The 2026 FIFA World Cup wrapped up over the weekend, marking the close of an unforgettable tournament that brought together fans from around the globe to celebrate the world's most popular sport. The term ‘football’ refers to different games across cultures, but soccer and American football are more closely connected than many realize.
As the excitement from the World Cup winds down, it's a fitting time to explore how football, in all its forms, has extended beyond the field to create lasting connections across sports and cultures.
Soccer’s Influence on NFL Players
Many NFL players grew up as multi-sport athletes. Soccer was one of the more common sports that helped to shape their athletic development, and this connection is especially evident among kickers and punters. Precision, footwork and techniques developed through soccer have helped shape the careers of some of the game’s greatest specialists, including three PFRPA members; Pro Football Hall of Famers Jan Stenerud and Morten Anderson, as well as All-Pro Kicker Nick Lowery.
Born in Norway, Stenerud helped revolutionize the NFL by popularizing the soccer-style kicking technique. Prior to Stenerud and other European-born kickers entering the league, NFL kickers typically relied on the “straight-on” kicking style, when the kicker approaches the ball from directly behind and strikes it with the front of their toe. After growing up playing soccer, Stenerud was on a ski jumping scholarship at Montana State University when he saw the football team practicing kicking at the stadium. He asked whether it was legal to kick the ball with the side of his foot. After being invited to try, he quickly began outperforming the team’s kicker.
Stenerud went on to become the first pure placekicker to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991. His influence paved the way for generations of NFL specialists with soccer backgrounds.
Hall of Fame kicker Morten Andersen, who grew up playing soccer in Denmark, has said that the sport helped with developing his technique and athleticism that contributed to his 25-year NFL career.
Retired All-Pro kicker Nick Lowery was born in Germany and grew up a four-sport athlete. He has spoken about how soccer shaped his kicking mechanics, precision and leg strength.
Their careers showcase one of the many ways football, in all its forms, has influenced generations of NFL players.
NFL Stadiums on the World Stage
All 11 U.S. host venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup were current NFL stadiums, with three also serving as the regular home stadiums for Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs. When brought to the world stage, many of these stadiums had to temporarily change their names due to FIFA’s sponsorship rules. For example, in Atlanta, the Falcons and Atlanta United FC host their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the same venue where PFRPA will host its 3rd Annual PFRPA Champions Banquet in September. However, during the FIFA World Cup, the venue was renamed to “Atlanta Stadium.”
MetLife Stadium, temporarily known as “New York New Jersey Stadium,” hosted the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, making it one of the most recognizable venues of the tournament.
The connection between the NFL and soccer also extends beyond the United States. Each year, NFL teams travel internationally to compete in some of the world’s most iconic soccer stadiums, bringing American football to new audiences across the globe. Some of these venues include England’s Wembley Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, as well as Germany’s Allianz Arena in Munich.
These international matchups continue to create opportunities for fans around the world to experience football in all forms.
Bringing Football Communities Together
The link between American football and soccer extends beyond players and stadiums, with organizations like PFRPA helping bring the two sports together through a shared commitment to community.
Earlier this year, PFRPA welcomed the U.S. Soccer Foundation as a strategic alliance partner, bringing together retired NFL players and youth soccer through the Foundation’s Yes, Coach! initiative.
The U.S. Soccer Foundation provides underserved communities with access to play spaces and soccer programs that promote youth well-being and development. The Yes, Coach! Initiative provides coaches with training to become mentors who help young people build confidence; develop life skills; and succeed both on and off the field.
By utilizing the mentorship and leadership skills of retired NFL players, PFRPA is proud to help connect youth with positive role models.
The Lasting Impact of Football
The connection between soccer and American football goes far beyond the field. It can be found in the organizations working to create positive change through sport, the athletes who have shaped these sports or the stadiums that have welcomed football in all forms.
Following the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the shared passion behind both games serves as a lasting reminder that football has the power to connect communities across the globe.