In a memorable 1978 spectacle at Mile High Stadium, the legendary Pelé made a dramatic entrance on horseback before a match between the Colorado Caribous and the New York Cosmos. This iconic moment, captured in a photograph by Mark Junge, symbolises the unique and often unconventional journey of soccer in the United States. It is within this rich tapestry of American football history that Pablo Iglesias Maurer now embarks on his new role as a soccer correspondent for the Guardian in the US.
A Personal Journey Through American Soccer's Evolution
Pablo Iglesias Maurer brings a deeply personal perspective to his coverage, rooted in decades of engagement with the sport. In his Washington DC office, a vintage pennant proclaiming soccer as "the sport of the 80s" hangs alongside memorabilia of indoor soccer legend Steve Zungul and the famous image of Pelé on horseback. For much of the 20th century, soccer in America was perpetually seen as the sport of the next decade, struggling to shed its image as a foreign and exotic pursuit.
"It's what drew me to the sport in the first place," Maurer reflects on soccer's outsider status during the mid-80s when he began playing. His teenage years in Spain, watching Johan Cruyff's Barcelona sides, profoundly influenced his understanding of the game, much like the cultural impact of Nirvana's Nevermind album. Returning to Tennessee in 1993, he found a landscape devoid of top-flight professional soccer, instead immersing himself in the grassroots scene with the Nashville Metros of the old A-League, among a small community of dedicated enthusiasts.
The Turning Point and Continued Growth
The 1994 World Cup served as a pivotal moment, thrusting soccer into the mainstream American consciousness and catalysing its ongoing expansion. Today, Americans enthusiastically wake up early to watch international matches and are increasingly embracing domestic leagues. Maurer's writing career, which began in the early 2010s, has focused on uncovering stories that explore the cultural, historical, and sociological dimensions of soccer beyond mere match reports.
He notes that unlike more established American sports like baseball or football, soccer's narrative in the US remains largely unwritten, offering a wealth of untold stories from both past and present. The sport intersects with various facets of American society, including politics, business, and culture, demanding both serious analytical coverage and lighter, engaging content.
Guardian's Expansion Ahead of 2026 World Cup
Maurer's appointment is part of the Guardian's strategic expansion of its soccer coverage in the United States, building momentum towards the 2026 World Cup. He joins two other new hires: soccer correspondent Jeff Rueter and assistant sports editor Ella Brockway. Based in Washington DC, Maurer aims to delve into the endless fascination of American soccer, from its quirky historical moments like Pelé's horseback entrance to its current dynamic growth.
"We're only a half-century removed from that moment that Pelé took the field on horseback," Maurer observes, highlighting how far the sport has come while acknowledging its enduring peculiar charm. His role will involve capturing the full spectrum of American soccer's evolution, ensuring comprehensive and insightful reporting for Guardian readers worldwide.
