We are two months out from Copa America starting. Is US soccer going to try to create a buzz about this tournament at all? None of the casual soccer fans I know have any idea this is going on. do other people feel this way, or has there been some big marketing push that I’ve missed? Every sports fan I know is aware of the Olympics.
Probably too soon. There's enough big stars including Messi to make this an easy sell. Remember thought it's CONMEBOL not US Soccer, MLS or CONCACAF. I'll add it was here a few years back and did quite well which is why it's coming back.
I saw an add for it last night on Fox Sports 1. The hype is only starting. It'll ramp-up before too long.
This is CONMEBOL’s tournament. I would expect Spanish language media to be paying more attention and getting more focus.
I stopped paying attention to the Olympics about 12-16 years ago and haven't watched the last two. The failure to address drug enhanced performance, sports with judging, and overall governance.
It’s comically low awareness throughout the US. I don’t think we’ll even get to 45K in attendance at Arrowhead for the USMNT vs Uruguay.
There is a recent prominent example of a “played both” in the Americas. Richarlison played in the Copa America (lost in final) and Olympics (where they won gold) for Brazil in 2021.
Test drive for World Cup in 2026? Also they have a good soccer culture. They still have no chance at filling the upper deck at > $100 a pop all in for nose bleeds.
Personally think they will if we ask. Hard to tell though, not sure what their history is on that front. Reinier was on loan (and stayed on loan) with them from Madrid for the last Olympics and he was allowed to play for Brazil. Not sure if that was Madrid or BVB making the call though (he played for the latter the two seasons bookending the games).
The answer is always going to be 100% Copa America. Where this question might get a little wonky is how you handle backups who are age eligible. Do you send some like Scally to Paris who's unlikely to play a lot and be willing to turn to DeJuan Jones if comes down to it, same with Pepi and brining in Sarge and Haji instead, or Cardoso and bringing in Maloney. Lund is another one. I still come out on the side of no, send your best 23 (or 26) to The Copa and let The Olympic Chips fall where they may. Though if the rumors of players trying to double dip this summer are true, then great
If Gregg's job is on the line. Gregg would not call up players that he has not called in a long time or doesn't trust. He might call one or two but not more.
Man, no Dest for the Copa was/is absolutely brutal, he made my list of the dozen guys we absolutely could not afford to lose to injury (Pulisic, Weah, McKennie, Adams, Dest, and Reyna), and at the end of the season w/nothing to play for no less. Just brutal.
Just irreplaceable. It's not to say we can't have a good Copa, but there's simply no one that brings what he brings.
Well someone like Scally will now likely play a ton at the Copa America so I imagine no Olympics for him.
Gotta think Dest's injury impacts Reynolds the most. I figured him for the Olympics but you gotta take him to Copa at this point. He could be our starter.
Weah will replace Dest at Copa with DeJuan backing up unless Berhalter decides to go with Scally as back up for Copa because he has had him more in camp and has a suitable replacement for Olympics. Who would replace Scally at Olympics? I don't trust some of the alternatives mentioned because the drop off from Scally is too big.