When the World Comes to Texas
KERA NewsThe world’s biggest sporting event is coming to North Texas and suddenly, it’s not just about soccer, it’s about us. The crowds, the cultures, the watch parties, the economy, the traffic -- how do you plug in and why does it matter?
When the World Comes to Texas is KERA News’ limited-series podcast that follows this spectacle coming to our backyard. In quick, 15-20 minute episodes, we move from curiosity to connection. We’ll explore how to join the excitement (even if you don’t follow the game), the traditions of teams arriving from around the world, the surprising history behind “soccer” and what this moment could change for the future of the sport in the U.S.
It’s a smart, local and human look at what happens when the world shows up at our doorstep.
The world’s biggest sporting event is coming to North Texas and suddenly, it’s not just about soccer, it’s about us. The crowds, the cultures, the watch parties, the economy, the traffic -- how do you plug in and why does it matter?
When the World Comes to Texas is KERA News’ limited-series podcast that follows this spectacle coming to our backyard. In quick, 15-20 minute episodes, we move from curiosity to connection. We’ll explore how to join the excitement (even if you don’t follow the game), the traditions of teams arriving from around the world, the surprising history behind “soccer” and what this moment could change for the future of the sport in the U.S.
It’s a smart, local and human look at what happens when the world shows up at our doorstep.
Creating a New American Pastime
This isn’t the first time the U.S. has hosted the biggest sporting event in the world. The World Cup came to the country in 1994, and it was then and there that Michael Hitchcock discovered a love for the sport of soccer. Now, Hitch works as a soccer management executive, and he sat down with Ron and Miranda to talk about how soccer went from being a neglected sport to one of major status in the country.