By Juan Arango

Since I was a kid, I remember not going to games because it was “Mexico” or “El Salvador” or “this” or “that.”

I do remember going to see the US National Team and I remember seeing Atlético Nacional (in its heyday) as well. It was easy back then to go to the Orange Bowl to see Brazil play. For me that was a moment of bonding with my dad.

But those days are long gone and the entire soccer community is here left longing for those days. No longer do we see Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Colombia, even the US National Team in South Florida.

And that (you fill in the blank).

I still remember Ito’s goal silencing the Orange Bowl in the first match of the Olympic tournament against Brazil. I remember the Japanese fan that hugged my dad and smeared tears and snot on his shirt after his team beat that side with Ronaldo and Aldair.

I also remember that, back then, we weren’t Mexican, Colombian, Peruvian or whatever. We were representatives from Latin communities that wanted to see the visiting national team hand the US its backside. We were, and are, proud of our roots.

That was a long time ago, but it is certainly one reason why we don’t see the US playing in South Florida anymore.

After moving back to Florida from Connecticut, I see the results of what I consider apathy that – from a mature perspective – I now see us paying for. And not even at the international/professional level. Trying to organize soccer in Miami is like running a city tour in Baghdad: Lots of effort required and few takers.

So, we find ourselves hurt, confused and disillusioned. How can our passion for the game be ignored?

Here’s why:

Soccer in Miami is failing because it is marketed to the NFL-, Major League Baseball- and NBA-parents who think of soccer as a thing that they have to endure on Saturday morning at a park. It is also marketed to the South Beach crowd who are more interested in what color and cut the jerseys are than in who’s wearing them.

Both demographics (above) are exclusive functions of disposable income.

The way I see it is that soccer needs to be marketed to the individuals that - may have less income - but income nonetheless that they are willing to spend on soccer. These are not the middle-upper class soccer moms that drive around minivans filled with private school kids.

No.

They are the people from Homestead, Liberty City, and North Miami. These are the Mexicans, Colombians, Peruvians and whatevers that used to pack the stadia to see the nations of their birth play fútbol.

If Miami wants any part of the US 2018/2022 World Cup bid, these are the people to reach.

Por seguro.

Juan Arango is a member of Football Partnerships and a writer for the Miami Soccer Examiner and a founding partner at Mad About Fútbol.