For decades, the United States toyed with mainstream soccer adoption, but, like Tottenham Hotspur with winning trophies, was never able to seal the deal. In recent years, however, the ball seems to have finally found the back of the net.
Soccer-focused shows have become broadcast hits, with "Ted Lasso" and "Welcome to Wrexham", which help bring the excitement of the sport to the screen. And speaking of the latter, big American names like Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and JJ and Kealia Watt have bought into English soccer, bringing their attention to games abroad, with the eyes of the Americans following them. As the women's national team gears up for another dominant World Cup run this summer, this fall's men's World Cup final broke viewership records in the United States, records likely to be broken again when the United States hosts. leading global phenomenon in 2026. MLS is one of the fastest growing leagues in the nation, igniting rabid fan bases and rivalries wherever it appears. And even Packers-addicted Wisconsin is beginning to cheat football with soccer, making Forward Madison a sensation, rooting for football bar hotspots and put a new soccer field with a new soccer team yet to be named in the center of a new development in the center.
Indeed, the future of soccer looks bright, but why wait? Our soccer-obsessed future is already here in the present with FC Milwaukee Torrentready to kick off the new seasons in both the men's and women's squads this month at Hart Park in Tosa.
Founded in 2016, the Torrent men's team currently plays in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a semi-professional soccer league with more than 90 teams competing across the country and alumni like American soccer star Chris Wondolowski. Although not even a decade, FC Milwaukee Torrent, named for the city's essential lakes and rivers, found early success throughout the seasons, going undefeated in its inaugural year and clinching a playoff berth in 2021 with a 9-1 record. conference winner. Their latest campaign will kick off on Saturday, May 20 with a home opener at Hart Park at 7pm against Ehtar Belleville FC, an exciting new foe thanks to new NPSL additions and divisional lineup for the 2023 season.
"We've built a solid team. We've been very successful in the past, and I think we have the ability to make waves this year, not just in our conference, but also in the NPSL playoffs." said Scott Wegener, director of marketing for FC Milwaukee Torrent.
“We have a very young team, and that's what excites me,” he continued. “In the past, we've had some older guys who were out of the college ranks and still just trying to play competitive soccer here and there and maybe make a name for themselves. We have a lot of really young players who are in their second or third year of college and playing soccer at a really high level. I'm excited to see how they can form a cohesive unit."
Men aren't the only ones with lofty goals — including, hopefully many literal ones — ahead of them. On the field since 2018, the FC Milwaukee Torrent women's team begins this new streak hoping to build on their strong 7-0-1 record last season, kicking off the year. ranked within the top 20 of the WPSL – an amateur soccer league ranked just below the top professional National Women's Soccer League. It's an impressive starting position, especially in a league made up of more than 100 teams across the country, but they'll try to go even higher over the course of their eight-game 2023 schedule, starting at Hart Park on Friday, May 26 at 7 pm against muskrats Midwest Select SA.
Of course, as any fan who has spent quality time at Highbury or Moran's on an early weekend morning can attest, the action on the pitch is only part of football's appeal; it is also the commotion and the community around the game. So this upcoming season of FC Milwaukee Torrent has plenty going on from field to field for potential fans, from youth soccer nights that invite young teams and their families to come out and have fun outside of practice, to giveaways from pizza to feed the fans and The Flood. group of fans providing the energy and atmosphere during the match.
"Torrent games are great because they have something for everyone, whether it's the hardcore fan who breaks down each formation and dissects what the managers are doing, or the more casual fan who just wants to have fun and watch quality football," Wegener said. . . “Kids can go out on the field at half time and hit the ball. We have a train that runs a couple of times per game. It's just a really fun environment; Hart Park is such a great and unique place for us that we are incredibly honored to play in, and our games are just fun.”
That sense of soccer fun extends beyond Hart Park and beyond game days as FC Milwaukee Torrent hosted a series of pop-up events around town. Your next will flood Lion's Tail Brewing, 8520 W. North Ave., on Thursday, May 18 from 4-7 p.m. packs of four
So for those who can tell you all the teams playing in English League Two and those who couldn't make out a yellow card apart from the 2000s gang behind "Ocean Avenue", take a Torrent game tour. this next season. Soccer is about to finally have its American moment, but if you stop by Hart Park this coming summer, you might see that moment has already arrived.
For more information on upcoming Men's and Women's Torrent seasons and schedules in 2023, as well as to purchase tickets to upcoming games, Click here.
