2009 set records for American soccer, a record number of players plying their trade in leagues overseas, record attendances for international and domestic soccer matches and record ratings. The question is no longer “are americans ready for soccer”. They have, they have embraced it. For the first time in American Soccer History, US Mens coach Bob Bradley will likely field an entire starting 11 of players based professionally in Europe.

But what of the rest of the world? On radio programs, forums and blogs, American fans and players still don’t get the respect they deserve. While Clint Dempsey, Brad Friedel, and Brian McBride have proven that Americans can play overseas, they have yet to earn the respect of traditional European and South American fans. Ask most people what they think of American Soccer, you will likely get a negative response.

What do you think? Do American fans and players get the respect that their FIFA ranking demands? Going into the World Cup, the USA will be ranked the 11^th seed, only Brazil and Argentina come before them in the Western Hemisphere. Its no longer a question of, “is the USA ready for World Soccer”, it has become a question of the world being ready for the US Mens National Team. 

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