It might be an everyday occasion for many, but July 28 marked National Soccer Day.
As the name of the day states, it was spent honoring and celebrating soccer, the world’s most popular sport.
The United States, specifically, has seen soccer grow in many ways the last few years. From hosting major tournaments like the Club World Cup, Copa America and more to the rise of Major League Soccer with Lionel Messi and more stars involved, the state of soccer is in formidable shape heading into next year’s World Cup.
To mark the celebration of the sport, legendary Telemundo soccer broadcaster Andres Cantor and his son, Nico, of CBS Sports partnered with Lowe’s, which will have a soccer ball giveaway in all of its stores across the country for all of the retailer’s reward members.
“It’s great that Lowe’s is making an initiative to to really back a sport that in one year it feels like we’re reaching a junction point,” Nico said. “And for somebody that has family that has been seeing the growth of soccer in this country forever, it’s incredible to see that a brand as big as Lowe’s is ready to take the next step and accompany the growth of this sport, into a new age.”
Andres, who will be a focal point of Telemundo’s 2026 World Cup coverage, has been in the broadcasting business for several decades, while he played a key role in helping his son find his voice.
Nico got his first role at age 15 in high school through Andres’ radio network Futbol de Primera, where he was assigned sideline reporting gigs. Fast forward to today, Nico has covered the Champions League, Europa League and more with CBS Sports Golazo, as well as even commentating games with his dad.
Andres discussed what it meant to him seeing his son flourish in the industry.
“I knew that was going to be natural for him,” Andres said. “But obviously seeing him every morning on national television and doing all his stuff, calling games in Spanish and English and doing the incredible job that he does for Golazo network with the wrap around show around the Champions League and the Europa League and now Conference League, it’s really touching because I can’t separate my feelings because after all, he’s my son. And, you know, I really admire what he’s doing at the professional level.”
But while Andres has been made proud by his son, the U.S. men’s national team, a side he routinely covers, there’s a slightly different feeling following the Gold Cup runner-up finish to Mexico despite Mauricio Pochettino’s squad missing several key players.
“It’s a work in progress,” Andres said. “It’s a pity that Pochettino didn’t have his full squad in this tournament because it’s the last official tournament before they go into the World Cup. And it would have been nice to have the eight missing starters, quote unquote. Because obviously the backline body will be with Sergino Dest and Anthony Robinson on the flanks. Chris Richards was the only one that we know if he has a good season in Europe will be in the back.
“So, he had way too many absentees in this Gold Cup. So, I think it’s a work in progress and I hope that, you know, come the next one, double window in September, that he gets the team together and starts winning.”
Nico acknowledged that there needs to be more urgency in the team’s approach, as the Stars and Stripes cannot afford a letdown performance at a critical time in the sport’s history in the country.
“If I may be a little bit harsher, if there are certain check points that you want to be hitting a year out from the World Cup,” Nico started. “I think the United States men’s national team missed the mark this summer, on several fronts. They’re not wrongs that you can’t right in a year’s time from now. And yes, it is a work in progress, but there’s a lot of work to do.
“And for the United States, I think the players understand the demand of a top performance. But we were so hopeful for a top performance that would really inspire for U.S. men’s national team fans a year out from the World Cup. And I don’t think we got that fully, especially with the absences of several players. But it’s not something that you can’t undo. And there’s just a handful of windows left with top quality opposition heading into the World Cup and the United States must take advantage of those moments, because there’s seldom moments in what is ramping up to be possibly the biggest jumping off point in the history of the sport in this country.”
Nico and Andrés Cantor explain the importance of National Soccer Day. Nico discusses how he became a soccer broadcaster and what it’s like to call games with his father Andrés.