It may not be the most important day in U.S. Men's National Soccer Team history on paper, but it sure feels like it. Yes, the USMNT reached the knockout stage in three of the past five World Cups, but never has the team had this much support. The last U.S. match, a 2-2 draw versus Portugal, set World Cup viewing records in the homeland.
Of course, that game had a Sunday 6 p.m. ET start, ideal for bars, restaurants and summer barbecues. The first U.S. game, a 2-1 win over Ghana last Monday, also started at 6 p.m. ET.
But on Thursday, the U.S. is slotted to play Germany at 12 p.m. ET, a tough time for most Americans. A draw or win puts the U.S. through to the knockout stage, while a loss doesn't automatically eliminate the Americans.
The only time Americans universally take off at noon on a weekday is for a national holiday ...
... which is what over 3,000 Americans have signed on for.
A petition, dated June 23, was created on the White House website's petition section. The petition was created by a "J.S." from Tempe, Ariz., (where it will be a 9 a.m. kickoff against Germany).
Officially, based on the rules of the online petition, there is a goal of getting 100,000 to sign by July 23. But as a practical matter, J.S. needs help by Thursday.
This is J.S.'s text for the petition:
Fans can share the petition on Facebook and Twitter with an official whitehouse.gov promotion button or can report it as inappropriate.
MLSsoccer.com writer Andy Edwards posted about the petition on the official MLS website. "Think of the productivity that will be lost if these sad, soccer-loving souls are forced to report for duty on Thursday," he says.
If J.S.'s argument means anything, declaring Thursday a national holiday would allow the inevitable. People are going to watch the game. A national holiday could only create more unity.
Besides, Obama should understand World Cup fever. He is on mugs across England.
Epic #WorldCup mug which mistakes @BarackObama for #ENG defender #Smalling on clearance sale http://t.co/1RqtJ3XBS4 pic.twitter.com/7xrxBW0BnR
— Yahoo Singapore (@YahooSG) June 24, 2014
No word from the Obama administration yet.
-- Follow Jeffrey Eisenband on Twitter @JeffEisenband.