MANSFIELD — Taylor Huff believes in the U.S. Men’s National Soccer team as it competes Wednesday evening in the World Cup knockout round.

“I think the U.S. is going to make the (Cup) semifinals. I think they need the whole country behind them. But with belief, they can go as far as they want,” said the Madison Comprehensive High School graduate.

Huff is someone who knows about competing — and winning — at the highest levels of soccer.

Huff led the Rams to the 2020 state championship and was Ohio’s Ms. Soccer, the Gatorade Player of the Year, and the United Soccer Coaches national player of the year. Huff led the Rams to the state runner-up trophy as a junior, too. She set a state record with 93 career assists and a school record with 113 career goals.

Huff went on to play for two years at the University of Tennessee and then finished her collegiate career at Florida State. She was a three-time All-American and won the 2023 national championship with the Seminoles.

In January 2025, the former Ram signed a three-year deal with Bay Football Club in San Francisco. Huff finished her rookie season with 4 goals in 26 games and was one of only two rookies in the NWSL to start every game of the season. She ranked second in minutes played for Bay and was tied for second in goals for the team.

Richland Source asked our highest profile north central Ohio soccer player to chime in on the World Cup, now in the Round of 32 knockout matches. The USMNT takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. in Santa Clara, Calif.

The United States went 2-1 to win its group with wins over Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0) and a loss to Turkey (3-2) in a game played after the USMNT had already clinched the top spot in the group.

The questions were posed to Huff before the Turkey match and before the knockout rounds were finalized

Here’s how she responded to eight questions on the World Cup:

Huff Q-A on World Cup

These questions were prepared by Source Media Properties Digital Marketing Director Adam “Doc” Fox.

Fox is an Ashland High School graduate who captained the Arrows Division I state Final Four team in 1999 and scored the game-winning goal in the Elite Eight that fall. He went on to play for the University of Cincinnati, then club futbol for Castellon in Spain. Fox also played and coached in Buena Vista, Mexico, and has served as an assistant coach for the Ashland High School boys soccer team.

SOURCE MEDIA PROPERTIES: New Cup format with more teams — the argument was that the group stage games would be watered down — are you seeing that from a soccer/skill/enjoyment perspective? 

TAYLOR HUFF: Definitely not from an enjoyment and soccer perspective. I think it’s been a really fun World Cup to watch with a bunch of new teams and cultures involved on and off the field. Whether it’s been Scotland fans taking over Boston or Cape Verde’s goalkeeper gaining lots of traction on social media, it’s been exciting to see new countries in the World Cup.

SOURCE MEDIA PROPERTIES: Outside of the USA, who do you support or like (player or team)? Do you have a dark horse?

TAYLOR HUFF: I’ve always loved watching (Kevin) De Bruyne, so I’m going to have to say Belgium is a dark horse for me. Obviously I’m still choosing U.S. if they meet in the round of 32.

SOURCE MEDIA PROPERTIES: The narrative so far has been, “the stars are showing out in the group stages,” which they are with goals from Mbappe, Messi, Haaland (maybe Ronaldo will join the party), etc.. Are you seeing anything from a tactical perspective that is allowing for more attacking play, more chances being created?

TAYLOR HUFF: I don’t think I’ve seen anything that specific from a tactical perspective, but it’s clear that the best goal scorers in the world have their spots where they know they’re best from. Messi getting to the top of the box, Ronaldo and Haaland getting inside the goal frame, they know where to be and their teammates know where to find them.

SOURCE MEDIA PROPERTIES: Have you been seeing the content around “the international mind can’t comprehend what’s in the USA,” such as our food, Costco-type stores, everyone being nice, etc.? Anything stood out?

TAYLOR HUFF: Yes, haha I did see this trend. I love it! I love that people are getting to know and experience the United States firsthand! Free refills. Sit-down tables first row at a soccer game. Diner food.

SOURCE MEDIA PROPERTIES: How far do you think team USA will go? 

TAYLOR HUFF: I think the U.S. is going to make the semifinals. I think they need the whole country behind them. But with belief, they can go as far as they want.

SOURCE MEDIA PROPERTIES: Anything you would like to see changed in the current Cup format or soccer overall?

TAYLOR HUFF: I like this current format and the number of third place teams that they have going to the knockouts.

SOURCE MEDIA PROPERTIES: If you had a magic wand– a year from now, what would the headline say about what Huff has accomplished over the past year?

TAYLOR HUFF: I’d love to be on the U.S. World Cup squad next summer and do everything I can to help bring back another World Cup to the United States. The Olympics after that, then the World Cup in the U.S. after that.

SOURCE MEDIA PROPERTIES: Why does NWSL keep disallowing your awesome goals it drives me nuts lol?

TAYLOR HUFF: I don’t know… my family and friends ask me the same question haha.