is almost ready for the knockout round when teams start to really dream of a championship North, America's hosting the tournament for the first time since 1994 and a lot has changed in the past 30 years.

The number of teams participating on the world stage has doubled.

Soccer has continued to grow in popularity in the U.S.

and of course, the cost to attend.

The match has risen.

Now.

Joining us to talk about the World Cup and the growth of soccer.

Here are our Kay Bradley chief marketing officer for the Chicago stars and could seen occur.

All director operations and co-founder of Fletcher's at Sea, Chicago, a huge soccer academy.

Thank you both for joining us out of the car.

question ever.

Who are you guys going for the World Cup?

John, start start considering we're co-founded by Jesus.

Zavala from the area.

Those in Mexico.

We are Big Mexico fan.

>> And then of course, United States.

I love that about While we have players on our team that represent all different nations.

But >> my background was working with the U.S.

Soccer Federation for several years.

So I've seen U.S.

players grow hours in the system and really excited see how they continue honor.

I just what I love the Mexico Chan post like Mahe goal.

>> Many of okay.

I want to start with you.

We've heard for decades now.

The soccer is the sport of the future in the U.S.

>> Are we finally Well, I would say so.

With over 50 million viewers and just the U.S.

alone.

And I think something like 2 million attendees at the World Cup.

I think it is hard to our new otherwise.

There's definitely so much excitement, an energy around this World Cup.

It's possible when you walk out on the streets in Chicago, you see people wearing the jerseys, watch parties all across the city bars and venues, even if people energies and it is just so exciting.

So yeah, you can't refute that.

Soccer is absolutely here to fill us.

And Christina, absolutely.

The it's been incredible to watch.

Not just with our our players but the watch parties in the U.S.

we just got back from Mile high.

We're at the fan fest there and it was just and incredible, energetic experience think it is so interesting to just be walking down the street and seeing everybody with their jerseys and just seeing their private think it brings a different kind of spirit to the city.

>> And and, Kate, I want to talk about the Chicago stars would initiatives event or events of the stars have been putting on to get more people, especially young folks interested in soccer.

Yeah.

So this has been a really exciting time for us to our team is actually on a little bit of a break.

But the club itself has been working around the clock to ensure that were part of this incredible cultural moment.

>> That is happening across the specifically in Chicago, Land area.

So we actually have a Chicago city sprinter, but it's making its way around the city, the suburbs, Chicago, to bring the excitement and energy of the World Cup and Chicago stars and soccer to the community and showing up at festivals and farmers markets with activations in front of events for kids in the family.

So really excited about that.

We've also been partnering with organizations on future Stars Fast, which is clinics to bring soccer out to the community and ensure that it's accessible and specifically accessible to girls in environments where girls feel confident and comfortable and feel like they can fuller And then we've also been really excited about content especially with the younger generation making sure that will present.

seems a little bit on track to spot yeah our players and our players and how they're engaging with the World Cup, especially since a lot of our players play on international stage.

They are World Cup players in their own right for a number of nations.

And so for them to engage in the conversation has women who have experienced the biggest stage there is in soccer and build a talk from that perspective, share their stories of Pleasant Hill.

You're excited of.

Christine, I want to bring you.

Let's talk about flat as it is a relatively new club now has a World Cup affected interest in your programs?

How excited are the kiddos?

They are obsessed that they are obsessed all of the players reading all of the facts watching them play collecting the stickers, trading them.

>> Sharing it with friends who might not normally play soccer kicking, but the around and really just seeing themselves represented on the world stage.

really inspires them to be better.

Some of kids and they're gaining confidence.

They're in the age range for the people who are in the camps between 7 and 12.

Also the pretty young yeah, they're little and they're really excited about the World Cup learning being very inspired city.

Also started this with your husband.

I did.

So just celebrated our one year anniversary and we are partners with a professional player in Mexico, which is our name for a cause.

That was his nickname when he played for the rate those Monterey.

Do you think that motivates a young young use to look at a player like them I can I can do that.

I can go to the World Cup yes, it does.

When they see someone like them and it really motivates them, especially we have some players that live number one.

So they see Brian Gutierrez was American Mexican in the world has for young as well.

Reyes young.

Yes, there's a lot of young players as well.

And some have braces still like can see themselves in these players.

And they're very inspired and just obsessed winning all the kids and and what you know, why do you think this resonates with with so many people across the globe?

Well, listen, I mean, I think soccer is one of those sports that brings people together, right?

I mean, it is so global.

It's so diverse.

There's an energy to it.

You can literally be from anywhere and connect and relate to the sport into the energy, into the inspiration.

>> And so I think it's just a it's a massive unifying factor for people all over the city all over the country all over the world.

I think people really feel that camaraderie, especially the time right now and people are looking for connection and looking for belonging looking for joy.

It brings all of that and brings all of us together, day in and day out of this tournament.

And I'm excited to say hopefully beyond especially when there's also women's World Cup.

So as we think about, you know, what's next?

You have the World Cup this summer.

That's a really a springboard to then the rest of the NWSL season.

A memo last season we play throughout the summer and the fall to keep the soccer excitement going and then we have the women's World Cup and 27.

And then the Olympic are handling a lot to forward go.

And think has this amazing runway.

So if you are a small child and you are excited and engaged about the World Cup.

>> You just have this amazing pathway between now and when you're in better that it's possible to be a part of there as a player as a fan or as a profession.

You and Kristina, you talked a little bit about how you went to a lot of to watch many call pay Correa.

How was that?

How is that there?

I've seen videos.

Yeah.

And it looks amazing.

It was amazing.

It was incredible.

They were people of all ages, different backgrounds and there were music events sporting entertainment, dancing.

And it was just it.

>> Energizing incredible.

can't even explain how how fun it was.

And there was such a love Brohm and between the Koreans and the Mexico saying that it was like such great connection between Coles.

Yes, the cat.

The Koreans worry Mexican shirts under their current insurance, waving the flag.

They were dancing but getting Kong it was a beautiful experience.

We saw so many people from around the world wearing the shirts and like you said, it's very global and happy and joyful.

Even when their teams are not winning.

They're supporting.

The other team as an amazing experience.

And the last question I want to ask is okay where where we just had the best places to go.

Watch the game?

Well, I think there are a number of amazing places in the city.

I don't think you can go wrong.

The stars are partnering with some local soccer house in West end and then double clutch Evanston.

So >> we're integrating with these venues and bringing players out to guests.

Part end and to Ascot out.

So really great place.

But you can't go wrong if there's a place in the city that showing game.

The vibe is as long really I was at a local bar certain Rogers Park.

That's right.

up Mullins and it was a small crowd.

But we were high