The Power of Ted Lasso: How a TV Show Became the Face of Soccer in America

Comedy, soccer, mental health, activism, and relatability. Reminiscing on the show that allowed American viewers to finally fall in love with soccer

WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Season 3 of Ted Lasso

There are moments when the world of television or cinema collides with the sports world. Where a creation becomes significant in the context of athletics that it is bigger than just a movie or a show. Recently, we saw one of these shows come to an end. The Apple TV+ original Ted Lasso wrapped up its third season in May of 2023 and with it closed the book on a series that catapulted Apple into the original series ladder and gave Americans a lovable face to a sport that the society as a whole had rejected in soccer.

In only three seasons, Ted Lasso tapped into and weaved topics that are present in sport but also present in day-to-day life. As lovable character Dani Rojas proclaims throughout the series, “football is life”. In the wake of its finale, Ted Lasso wasn’t merely a show about a Midwest American man finding new life and purpose as a coach in the English Premier League. It was a commentary on culture, the sports we love, the players we admire, and everything in between. In addition to that, Ted Lasso has contributed to something that many theorized…