There’s something about the place that draws soccer people to it. It’s somewhere that soccer people can feel at home. Where the ghosts of bygone games and a bygone era assure you that there is a sturdy past on which to build the future of American soccer. Paul Gardner, Soccer America
Visit the Metropolitan Oval in Queens today and you’ll not only see excellent youth soccer, but you’re also likely to hear animated cheering in Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and English. The range of languages reminds us that soccer is the world’s sport; love of the game and the kids playing it is something we all have in common. The spectacular view of Manhattan may also remind some that soccer has found a world-class home in America’s greatest city. But it’s a home it had to fight for.