Port Vale FC Stuns US Fans With Unlikely FA Cup Run
Port Vale FC Stuns US Fans With Unlikely FA Cup Run...
English League One underdogs Port Vale FC are unexpectedly trending in the U.S. after their dramatic FA Cup quarterfinal victory over Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday. The 2-1 upset at Vale Park has captured American attention as the club advances to its first FA Cup semifinal in 128 years.
The Staffordshire-based team's Cinderella story is resonating with U.S. soccer fans during a typically slow March sports period between NFL and NBA playoffs. ESPN's coverage of the match drew 1.2 million U.S. viewers, a record for a non-Premier League FA Cup match in America.
Port Vale manager Darren Moore told reporters Monday: "We've had messages from supporters clubs in Texas and California. The world is seeing what these players can do." The club's social media following grew by 300% in 24 hours, with 40% of new followers coming from U.S. accounts.
American interest spiked further when U.S. soccer star Christian Pulisic tweeted congratulations to Port Vale's 19-year-old goalscorer Baylee Dipepa. The young striker's performance has sparked transfer rumors involving MLS clubs.
The semifinal draw on Monday placed Port Vale against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 18. Bookmakers immediately made City 12-1 favorites, but the matchup guarantees unprecedented U.S. television exposure for the third-tier English club.
Port Vale's commercial director told BBC Radio Stoke that the club received 50 merchandise inquiries from U.S. addresses overnight. The team plans to launch international shipping options this week to capitalize on the unexpected transatlantic interest.
Soccer analysts note the timing coincides with growing American investment in English football. Seven of Port Vale's League One rivals now have U.S. owners, making the club's organic underdog story particularly appealing stateside.
The FA Cup semifinal will air live on ESPN2 and stream on ESPN+ in the U.S., with coverage expected to highlight the club's working-class roots and improbable run. Port Vale last reached this stage in 1898, when the competition was exclusively British.
