A stadium of thousands scream "Gooooooaaaaaaaal!" Drums beat and horns sound almost as fast as our feet stomp on the wooden planks below. The ball moves quickly, fights break out on the field. Beer is consumed among the masses. The thrill is in the stadium. The pitch is heaven on earth.

Ftbol. Football. Here in the United States, we call it soccer. But it sounds so much more romantic in Spanish. Maybe that has to do with how much these foreigners love this sport. Although David Beckham and his Hollywood fanfare may be changing the name of the game, soccer in the United States still appears to be a third rate game. How can anyone in their right mind underestimate the power of a good soccer match? The bright green field scattered with fit, agile athletes using their skills to make the opposing team look like clowns. It's outstanding! Even more intriguing is the way a single game can be such a significant part of so many countries, iconic among so many cultures.

This beautiful game is the world's most popular sport; the only one organized and played by the same rules the world over. More than 200 countries and 30 million players are registered with FIFA.

Last month I made my way over to Nevers field in Santa Rosa to watch the Sonoma County Sol. Founded just three years ago, the team is a member of the NPSL (National Premier Soccer League). A few Sol players have moved up from this "minor league" soccer team to play for Major League Soccer teams. On this balmy Friday night, the crowd was small but spirited. Both teams put up a strong fight and I would gladly return for another game, if only for the dollar hot dogs during the second half. If you have not had the chance to see a Sol soccer match, it is a flavor of Sonoma County you should definitely get a taste of.

If you are interested in supporting teams outside of Sonoma County, and have been following the battle to bring a Major League Soccer team back to the San Francisco Bay Area, just last month it was announced the San Jose Earthquakes will return in 2008. I was lucky enough to attend a few San Jose Earthquakes games during their last season. Next year looks like it will bring a whole new string of players but it's sure to be a team to follow.

Another option in the Bay Area is the California Victory that plays at San Francisco's historic Kezar Stadium. Owner Dmitri Piterman is also president of Spanish club Deportivo Alaves.

In following the US Men's National Team, if there was only one thing to take away from an international soccer match, let it be the sweet taste of camaraderie between two countries.
I may be a little biased when it comes to a love for soccer, but it is a special sport that spans every continent. Sometimes it can be a means to an end, at least temporarily, as was the case during the 2006 World Cup, when Africa's Cote d'Ivoire national football team helped to secure a truce to the nation's civil war. As we watch our favored teams, we may walk away learning a little something about another culture. At the very least we learn about sportsmanship and respect. Football, futbol or soccer. However you say it, the game is truly magical.

Learn more about this author, Miranda M. Hansen.
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