At the end of the 19th century, the United States embarked on a unique project: creating its own sporting world, in a conscious effort to distance itself from international sports traditions. Paradoxically, even as the nation emerged as a global cultural powerhouse in music and film, sports remained its great exception.
Today, that is changing. From American investments in European football to hosting the 2026 World Cup, the United States is stepping onto the global stage of soccer—while inviting the world into its own game of football. How did we get here? What sparked this transformation?
Join Andrés Martinez, co-director of the Great Game Lab, for an in-person conversation in Mexico City, hosted in collaboration with the Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales (Mexican Council on Foreign Relations), as we trace this journey through sport, culture, and identity.
Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2025, 5:00 PM MST
Location: Andrés Bello 29, Polanco, Mexico City