World Cup excitement inspiring next generation of Triangle soccer players
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- As the World Cup returns to the United States, youth soccer programs across the Triangle say excitement around the sport is reaching new heights and inspiring the next generation of players.
At Soccer Genome in North Raleigh, young athletes of all ages are working to improve their skills, from children as young as 5 to college players seeking additional training.
Derick Appah, a coach at the soccer training facility, said the World Cup provides a major opportunity to grow interest in the sport.
"The World Cup is just like a huge vessel for interest in the sport. I mean, it's the most beautiful part of the game. I think it's the Mecca of what soccer is all about," Appah said.
Appah said youth soccer in the Triangle has already been growing in recent years, with more clubs and opportunities available for young players.
"We have a lot of big clubs, a lot of talent comes from North Carolina. And even with clubs opening like Charlotte FC, it's just given a lot more opportunity for youth to really take an interest in soccer," Appah said.
At NCFC Youth, the program connected to North Carolina FC and the North Carolina Courage, recreation director Andrew Tait said increased visibility of professional soccer has helped inspire young athletes.
"Seeing kids in the jerseys and getting really excited about it. Sticker boxes, TST last week. It's just it's really exciting to see, for me, the game over the last 25 years was like this little thing that was kind of 'oh, that's kind of cool', some people play in college -- to now where it is today," Tait said.
NCFC Youth works with thousands of aspiring players, and Tait said watching top-level athletes compete in person can help young players envision their own futures in the sport.
"I think for these kids to see it -- and now and they can see it, that hopefully they can believe it and dream at the same time," Tait said.
Youth soccer leaders say the continued growth of the sport is creating new opportunities for players across the Triangle.
