Rob Gronkowski Questions American Football’s Impact on Men’s Soccer
In a recent discussion, The Late Run Show shared insights from Rob Gronkowski, who expressed concerns that American football has impaired the United States’ chances of building a top men’s soccer team.
“I think football, our football in America, kind of ruined our soccer game. Kind of ruined our soccer team for USA because all our best athletes play the game of American football,” Gronkowski stated.
He elaborated, “If those athletes started at a young age, like our wide receivers and DBs, the best athletes in the world. … If we didn’t have American football, I believe that Team USA would be a top three [soccer] team in the world.”
Gronkowski’s viewpoint highlights a prevalent trend in the U.S., where many of the most gifted young athletes gravitate toward sports like football, basketball, baseball, or track, often delaying or bypassing soccer entirely.
This has resulted in the USMNT competing in a global sport where many other countries prioritize soccer as the destination for their elite athletes. With the 2026 World Cup set to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the scrutiny on the USMNT is intensifying, raising broader questions about the American sports landscape.
Rob Gronkowski Compares USMNT to Successful Women’s National Team
Gronkowski then drew a parallel with the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT), asserting that success in women’s soccer stems from a greater emphasis on soccer for elite female athletes in the U.S.
“That’s why I believe our women’s team is so good because they get their best athletes to play right from the beginning,” he explained.
He concluded, “But we take away our soccer athletes and we make them become American football players. I believe we kind of ruined that sport because we just have American football.”
This comparison strengthens his argument, as the USWNT has achieved significant success, unlike the men’s team, which is still striving for a breakthrough on the international stage.
While the men’s team boasts talent from players like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Tim Weah, and Folarin Balogun, Gronkowski points to a potential gap in development. He suggests that the U.S. soccer landscape could drastically change if more athletes, who typically thrive in positions like wide receivers and defensive backs, were nurtured as soccer players from a young age.
Though this does not ensure a top-three world ranking, Gronkowski’s perspective will likely resonate as the nation approaches the 2026 tournament.