{"id":673736,"date":"2026-05-16T01:18:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T01:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/673736\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T01:18:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T01:18:09","slug":"american-football-is-hurting-the-usmnt-says-nfl-legend-rob-gronkowski","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/673736\/","title":{"rendered":"American Football Is Hurting the USMNT, Says NFL Legend Rob Gronkowski"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>On very few occasions do football and the <a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/nfl\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:NFL;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;NFL&quot;}\" class=\"link \">NFL <\/a>cross paths, but nowadays in the United States, one of them is gaining more momentum.<\/p>\n<p>With packed stadiums on both sides, soccer is creating a sort of sports revolution, already surpassing <a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/mlb\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:MLB;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;MLB&quot;}\" class=\"link \">MLB <\/a>in viewership and marketing.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>However, it is impossible not to mention that American football and basketball remain the dominant sports in the United States.<\/p>\n<p>Even so, several <a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/nfl\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:NFL;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;NFL&quot;}\" class=\"link \">NFL<\/a> athletes are beginning to recognize and join the movement that soccer is generating across America.<\/p>\n<p>During an interview on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DYXu_GJj8Ag\/?igsh=dzJzaDR6eDlpeWRv&amp;img_index=2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The Late Run Show;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;The Late Run Show&quot;}\" class=\"link \">The Late Run Show<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/tag\/rob-gronkowski\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Rob Gronkowski;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Rob Gronkowski&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Rob Gronkowski<\/a>, a National Football League legend and considered the greatest tight end in the history of the sport, explained that American football is hurting soccer and the <a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/tag\/usmnt\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:USMNT;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;USMNT&quot;}\" class=\"link \">USMNT<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think the USMNT would be a top 3 team in the world,\u201d Rob Gronkowski.<\/p>\n<p>During his conversation with <a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/tag\/chad-ochocinco\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Chad Ochocinco;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Chad Ochocinco&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Chad Ochocinco<\/a>, another famous National Football League player, the former <a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/nfl\/new-england-patriots\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:New England Patriots;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;New England Patriots&quot;}\" class=\"link \">New England Patriots<\/a> star explained that, with the athletic ability currently seen in positions like wide receivers and defensive backs, the United States men&#8217;s national <a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/fantasy\/80-funny-fantasy-soccer-team-names-2016\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:soccer team;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;soccer team&quot;}\" class=\"link \">soccer team<\/a> would be the third-best national team in the world.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur best athletes all play football, American football. If those athletes had started playing soccer at a young age, like our wide receivers and DBs, I believe the USMNT would be a top-three team in the world when it comes to the <a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/olympics\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Olympics;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Olympics&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Olympics<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/soccer\/2026-world-cup\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:World Cup;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;World Cup&quot;}\" class=\"link \">World Cup<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>In that same discussion, the multiple-time <a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/tag\/super-bowl\/page\/8\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Super Bowl;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Super Bowl&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Super Bowl<\/a> champion emphasized that American football is limiting the USMNT&#8217;s potential by drawing away many of the nation\u2019s top athletes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think our football ruined the soccer game, kind of ruined our soccer teams and Team USA.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The truth is that, even though the words used by Rob Gronkowski may sound somewhat harsh, soccer is not as popular in the United States as most kids dream of playing in the National Football League rather than in <a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/soccer\/mls\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:MLS;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;MLS&quot;}\" class=\"link \">MLS <\/a>or another soccer club.<\/p>\n<p>This story was originally published by <a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/soccer\/international\/american-football-is-hurting-the-usmnt-says-nfl-legend-rob-gronkowski\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Athlon Sports;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Athlon Sports&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Athlon Sports<\/a> on May 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the <a href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/soccer\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Soccer;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Soccer&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Soccer<\/a> section. Add Athlon Sports as a <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=athlonsports.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Preferred Source by clicking here.;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Preferred Source by clicking here.&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"On very few occasions do football and the NFL cross paths, but nowadays in the United States, one&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":673737,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[559],"tags":[634,64,63,1231,593,74139,264090,85,325043,1055,131203],"class_list":["post-673736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-american-football","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-new-england-patriots","tag-nfl","tag-rob-gronkowski","tag-soccer-team","tag-sports","tag-sports-revolution","tag-united-states","tag-usmnt"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/673736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=673736"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/673736\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/673737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=673736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=673736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=673736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}