Alexi Lalas (@AlexiLalas) was a defender on the US Men's World Cup team in 1994. He is also the first modern-era American soccer player to play in the Italian Serie A. After a career as a Major League Soccer player, Lalas has served as an executive for the San Jose Earthquakes, New York Red Bulls, and Los Angeles Galaxy. In 2006 he was elected into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. He currently works in sports media and first started as an analyst for ESPN and ABC Sports before transitioning to FOX Sports.

Lalas is so excited that soccer has grown drastically in popularity and participation over the past few years. There is a huge soccer family that is passionate and discerning. Men, women, and children are all participating as well. "America is a soccer country, and America is a soccer culture, and it warms the cockles of my heart."