Vox Creative, in association with Verizon, held a first look event for the upcoming documentary series, “Soccer Meets America,” on March 13th at South by Southwest.
Vox Creative previews new documentary series at SXSW
The three-part series explores the rise of soccer in America from the 1980s through the imminent 2026 World Cup.
“Soccer Meets America” is a three-part documentary series premiering on The Roku Channel this May ahead of the historic 2026 World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The series dives into the rise of soccer in America, dating back to the implosion of professional leagues in the 1980s all the way to the 2026 World Cup.
The series features interviews with many players from the United States Men’s National Team including Chris Henderson, John Harkes, and Mike Sorber, the former President of the United States Soccer Federation, Alan Rothenberg and Bruce Arena, the former head coach of the USMNT and current head coach and sporting director for the San Jose Earthquakes to name a few.
It is described not as a traditional sports documentary but a story of chaos, struggle and passion that explores how despite being ignored by mainstream media and culture in the United States it has sustained and grown in communities at a grassroots level.
“As soccer fans unite for the highly anticipated World Cup, we are thrilled to collaborate with partners and athletes that bring a unique perspective to the sport,” said Yosef Johnson, executive producer and senior vice president of Vox Creative. “Together with Verizon, Roku, and some of soccer’s biggest names, this series shares powerful and untold stories that will be enjoyed by the biggest soccer fans and newcomers alike.”
The story is told using archival footage, original interviews, verité coverage and re-creations to document the unique story that is soccer in the United States.
At the event itself attendees entered a space meant to appear like the home of a soccer fan in the 1990s with nostalgic memorabilia from the time decorating the walls including posters and soccer kits. The room also played archival footage in the background from the 1994 World Cup, the last time the World Cup was held in the United States.
The event featured a panel discussion with multiple clips from the series that was moderated by Vulture’s Editor-in-Chief Neil Janowitz. Members of the panel included Phil Wall, creator and executive producer of the show, Chris Henderson, the current Chief Soccer Officer of Atlanta United and former USMNT midfielder, and Haley Paas, Verizon’s Senior Vice President of Media, Marketing and Agency Effectiveness.
“As a long-term partner and champion of soccer in the U.S., Verizon is focused on providing fans with unparalleled access to the sport they love,” said Paas. “By partnering with Vox Creative and Roku on ‘Soccer Meets America,’ we’re not just looking back at the history of the sport, but also celebrating the innovation and infrastructure that’s powering the largest World Cup ever.”
The documentary series will be available for streaming this May on The Roku Channel.
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