The beautiful game has been part of our boys’ lives from the very start, filling their days with joy and creating countless cherished family memories. From kicking mini soccer balls around in our apartment when they were toddlers (much to the chagrin of our downstairs neighbor!) to playing with Beacon Hill Youth Soccer and then the Pacific Northwest Soccer Club, our boys have had a ball at their feet almost since the time they started walking. From Seattle to Spokane to San Diego, we’ve logged just a few (thousand) miles traversing the west coast watching them do what they love and cheering them on in victory… and defeat.
Kicking things off early. (Image: Amy Ephrem)
The summer of 2016 marked our oldest son’s first taste of soccer heartbreak. When Germany fell to France in the UEFA Euro Cup semifinals, the devastation was real for his 7-year-old heart. He spent the afternoon in tears, mourning as if he himself had single-handedly lost the match. Ironically, his only real connection to either team at the time was a hand-me-down German soccer t-shirt from Goodwill, but in that moment, the emotions of the game transcended borders and were felt deep in his heart.
Soccer isn’t just something our family enjoys alone. We do live in Seattle, after all, a city where the love for the game runs deep with passionate fans and a soccer history dating back to the late 1800s, a place where the sport isn’t just played but woven into the fabric of the community.
Over the past decade, we’ve been immersed in this community, celebrating unforgettable moments alongside thousands of fellow fans. We cheered in the streets when the Sounders won their first MLS Cup in 2016, joining 10,000 others at the victory parade, chanting and waving scarves in a sea of blue and green. Our boys also had the opportunity to serve as ball boys during a Seattle Sounders S2 (now Tacoma Defiance) match, cheer on the Huskies men’s team with their soccer club, and meet many Sounders players over the years while sharing the Starfire Sports practice facility.
All smiles after a big win! (Image: Amy Ephrem)
Our family’s commitment to the game goes beyond spectating. It’s also been about giving back and growing the sport for future generations. In 2018 we volunteered for the Special Olympics USA Games held at the University of Washington, where we witnessed a unified soccer event that united and uplifted athletes of all abilities. We were also thrilled to get involved when the RAVE Foundation came to our New Holly neighborhood in 2022 with their “26 x 2026” initiative, a movement to build 26 new mini soccer fields across the state of Washington, ensuring that every child has access to the game by the time the World Cup arrives here in 2026.
And speaking of the World Cup, of course we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see our Seattle Sounders compete in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup this summer, an opportunity that became even more exciting when their opponent, Paris Saint-Germain F.C., clinched the victory in the UEFA Champions League final last month… in Germany, a place my son has now visited and is no longer crying over. After all, it isn’t every day you get to watch your local MLS team take on European Champions, let alone a team that some consider the most successful French club in history.
Game day energy at Lumen Field — 50,000+ fans ready for the Club World Cup. (Image: Amy Ephrem)
The FIFA Club World Cup is an international men’s club soccer tournament featuring the top teams from each continent — think UEFA Champions League winners, CONCACAF champions, and more — competing for the global title. For the first time ever, the tournament is expanded to include 32 teams and is being hosted in the United States, with Seattle as one of the proud host cities. Lumen Field welcomed fans from across the globe as the Sounders made history, becoming the first MLS team to participate in the tournament. It’s a moment Seattle soccer fans have been dreaming of for years, and we weren’t going to miss our chance to be part of it.
After a little hiccup at the security checkpoint, (tip to those attending World Cup matches: FIFA is serious about the 4.5″ x 6.5″ limit on small clutches and wallets! If it doesn’t fit inside the box on the table, it’s not going in) we made our way into Lumen Field with 50,600+ other fans (many no doubt skipping out on work!) for the noon match on Monday, June 23rd. To the booming shouts of “Se-at-tle Sound-ers” and the drumming of the Sound Wave band, our team played their hearts out. We were on our feet still hoping for a coveted goal in the five extra minutes of added time, but ultimately, it was PSG who prevailed in the end with a 2-0 victory. Even though the Sounders didn’t come away with a win, our family came away with yet another Seattle soccer memory we will forever treasure.
We’ve even crossed oceans for the game (Image: Amy Ephrem)
Soccer has shaped our family in many ways, from the stadiums to the streets, from playing to volunteering. We love this beautiful game with its shared passion, worldwide community, and a lasting legacy we’re proud to be a part of. For us, soccer is a connection that stretches beyond the Seattle skyline and US borders. The beautiful game has an extraordinary way of forging deep bonds, spanning nations, and bringing generations together. With these Club World Cup games happening in Seattle, we’re getting the chance of a lifetime to witness this magic unfold right here in our own city. And with the Emerald City set to host matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup as well, it’s clear the city’s place on the global soccer stage is only just beginning.
