I don't often watch soccer. It's typically only on my TV when there's nothing else to watch, or during major international tournaments like the Euros or the World Cup. Soccer just isn’t a sport that has ever fully captured my attention as a spectator.
That being said, there’s something about the game that still fascinates me on so many levels. The complexity of the tactics involved in every match never ceases to amaze and confuse me. And the sheer physical stamina that a player must possess to be elite in the sport is astounding—according to Sports Illustrated, the average soccer player runs about 6.5 miles per game. To an avid soccer fan, that might sound normal, but to me, it was a revelation.
But admiration for the sport isn’t enough to make me want to settle down and watch it regularly. There needs to be more—something that truly grabs me. Other sports like baseball, hockey, football, and basketball consistently manage to, in the words “ensnare the senses,” to borrow a phrase from Severus Snape. Don’t get me wrong, soccer has done this for me before, but only for brief moments.
There’s always been a part of me that’s wanted to make soccer a more permanent fixture in my life. Every couple of years, when a major international tournament rolls around, I find myself swept up in the pageantry and excitement once again. At some point during these tournaments, I vow to become a dedicated soccer fan and commit to the club season come August. But as the months pass, my enthusiasm inevitably fades, and by September, I’m back to my old habits.
This past summer was no different. I found myself waking up at ungodly hours to watch the Euros in the morning and staying up late for the Copa América to cheer on the United States. When the U.S. team crashed out in the group stage, I was left feeling frustrated and disappointed—emotionally invested, perhaps for the first time. Maybe, I thought, I could finally become a full-time soccer fan after all.
Then came the club season, and with it, the need to pick a team to support. I naively chose to align myself with Tottenham Hotspur—a decision that, at the time, felt like a logical choice (though, little did I know, Tottenham was about to embark on one of its worst seasons in years… Oops).
As always, my interest waned when other sports re-entered the picture. When it came down to choosing between baseball, college football, and soccer, I consistently gravitated toward the first two. Faced with the option of waking up early on a Saturday to watch Tottenham face off against Ipswich Town, or sleeping in, my bed always won out. And once again, soccer faded from my life.
But not for long—because yesterday, soccer made its return.
The UEFA Champions League is in full swing, and one of the most exciting matchups in the Round of 16 saw Liverpool, the presumptive Premier League champions, take on Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Liverpool had won the first leg1 1-0 in Paris, putting them in a strong position for the second leg, which was played yesterday. And for this game, there was one more viewer than usual: me.
I tuned in not knowing exactly what to expect, but certain things were guaranteed. I knew the pageantry and atmosphere would be electric. In my limited experience watching Champions League games, my favorite part has always been the beginning—the Champions League Anthem. Every time I hear it, I get chills.
Yesterday was no different. The home crowd at Anfield made their presence felt from the very start, and during quieter moments when PSG gained some momentum, the French supporters made their voices heard as well. The atmosphere was electric, and simply experiencing that was worth it.
What happened in the game itself didn’t really matter to me. I was there for the vibes. It was only a plus that the game provided some excellent entertainment.
Liverpool dominated the first 12 minutes, controlling the tempo, before PSG struck first with a goal from Ousmane Dembélé, putting them ahead 1-0. The rest of regulation was an intense back-and-forth, but no other goals were scored.
With the score tied 1-1 on aggregate, the game went into extra time, and possibly penalty kicks, to decide who would advance to the quarterfinals. In my limited experience with extra time in soccer, I’ve found it usually fizzles out, with both teams exhausted after 90 minutes of play. This game was no different. Liverpool especially seemed spent during the additional 30 minutes of play. It looked like they could barely breathe.
That fatigue seemed to carry over into the ensuing penalty shootout that would decide who was going on to the quarterfinals. Some of that fatigue for Liverpool looked like it carried over into the ensuing penalty shootout that would decide who was going on to the quarterfinals. PSG dominated, converting all four of their kicks, while Liverpool only managed to score one. PSG’s goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, made two extraordinary saves to seal the win for the away side.
Will I watch more soccer after this? I think so.. The Champions League, with its top-tier European teams battling for supremacy, is compelling, especially with no team in particular for me to root for. I can just sit back and appreciate the greatness on display.
My journey with soccer isn’t over. Yesterday was a step in the right direction, but I know that I’ll need to put in more effort to truly immerse myself in the sport. When that will happen, I can’t say. Perhaps 2026?
With the 2026 World Cup coming to North America, and most of the games being played in the United States, the event could be historic. If FIFA gets it right, it may well be the best World Cup ever. Perhaps this is just some patriotic wishful thinking, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility. If that’s the case, then it’s even more important that I—and the rest of this great country—get on board with soccer. Our national team will need all the support they can get, and if they can receive even a fraction of the support the Liverpool fans gave their team at Anfield yesterday, I believe we’ll be in great shape.
In the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League, teams face each other twice—once at each team’s stadium. The aggregate score from those two games determines which team moves on to the next round.