Running 21 miles per hour is some serious momentum. And momentum is what soccer in the United States is building - doing so, four years before our country hosts the World Cup.
"It's a huge deal," Chris Canetti, president of Houston's 2026 World Cup bid committee, told ABC13 via Zoom on Wednesday. "I think there would have been a lot of disappointment amongst soccer fans if we had not made it out of the group stage."
In his role, Canetti helped Houston land a bid to host multiple matches in the 2026 World Cup. The Bayou City will be one of 11 U.S. cities to do so.
"When the U.S. does well and advances - it captures the hearts of the country," Canetti added. "That helps the sport grow. We know it's a young team - the second-youngest in all the World Cup. So for these rising stars to get some experience under their belt in this World Cup, and to raise up the ranks a little bit and bring hope that they could go deep in 2026 - it is going to bring a tremendous amount of momentum when it comes to North America."
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