Those who knew me as a soccer-obsessed teenager know that I once went by the name, “Mrs. Jones,” especially when the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) or the LA Galaxy came to play at the now-closed RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. While I no longer go by that name (I’m grown, y’all), and I’m not as obsessed with the beautiful game as I once was, I’m still a USMNT fan, for better or worse, until death do us part, forever and ever, amen.

My love for the USMNT began in 1994. I was 13 and the FIFA World Cup was being held in the United States that summer. Just one look at U.S. midfielder Cobi Jones was all it took for me to become enamored with not just the dreadlocked cutie from California, but with the game as a whole.

My sisters and I each had our favorite that summer: Gigi had Brazil and Romario; Jess had Italy and Baggio; and I had the United States and Cobi. We rooted for our teams then, as we do now. The names on the jerseys have changed over the past 30 (!) years, of course, but we each remain steadfast in our love for these teams. Gigi has had it easier as a fan, as Brazil has won the World Cup five times (the most out of any nation, no pos wow), and Jess has had her share of glee with Italy, too, as those gorgeous guys have been world champs four times (but like with Bruno, we don’t talk about the Italians’ absence from the last two World Cups).

As for me being a USMNT fan? Ay no, where do I begin?

Let’s start on a happy note, mmmkay? The ’94 games were wonderful in that not too much was expected from the Americans back then, so the fact that they advanced out of group play was awesome in and of itself. I mean, there wasn’t even a major soccer league in the country at the time, you guys.

In fact, Major League Soccer (MLS) began in 1996, and D.C. United won it all that inaugural season. Since I’m a Marylander, and a D.C. native, you would think that I’d be happy about that, but the home team just so happened to play against Cobi and the Galaxy in the very first MLS Cup game, so yea, I was super bummed.

Jess and I would make our way to as many Galaxy and USMNT games in D.C., as possible, and I toted my “Meet Mrs. Jones” poster each time, proudly holding it above my head. Cobi kindly signed it a few times, which made my little heart soar to the heavens above. Some truly awful USMNT losses over the next few years, however, always brought mi corazoncito back down to Earth.

For instance, I’ve blocked the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France from my memory. The USMNT didn’t even make it out of the group stage then, right? (No, Cori, it did not.) As noted in a June 2, 2022 story on ussoccer.com, the USMNT did not win any of its three group stage games in France. Les Bleus? More like, Let’s Boo.

Fast forward to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan – OMG, what a tournament for my boys in the red, white, and blue! They made it out of group play, defeated CONCACAF archrival, Mexico, in the Round of 16, and advanced to the quarterfinals, where they lost to powerhouse Germany. I was loving every second of those summer games, especially since I was finally able to tell my brother-in-law, Milton, “You see, the U.S. can actually win big.”

I don’t really remember the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany – I’m in my early 40s now, so it’s hard to remember what I had for lunch some days, let alone how the USMNT fared in a tournament 18 years ago. As noted in an Oct. 16, 2023 story on ussoccer.com, Ghana eliminated the USMNT in the group stage back then. Sigh.

I do, however, vividly remember Landon Donovan’s marvelous goal against Algeria in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. As noted in a June 23, 2010 story on ussoccer.com, Donovan scored in the 91st minute, and the Americans’ 1-0 victory allowed them to advance to the Round of 16, where they were once again eliminated by Ghana. Watching Donovan run with sheer joy after scoring that much-needed goal was one of those moments that makes all of the heartache from the horrible losses so worth being a fan of a team like the USMNT, which has been arguably inconsistent over the past 30 years.

Indeed, soccer can be such a terrible sport – and I say that with love as one of its biggest supporters. It’s just a sin how you can be on pins and needles during a game, crossing every finger and toe, just to see your team lose in the end.

Honestly, and it kind of pains me to say this but, I haven’t been an ardent USMNT fan since those 2010 games; other matters simply grabbed my attention more. For instance, (and most happiest of all,) I became a mom in 2012 (hi babe!); I got into Twilight (still Team Edward), Harry Potter (Luna’s the best), and the MCU (namely, Captain America himself, Chris Evans); I started this website in 2020; and two years ago, I got separated (recently divorced), so yea, being a soccer spectator has taken something of a backseat in my life.

It didn’t help that the USMNT didn’t even qualify for the 2018 World Cup (though it is great that the Americans again made it to the Round of 16 in the 2022 games). I did coach my son’s team last fall, so it’s not like soccer has been completely out of the picture for me. And, I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the utter happiness I felt from U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard’s epic performance during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where he, as noted in a July 1, 2014 story on mlssoccer.com, delivered a World Cup-record 16 saves during the Americans’ 2-1 loss against Belgium.

But now, with the 2026 World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, I do feel compelled to buy a new USMNT jersey and to wholeheartedly support this team again. I’m just so amped to take my son, who will be 13 then, to a World Cup game in 2026 – I hope that we’re able to buy tickets, which will undoubtedly sell fast, but if we don’t, we’ll for sure go to a viewing party somewhere in town.

After all, there is absolutely nothing on Earth that can compare to the excitement that comes from the World Cup. At that global stage, even when your team is losing, until that last whistle is blown, you can’t help but feel hope – hope that your team is going to pull through, against all odds. It might not, especially if your team is the USMNT and its opponent is Ghana (why’s it always Ghana, though?), but in those rare occasions when the stars and planets align and your team advances, it’s just amazing to see your wildest soccer dreams come true.

I remain hopeful that I’ll see the USMNT raise the World Cup trophy once in my lifetime. I can hear my two brothers-in-law laugh as I type that, but a girl can dream, amirite?

In the meantime, I’m going to start attending as many soccer games as possible this summer, starting with the USMNT game against Colombia on June 8 at Commanders Field in Landover, Md. While I won’t take my “Meet Mrs. Jones” poster with me (Cobi’s retired, y’all), I’ll have the same love for the team as I did when I was a teenaged fan so many moons ago. Say it with me now: “USA, USA!”

Photo credit: Cori