Soccer is a favorite Italian pastime. For anyone even slightly familiar with Italian or Italian-American culture, you know that soccer, or calcio as they say in Italian, is something of a passion. It’s embedded into the culture. Most everyone has a favorite team whether it be the famous Serie A teams like AC Milano, Juventus, AS Roma, Napoli, or the lesser known teams like my favorite, Triestina, which happens to be in the illustrious Serie D.

Because St Louis was populated primarily by continental Europeans, most St Louisans have grown up watching soccer or have played on soccer teams when they were children. The Italian neighborhood in St Louis, The Hill, has been particularly influential in spreading the early popularity of soccer in St Louis and throughout the United States.