When the soccer world comes to your doorstep, you should welcome it with open arms.
A semifinal of the CONCAAF Gold Cup tournament was played on Wednesday July 2, 2025, at Enterprise Park, just a short walk from the St. Louis American.
In spring 2021, SC City was preparing for its inaugural MLS season as stadium construction was nearing its end. The morning the speaker system was first tested, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” blared throughout west St. Louis.
It was the loudest thing I’ve heard coming from Enterprise Park until last Wednesday when the USMNT took on Guatemala.
With the game two days before the 4th of July, I expected parking lots to be a mosaic of red, white, and blue.
Instead, it was light blue and white. The colors of the Guatemalan flag and its international soccer team.
While the SC City crowds begin filling parking lots about 90 minutes before kickoff, Guatemalan fans were jamming spaces more than four hours before the 6 p.m. game.
The license plates told a story of their own – fans of Guatemala traveled from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Kentucky, and Virginia.
They joined with local ‘Gua-tay’ fans in an impromptu street party.
Hundreds of fans poured down Pine Street to the stadium, and vendors sold flags, horns, pennants, jerseys, and other items.
“Gua-tay, Gua-tay,” they shouted with zeal.
Spanish was the language of the day, although most fans I spoke to were fluent in English.
I mentioned the loudest thing I’ve heard emanate from the stadium: No. 2 is now the singing of the national anthem of Guatemala. Seconds after the opening notes, the voices of thousands of Guatemalan fans roared into the summer evening.
The top thunderous moment I’ve heard is when Guatemala scored its goal, the lone tally in a 2-1 loss.
It sounded like the final out of the World Series. It was a roar unmatched at an outdoor sporting event in St. Louis for quite some time.
Importantly, it was the sound of opportunity.
I was suddenly envious of Kansas City and its’ once-in-a generation opportunity to host World Cup games in 2026.
Next year, Kansas City will host World Cup group stage matches on June 16, 20, 25 and 27. A knockout game (round of 16) will be played on July 3, and a quarterfinal match will be there on July 11.
The scene will be worth getting over to Kansas City for, if only to be part of the global festival.
The USA lost to Mexico 2-1 in Houston on Sunday in the Gold Cup final before a crowd of more than 70,000. Most fans in attendance were cheering for Mexico.
Following the game, USA coach Mauricio Pochettino noted the atmosphere at his team’s games, in Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Houston.
“I think that today, like in (St. Louis against) Guatemala, it’s a thing in our country to see how important are the fans to be in the stadium, to stay with the team, to support, not only through Instagram, social media or through behind the TV,” he said.
“It’s to be here and translate the energy.”
Did you hear that, America? Were you listening, St. Louis?
We can’t retreat on the goal to become a truly international city. The more days like July 2 in St. Louis, the better.
The Reid Roundup
There are few Black MLB players destined for the All-Star Game on July 15 in Atlanta. NY Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is an American League starter. He is joined by fellow Yankee Jazz Chisholm and Minnesota outfielder Byron Buxton…Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood is the only Black player on the National League roster…Dave Roberts of the World Champion L.A. Dodgers is NL manager…Mookie Betts of the Dodgers is noticeable in his absence from the NL roster…A special place on the roster was made for Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw…The New York Islanders selected defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson with the No. 17 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. A dynamic player of color, nhl.com says, “He can quarterback a power play and be a shutdown, in-your-face type performer. He enjoys playing physical and can back it up.”