In little over three years since they first met on the field, the Northern California rivalry between Oakland Roots SC and Sacramento Republic FC has quickly become one of the best in American soccer.

It's certainly one of the coolest.

This Sunday, July 21, the rivalry will get the national TV spotlight when Roots play host to Republic on the CBS Television Network (4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT) in a marquee USL Summer of Soccer clash that not only has bragging rights on the line, but also has implications at the top of the Western Conference standings.

Here are four reasons why you should tune in.

1. Elite vs. Underdog

When it comes to Republic FC and Roots, the perceptions of the clubs are different. Sacramento won a league title in its first season and has been one of the Championship’s flagbearers on and off the field to become one of the best-respected clubs in the United States. Every preseason, you can count on Republic FC being one of the clubs being tipped for silverware in analyst predictions.

On the other hand, Oakland has needed to fight for respect, like the city it represents. While the club’s branding and image has always been on point, it’s always been considered an underdog on the field. Roots has yet to host a playoff game in the Championship, but it has proven capable of delivering when the chips are down against better-fancied opposition, relishing its underdog role in that regard.

2. Potential for Fireworks

When there’s a rivalry at stake, the potential for fireworks always seems to ramp up. Just look at April’s game between Louisville City FC and Indy Eleven on the CBS Television Network, which produced eight goals and all kinds of drama at Lynn Family Stadium.

For their part, Roots and Republic FC have delivered some classics of their own, including the first meeting ever between the sides in 2021. After plenty of build-up, the teams delivered a classic 3-3 draw that saw both sides lead and featured some brilliant goals. That scoreline occurred again in 2022 in a battle filled with high-level chances, while earlier this month Oakland took a 3-2 victory behind a masterclass by Lindo Mfeka to earn their second win in the series. More often than not, this rivalry delivers.

3. THE COOLNESS FACTOR

As previously mentioned, Roots have a universally revered brand. The crest, the community love, the authentic Oakland-first culture -- it has all positioned the club as one of the coolest in soccer. Not just domestic soccer; global soccer.

This is only magnified by the seemingly endless stream of celebrity investors who want in on the Roots, including NFL star Marshawn Lynch, NBA legend Jason Kidd, former NBA player Shaun Linvingston, rapper G-Eazy, rock star Billie Joe Armstrong, among others.

Not to be undone, Republic FC has been one the darlings of American soccer since its founding. They may not have a roster of celebrity boosters, but they boast one of the most authentic soccer cultures in the country. From passionate supporter groups to consistent punch-above-their-weight sporting success (2022 US Open Cup, anyone?), Sacramento is the model for what an American soccer club should be.

In some ways, this rivalry is a battle of form vs. function. In all ways, it's a battle of what it means to be soccer cool.

4. Shaping the Standings

The Western Conference has been, to put it bluntly, a mess of inconsistency so far this season. Only six points currently separate third place from 11th place, which means there’s going to be a whole lot up for grabs in the second half of the season between who makes the USL Championship Playoffs and whether they’re in the top four.

Despite only two wins in their first eight games, Roots is in third position right now while Republic FC is in second. Oakland’s ascent has come since the appointment of Gavin Glinton as interim Head Coach on April 28, since when the side is tied for the second-most wins in the Championship. With Sacramento having faltered since a great start – Republic FC is 1-2-4 in the league over the same span – this game figures to be big for both teams and their top-four aspirations.

5. SUPPORTERS IN FULL VOICE

A rivalry is nothing without supporters, and between Oakland’s Los Roots and Sacramento’s Tower Bridge Battalion, among others, you have SGs that are highly ingrained in their clubs and communities. The Tower Bridge Battalion have been a presence since Republic FC’s launch in 2014, and regularly pack the north stand at Heart Health Park, making a wall of sound that fills the venue while consistently bringing a strong travelling presence to away games.

Los Roots, one of Oakland's five SGs, have done the same for Oakland both home and away, bringing sound and color that have made Roots games the place to be for local sports fans while serving as an unmistakable presence on the road. On top of that, the groups are also committed to their local communities, working in collaboration with the club and independently to help local organizations who work with underserved communities in the city.