On a bright note, the 2026 World Cup is coming to the United States, with Miami as one of the host cities, something to actually look forward to.
But when it comes to pool here in the U.S., it’s getting harder, at least for me, to stay excited. The sport is shrinking, the payouts aren’t growing, and our pool of true pro-caliber American players keeps getting smaller. What makes it worse is the nonstop politics and mudslinging between players. It takes the spotlight off the game I have enjoyed over the years.
This year, though, something feels off. And it’s not because Team USA got whitewashed on Day 1. Hey, that’s sports, and it happens. What’s bothering me is harder to put a finger on. The atmosphere doesn’t feel the same, the spark isn’t quite there, and it’s like the soul of the event is drifting somewhere else. I love this game, but something just isn’t right.