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TEAM: SOCCER that things are starting to normalize, but stumbling blocks remain. "Shorts and polo shirts are a big pain in the butt," he points out. "Youth and adult shorts, especially price point mesh shorts, are hard to find across most manufacturers. But we have a number of resources to use. We're taking a chance on new vendors and brands that we wouldn't have put in the mix in the past. Brand has become less important than the product itself. Supply issues should ease in 2023 and we'll be in much better shape." Overtime: e Big Picture A Morning Consult poll conducted in April, 2022 shows that soccer has certainly grown in popularity. Among the highlights: 32 percent of U.S. adults said they consider themselves soccer fans, including seven percent who said they are avid fans. e survey also found that 54 percent of respondents were interested in soccer, a greater share than any of the big four North American sports. Many soccer experts predict that soccer will gain more interest and growth in November when the FIFA World Cup – the multi-bil- lion-dollar extravaganza poised to be unlike any prior World Cup – kicks off in Qatar. However, Qatar 2022 presents an interesting situation here in the U.S. Unlike past World Cup tournaments that have taken place in the summer, this iteration will occur in winter, during an already packed sports calendar that includes major league football, basketball and hockey. e U.S. Men's National Team's group match against England is slated to take place on Black Friday during the anksgiving weekend, which could prove to be a ratings boon. "The World Cup usually does have an impact on business, but this year is different due to inflation and the timing of the tourna- ment," says Walter. "We try to do things in our local market such as watch parties, promos, raffles and giveaways to gain visibility. And if the U.S. plays well, that always bodes well." Zighelboim is fairly enthusiastic. "The World Cup always impacts participation in soccer, futsal and adult leagues, but has no impact on youth soccer," he opines. Garretson has a more cautious wait-and-see attitude. "e World Cup may be a slight factor in boosting participation, but the tournament will probably appeal more to adults," he says. "We might see some trickle-down effect." In the grand scheme, the real question is not whether soccer can make it in this country, but how much bigger can it become? n 25 • Team Insight ~ November/December 2022 teaminsightmag.com Find us at Booth 325 at the Fall Team Dealers show. Learn more about our Can of Corn program, and why this Cap and Jersey combo is the easiest play in the game. FEATURING: • The Richardson commitment to quality and fit. • Color shade consistency across all Richardson PTS products. • Simple, all-inclusive pricing on uniforms for both HYPR Twill and Sublimated models. H E A D W E A R | U N I F O R M S | T E A M W E A R PC: Mike Eyster

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