Talking ‘unifying’ World Cup soccer with former Steelers kicker and proud Canadian-American Shaun Suisham

Shaun Suisham was a ten-year NFL veteran, spending the last five seasons of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A placekicker, Suisham finished his career with an 84.1% field goal rate and a 99.3% rate on extra points. He racked up 907 total points in his career.

Suisham’s journey to the NFL was unconventional, and heavily influenced by the beautiful game.

Suisham played soccer during his upbringing in Wallaceburg, Ontario, and gradually discovered his talent for kicking the ball with power.

“I played from probably four years old, and fell in love with the game,” Suisham said.

“I spent my summers playing center half back, center mid… and over time, just naturally fell into a role where I was taking the overwhelming majority of goal kicks and free kicks and corner kicks…and recognized when I kicked the ball it sounded a little bit different than others.”

Suisham also played hockey and Canadian football, and his kicking prowess caught the attention of Bowling Green State University. After a Canadian football season in which Suisham kicked multiple field goals over 50 yards, BGSU recruited him to play football.

“The transition (for a player like myself) into American football is actually not that complex,” Suisham said. He explained that his football kicking process was mainly self-taught, because he already had the athleticism, body control, and strength he had developed from soccer.

Suisham became an American citizen in 2016 and still lives in the Pittsburgh area, working with the Pittsburgh Penguins’ youth hockey programs. He feels that a major aspect of what helped him to fit in with the Steelers was the physical conditioning he had gained from a lifetime of soccer experience.

“A Mike Tomlin-ism, ‘physical conditioning precedes everything else.’ And those that have the cardiovascular base, the willingness to work in a manner of which people are unable or unwilling to, you can create a nice pathway for yourself,” Suisham said.

As a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, and has enjoyed watching both sides compete in the World Cup.

“I believe sport to be the greatest unifier in the world… how it can bring the world together,” Suisham said.

“Excited to see team Canada get that win (over South Africa), certainly rooting for the United States… it’s fun to watch the success.”

This 2026 World Cup is the first in the United States since 1994, and has brought a lot of attention to the sport here in North America.

“(Soccer) is just an unbelievable sport… it’s very special and unique,” Suisham said.

Catch the Action at the Acrisure Stadium Fan Zone

If you are looking to immerse yourself in the global excitement right here in Pittsburgh, the Pennsylvania World Cup Fan Zone is taking over Acrisure Stadium. The venue is welcoming local soccer fans to step right onto the turf and catch the matches on the stadium’s giant video boards.

• The Schedule: The free, multi-day celebration features massive watch parties during key knockout dates: July 4, July 5, July 9, and the World Cup Final on July 19.

• Independence Day Weekend Festivities: Coinciding with the America 250 festival, the stadium will host a massive celebration on July 4 and 5. Fans can enjoy free youth soccer clinics, food and beverage vendors, and live entertainment—including a free Brett Young concert and the city’s largest-ever fireworks display on Saturday night, followed by a plaza party with DJ Pauly D on Sunday.

• Know Before You Go: While admission is completely free and open to the public, registration is required to secure your spot. Fans are permitted to watch the matches directly from the field, though stadium rules prohibit food, beverages (except water), and blankets on the grass.

Kevin Hutchinson