The 2026 World Cup will open on June 11 with a clash between Mexico and South Africa, a match that marks the first time the tournament is co‑hosted by three nations. While the spotlight will be on the teams, the story of soccer in North America is also a story of hidden architects, many of whom have been Jewish.
One of the earliest trailblazers was Eddy Hamel, a forward who in 1922 became the first American to play for a top European club, Ajax Amsterdam. Hamel’s career was cut short by the Holocaust; he was deported to Auschwitz in 1943 and murdered, a loss that still resonates in the sport’s history.
His legacy was echoed decades later when, in 1926, a staggering 46,000 spectators gathered in New York to watch Hakoach Vienna face the New York All Stars, a testament to the growing appetite for the game on the continent.
Steve Ross, a businessman born Rechnitz, leveraged his position at Warner Communications to bring global star Pelé to the New York Cosmos in the 1970s, revitalizing interest in the sport across the United States.
A Legacy of Leadership
Alan Rothenberg later spearheaded the revival of soccer in the country by organizing the 1994 World Cup and later establishing Major League Soccer, laying infrastructure that would support future generations.
Robert Kraft, together with Philip Anschutz, kept MLS afloat during its nascent years, and Kraft’s leadership of the United Bid Committee helped secure the 2026 World Cup for North America, a triumph that underscores the community’s long‑standing involvement.
Chuck Blazer, a former FIFA executive, exposed deep‑seated corruption within world football, becoming a pivotal witness in investigations that led to the downfall of several powerful officials.
More recently, Jeff ‘Goose’ Agoos amassed 134 caps for the U.S. national team and shared an NCAA championship in 1989, while goalkeeper Matt Turner, the only Jewish player on the 2026 USMNT roster, prepares to showcase his talent on the world stage.