Dec 5, 2023; Frisco, Texas, USA; United States midfielder Lindsey Horan (10) reacts to falling to the grass during the second half against China at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Dec 5, 2023; Frisco, Texas, USA; United States midfielder Lindsey Horan (10) reacts to falling to the grass during the second half against China at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

United States Women’s National Team captain Lindsey Horan is assuredly going to draw fire for her recent comments about American soccer fans.

Speaking to The Athletic, Horan said that American soccer fans aren’t smart and that Europeans understand the game better.

“American soccer fans, most of them aren’t smart,” she said. “They don’t know the game. They don’t understand. [But] it’s getting better and better.”

Horan pointed some of the blame at American soccer commentators.

“I’m going to [tick] off some people, but the game is growing in the U.S. People are more and more knowledgeable, but so much of the time, people take what the commentators say, right? My mom does it! My mom says, ‘Julie Foudy [a commentator and former USWNT midfielder] said you had such a good game!’ And I’m here just going, ‘I was [awful] today,’” Horan said.

Horan plays in Lyon, France, for club duties, and is impressed with what she has seen from fans overseas.

“From what I’ve heard, people understand my game a little bit more, a sense of my football and the way I play,” Horan said. “It is the French culture. Everyone watches football. People know football.”

The United States women’s soccer team is next in action on April 6 against Japan in the SheBelieves cup.

[The Athletic]