Soccer

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, but it is only the 4th most popular sport in the United States, following far behind American football, baseball, and basketball. American interest in soccer has expanded since the 1960s, with a significant period of growth in the 1990s following events such as the inclusion of the U.S. Men’s team in the FIFA World Cup in 1990, the first time since 1950. Other notable events include the U.S. Women’s team winning the first FIFA Women’s World Cup, the U.S. hosting the FIFA World Cup in 1994, and the creation of Major League Soccer in 1995.

This increased interest in soccer led to the publication of new soccer magazines. Three soccer magazines from the Samir Husni Magazine Collection are featured here: Soccer Illustrated, Soccer JR., and Soccer USA. These magazines were geared towards adults and children alike and featured content such as player profiles, game strategy, and multilingual articles on all levels of play. As the internet grew in popularity, many soccer magazines of the 1990s were discontinued or shifted to online-only formats.

SoccerIllustratedp0001.jpg

Soccer Illustrated Vol. 1, No. 1

With the 1994 American soccer season declared as the best and most important year for the sport looming in the distance, Paper Plane Publishing launched its entirely new magazine in the spring of 1994. Carried by the hopes of making its mark as a voice to be recognized and respected throughout the world of soccer, Soccer Illustrated vowed to give the readers what they wanted –– more soccer. Marketing itself as a reputable source for exclusive content, Soccer Illustrated featured an ambitious spread, promising a Roy Wegerle exclusive, stories of soccer stars to watch out for, and special glance at the upcoming 1994 World Cup.

Hitting the ground running with a promising start, Soccer Illustrated did not disappoint. From inside scoops of the US Men’s National Team to news about soccer across oceans and around the globe, Soccer Illustrated distinguished themselves as a valuable news source for issues to come.

SoccerJrp0001.jpg

Soccer JR. Vol. 1, No. 1

Soccer JR. was a bimonthly soccer magazine for children founded by parents Joe Provey and Tom Mindrum with art director Horst Weber after noticing that Sports Illustrated for Kids did not cover soccer. By 1997, Soccer JR. had 115,000 subscribers and was the largest soccer publication in the United States. Being bimonthly, the magazine had six issues per year and focused on topics like game strategy, equipment, nutrition, camp, global game styles, and more. Four special editions were also published throughout the year and focused on major league soccer, high school soccer, coaching, and parents. 

Readership was developed through distribution at youth soccer tournaments, by direct mail, and by including promotional materials in soccer ball boxes. The magazine was part of an advertising research group called Kids’ Magnet, alongside other titles like Nickelodeon Magazine, Boys’ Life, and Girls Life. In 2000, Soccer JR. was acquired by Scholastic Inc.

Soccer USA

Soccer USA Vol. 1, No. 4

Soccer, or fútbol, has deep cultural roots in Latinx culture. The sport was introduced to Central and South America through British colonial expansion, but the people of these regions came to view the sport as an expression of cultural strength and solidarity. Hispanic immigrants to the United States brought their love of soccer with them, and many became involved in both amateur and professional soccer leagues in the U.S. 

Soccer USA is an expression of that legacy. Founded and produced by Latinx-American soccer fans in Houston, Texas, including two physicians, Soccer USA produced a bilingual edition with English and Spanish content covering international soccer news and analysis. The November 1992 edition includes coverage of international competitions including plans for the 1994 World Cup, photo galleries, coverage of current and historical soccer stars, and collectible posters.