As the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan comes to a close with Sunday's final between Germany and Brazil, MLS Commissioner Don Garber offers the following thoughts on the state of American soccer. An abridged version of the Commissioner's thoughts appears in the Editorial/Op-Ed section of The New York Times dated Sunday, June 30, 2002.

Historically our sports have always been far more than the games we play. They are a reflection of who we are as people, a sign of the times we live in. Baseball has been referred to as "America's pastime" given its rich history. Football's "gridiron" harkens back to the hard-working values of America's farmlands, coalmines and steel mills. Basketball has its roots in rural driveways and the blacktops of our inner cities. NASCAR traces its heritage to southern moonshiners, while golf and tennis were the privileged country club sports.

Of course, these are all historical references that tell us where we've come from but don't necessarily represent where we are or, importantly, where we're going. In today's fast-paced, complex, diverse, fragmented, shrinking world, it is dangerous to attach labels to such things. Did our current golf and tennis champions, Tiger Woods and the Williams sisters, learn their games at a country club? Does the great Jeff Gordon even know what moonshine is? What about all the Dominicans and Puerto Ricans in baseball or the increasing numbers of Europeans populating NBA rosters? The old labels simply don't fit in a "New America".

For many years, it has been popular in this country and others to label the sport of soccer as "un-American". Perhaps because it wasn't invented here, or dominated by a nation whose culture places such importance on being first and the best. Intelligent people have told me repeatedly that soccer is not "our" sport but "their" sport, meaning the rest of the world. But who are "they"? If you take a closer look at "us" you might be surprised to see that "they" are actually "we". I read with great interest a quote from the Director of our nation's 2000 Census, Kenneth Prewitt, where he said: "The 21st century will be the century in which we redefine ourselves as the first country in world history which is literally made up of every part of the world."

Think about that one. In today's world, soccer is perhaps the most American of all our nation's great sports.

Currently, the world's attention is tuned to the largest championship in all of sports, the FIFA World Cup. Not to slight any of the other major sports championships, but there is only one event that starts with nearly 200 countries, narrows the list down to 32 "finalists" through a brutal two-year qualification process, pits them against each other in a month-long global extravaganza and crowns a winner in front of half the world's population. To put it in traditional "American" terms this is a true "world series." This year's event in Korea and Japan has seen an unprecedented run by the U.S. Men's National Team to the quarterfinals, our best showing in more than 70 years. This team is a reflection of what Prewitt refers to above, as it includes players of various ethnic backgrounds - - from the cities and suburbs across America - - all of whom ply their trades in professional clubs here in Major League Soccer and abroad.

The success of America's team has lead to increased visibility and credibility for our sport, our Leagues and our players. It has also given a platform for the skeptics who believe professional soccer will never "arrive" in this country when, in fact, soccer, at all levels, is thriving in the United States.

Soccer is one of the largest and fastest-growing participatory sports in America. Much of this popularity is due to the fact that our sport does not discriminate based on physical size, ethnicity, socio-economic status or gender. All you need is a ball, some friends and some open space. This has resulted in our nation's high schools and colleges fielding teams in record numbers, feeding the development of players and fans for the professional ranks.

Following the wildly successful World Cup USA 1994, an event that witnessed sold-out stadiums across the country, some of the most prominent business and sportsmen in America - - Phil Anschutz, Lamar Hunt and Robert Kraft - - formed Major League Soccer. Several media entrepreneurs saw a similar opportunity following the landmark 1999 Women's World Cup and launched the Women's United Soccer Association in 2001. Each recognized that the country was changing and that professional soccer would benefit over the long term from those changes.

In only six-and-a-half seasons, MLS has attracted more than 18 million spectators to its regular-season games (with an average attendance of over 15,000 per game.). MLS has had a major network and cable contract with ABC and ESPN since its inception. Importantly, according to the 2001 ESPN Kids Poll, MLS is the fourth "favorite" League among kids, comparing favorably to the NFL, NBA and MLB.

Similar to the explosion of stadium construction in football and the arena sports, soccer-specific stadiums are being constructed to satisfy the demand of soccer fans. MLS currently has one such stadium in Columbus, Ohio; a $70 million soccer stadium is under construction in Los Angeles, and there are serious discussions taking place in New Jersey, Dallas, Kansas City and Washington, D.C. about constructing similar facilities.

Finally, we are witnessing in this World Cup the coming of age of the American professional soccer player, with literally millions more developing their games on soccer fields and alleyways throughout our country. Our young players are among the best in the world and truly represent the "New America." Landon Donovan, a bilingual 20-year old goal-scoring striker from Southern California. Brian McBride, a wholesome, yet gritty midwesterner. Clint Mathis, a 25-year old southerner from rural Georgia whose independent, offbeat nature results in highlight reel goals. DaMarcus Beasley, a 20-year old African-American from urban Fort Wayne Indiana, who grew up loving basketball, but excelling in soccer. And Pablo Mastroeni, a 25-year old naturalized citizen whose artful defensive skill reflects his Argentine roots.

Yes, the American sports landscape is crowded. Yes, the sport has a long way to go to achieve the greatness of the other major leagues. But by any measure the sport of soccer has arrived. It has established its rightful place in the "New America" and will continue to spread its influence in the years to come.