoughts about soccer from a cast of players, coaches, administrators, parents and fans. The project explores how the sport has engaged – and often not engaged – with Black communities in the United States.
#majeed #people #engaged
22 hours ago