Los Angeles
Soly Moses
Los Angeles encompasses the world. It’s hard to imagine a nation playing a match in one of Southern California many impressive stadiums that wouldn’t draw an impassioned diaspora fanbase. Los Angeles is an ideal setting to explore the explosive growth of international football in the US, and how it was fueled by immigrant communities, the women’s game, and America’s global connectivity and aspirations. LA offers quirky, nuanced stories, such as the time the Wolverhampton Wolves from England represented the city in one of our first national professional leagues, as well as such inspiring milestones as the 1999 USWNT World Cup win at the Rose Bowl. Today’s LA contains a mosaic of soccer passions, from a love for Mexico’s “El Tri” to the success of Angel City FC in the NWSL, the MLS’ “El Tráfico” rivalry, and the emergence of the city as a hub for financing European football and developing cross-Atlantic footballing ties. The Great Game Lab has partnered with Wanderland Studios and Matt O’Connor-Simpson to explore the sprawling, fascinating story of how Los Angeles became a World Cup city.
Growing up in a provincial, English seaside town where it always rained, Los Angeles always felt like this otherworldly, dreamlike place as a kid. It was, and is, the home of my musical, cinematic and cultural heroes, and I am very thankful for the opportunity to get under the skin of this beautiful and diverse city’s soccer culture.
Matt O’Connor-Simpson Great Game Cities Fellow, Los Angeles