At Phoenix Brophy Prep, Kelly described a football culture gaining momentum. At Buckeye Odyssey Institute, John Snyder noticed the change among players - and beyond them.
Snyder said a longtime friend, previously immersed in American football, began asking about rules, positioning and tactics. “Ele me mandava mensagens o tempo todo, perguntando sobre regras, marcações e estratégia. Foi hilário”, Snyder recalled.
That kind of curiosity matters. A major tournament can turn a passive viewer into someone who wants to understand the sport, follow a league or attend a local match. For Arizona’s football community, those first questions may be more valuable than temporary television attention.
Kelly believes the next step is building stronger pathways for young players. “Há muitas histórias de jovens jogadores americanos empolgantes se desenvolvendo nas principais academias da Europa”, he said, while also pointing to the continued growth of MLS academies in the United States.
The challenge is ensuring that interest is met by accessible coaching, facilities and competition. Tucson coach Casey O’Brien said his players were eager to represent their school. “Eles estão extremamente empolgados para representar a escola, já que isso seria o nosso equivalente à Copa do Mundo”, he said.
That sense of identity could help football take deeper root in schools and communities.
The tournament spotlight will eventually fade. The next test is whether Arizona sees more children joining teams, more families attending matches and more investment in local development.
As O’Brien put it: “Ouvir as pessoas falando mais sobre futebol tem sido muito empolgante para quem já está envolvido na comunidade do esporte.” The next storyline will be whether that excitement survives into the next school season.