The Nightmare That Nearly Killed Women's Soccer | Soccer’s American Dream (Episode 5)

After the U.S. Women’s National Team became national icons by winning the 1999 World Cup on home soil, it seemed like women’s professional soccer in America was ready for takeoff. But turning that breakthrough moment into a lasting pro league proved far more difficult than expected, as the fight for investment, attention, and long-term stability revealed the challenges behind building a league of their own. About Soccer’s American Dream: An in-depth look at how soccer carved out its place in America—told through the pivotal moments, unlikely breakthroughs, and untold stories that shaped the sport across generations, from its fragile early days to the modern era. 00:00 Intro – Same Problems, New Generation 03:30 Life After the ’99 World Cup 05:00 The WUSA Is Born 09:00 9/11 & The League Starts to Collapse 12:00 The USWNT Keeps Winning Anyway 13:00 Women’s Pro Soccer Gets Another Shot 18:30 WPS Starts Falling Apart 20:00 The MagicJack Disaster 25:00 Life After Another Failed League 28:00 The NWSL Begins 31:00 Surviving the Early NWSL Grind 35:30 The Road to the 2015 World Cup 39:30 USA vs Japan: The Final 42:00 Winning It All — Again 44:00 The Fight for Respect Continues #worldcup #soccer #uswnt Follow VICE TV: Website | https://www.vicetv.com Channel Finder | https://www.vicetv.com/en_us/channel-finder Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/vicetv Twitter | https://x.com/vicetv Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/vicetv TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@viceontv https://youtu.be/_8GoT-Sd6Gs