Kenny Cooper, who played for FC Dallas for several seasons, reflects on the current U.S. Men’s National Team and their impact on the sport during their historic performance in this FIFA World Cup. Even before the U.S. Men’s National Team steps on the pitch for their Round of 16 matchup agains t Belgium on Monday, July 6, they will have already made history. Going into their Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1, the team had lost 10 consecutive games to European teams and had never beaten a European team in the FIFA World Cup knockout rounds. To add to the historic tournament for the USMNT, this is the first time they have ever won three games at a single World Cup. Kenny Cooper, former FC Dallas forward and team ambassador, said even before the tournament started, he knew this team was something special. “There are guys that start games playing amazing. There are guys coming off the bench who have made massive contributions,” Cooper said. “This team is just so special, and it’s just amazing to see all these people come together. They all have different stories and have found a way to unify and represent this country in the most amazing way. I’ve just had such pride watching this team.” A large part of those contributions have come from players whose road to the international stage went right through North Texas. Specifically, the FC Dallas Youth Academy. “I’m just so proud of these guys. Four of the guys on the USMNT came through here. [Alex] Zendejas, Chris Richards, Ricardo Pepe and Weston McKennie. They are all superstar players, and they’re doing so great,” Cooper said. He said to him, what makes this team different than any other is the togetherness. Cooper said he hasn’t seen a USMNT playing like a team like this in recent history. In addition to the players on the USMNT, FC Dallas saw three of its current players on the pitch representing other countries. Petar Musa is a forward with Croatia, Herman Johansson with Sweden, and Don Deedson is a forward for Haiti. Deedson scored the goal that qualified Haiti for this World Cup. This tournament has also been special for Cooper in that he was able to take his father on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to see England play. The country he emigrated from decades ago. “My dad was part of a generation of players who played in the 1970’s for the great Lamar Hunt. They poured their heart and soul into the game. They used to knock on doors to get people to come out to a soccer match. They were begging people. My personal mission coming into this World Cup was to go to see England and take my dad with me. My dad just turned 80, and we were able to take him to the match at Dallas Stadium,” Cooper said. Cooper said they pushed his dad nearly a mile in his wheelchair to get him inside the stadium, but that nothing was going to stop them. Lamar Hunt is credited with shaping sports like football and soccer in North Texas. The American sports pioneer, raised in Dallas, is known for founding FC Dallas and helping to build a foundation for the club that would live on. Cooper’s dad played for 15 years professionally and coached another 20. He then watched him play for his 12-year career that included a stint from 2006 to 2009 and again in 2013. He said while this has been one of the best World Cup tournaments he has ever seen, he also hopes people are left with a positive and lasting impression of the game he loves so much. Should the USMNT continue to win, their path to the final would run through Dallas Stadium in Arlington for the semifinal match. The Round of 16 against Belgium is Monday, July 6. Kickoff at 7 p.m. CT. ...read more read less