DC lawmakers and pro footballers team up to support soccer in tenth Congressional game

Category: (Self-Study) Sports

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Democrats and Republicans from Congress teamed up with professional footballers to raise money for youth soccer programs during the tenth edition of the Congressional Soccer Match.

The game of red versus blue was the headline act for the U.S. Soccer Federation event at Audi Field in the nation’s capitol on May 8.

Rep. Darin LaHood, a Republican lawmaker from Illinois who also co-chairs the Congressional Soccer Caucus, said the organization helps build soccer pitches in underserved communities throughout the country to make the sport more accessible to young players.

“Soccer is the number one growing sport in the United States right now,” said LaHood. “We’ve got COPA coming this summer. We’ve got the World Cup coming in 2026.”

Adolph Joseph DeLaGarza, who played 14 years in Major League Soccer, participated on the Republican squad and shared a more realistic outlook on the growth of the sport he loves.

“We’re not there yet on that global level. Our stadiums are not the size of NFL stadiums. But at the same time, when I joined the league in 2009 to now, it’s a huge difference,” DeLaGarza told the AP.

“The way the fans get to experience things from the way the players are paid and ultimately the product on the field is the biggest difference,” he added.

The fundraiser started with a tournament between staff from twelve embassies, the European Union, and the U.S. State Department. The Embassy of Chile took home the trophy.

A team of lobbyists also defended their title in a rematch against Congressional staff.

The Democratic and Republican teams were all tied up during half with one goal a piece, but then the GOP retook the lead in the second half and kept extending it to win the match 4 to 3.

Dwayne De Rosario, a former professional soccer player from Canada, earned a hat trick for the Democrats to keep the game close and had two other miraculous shots on goal that barely missed the mark.

This article was provided by The Associated Press.

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[Sign for U.S. Soccer Foundation inside Audi Field]

[Players warming up]

[Rep. Dan Crenshaw, (R) Texas, warming up for the Congressional Soccer match]

[Members of the Republican and Democratic teams applauding at the end of the national anthem]

[Pro-Palestinian protestors holding signs on the sidelines of the soccer match]

[U.S. Capitol police at the game]

[Pro-Palestinian protestors walk out of the game as they chant (English) “Genocide is not a game. Ceasefire now.”]

Rep. Darin LaHood (interview): “No it’s a great opportunity for Republicans and Democrats to come together for — It’s a great cause. We raise money for youth soccer, youth programs. Obviously, the US Soccer Foundation does a tremendous job of putting this on. But it’s a great event to come out to. Soccer is the number one growing sport in the United States right now and we’ve got COPA coming this summer. We’ve got the World Cup coming in 2026.”

[A. J. DeLaGarza walking on the sideline]

  1. J. DeLaGarza (interview): “I mean, I’m a realist. And in reality, we still have some work to do, but we’re not there yet on that global level. Our stadiums are not the size of NFL stadiums. But at the same time, since when I joined the league in 2009 to now, it’s a huge, huge difference. And the way the fans get to experience things, from the way the players are paid and ultimately the product on the field is the biggest difference. And if we continue that path, will eventually be a top league in the world and hopefully the top league in this country.”

[Pro footballer Dwayne De Rosario scoring the first goal for the Democrats]

[Pro footballers on the Republican team scoring their first goal of the match]

[Republican Rep. Rich McCormick and Democratic Rep. Greg Casar vying for control of the ball]

Reporter: “What about red cards, yellow cards? Do you think it will be a little feisty out there?

Rep. Darin LaHood (interview):“You’ve got to bring your game today. You have to have your shin guards on and your shoes laced up.”

Reporter: “So tell me, do you think its harder to pass a bill? Or pass the ball?”

Rep. Darin LaHood (interview): “It’s much easier to pass the ball than pass a bill. Particularly with this Congress, yeah, with a two-seat majority.”

[The Republican team scoring their fourth goal of the match]

Reporter: “Do you guys think you’ll take down the win?”

Rep. Darin LaHood (interview): “Absolutely. We’re going to do it. We’re defending champs and we’re going to do it again tonight.”

[Pro footballer Dwayne De Rosario scoring the third goal for the Democrats]

[Pro footballer Dwayne De Rosario hitting the post in an attempt to score]

[Lights flashing inside Audi Field as announcer declares winner of the match (English) “The final score, the Republican team 4. The Democrat team 3.”]

[Players shaking hands at the end of the game]

[Players from both teams taking a combined group photo]

[Republican lawmakers posing with the trophy and their coach Alexi Lalas]

[Republican Rep. Don Bacon speaking with Democratic Rep. Rick Larsen after the game]

[A sign reading (English) “2024 Congressional Soccer Match”]

This script was provided by The Associated Press.