Still in the Game: Joe Cascio’s Enduring Passion and Purpose Through Soccer
If you’ve spent any time around grassroots soccer in New York City, chances are you’ve heard the name Joe Cascio. Not because he’s the flashiest player or because he lights up stat sheets—but because he’s one of those rare fixtures in the local game who carries a quiet intensity, a deep love for the sport, and a dedication to his teammates that transcends the weekend match.
Joe is the kind of center back you want anchoring your defense and your locker room. His game isn’t about flair. It’s about reading plays, communicating with clarity, and making those small, selfless decisions that rarely show up in recaps but make all the difference. At 30-plus, Joe is still putting in full shifts for Williamsburg International FC’s second team in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, and when needed, he laces up for the club’s other squads without hesitation.
What drives someone to keep playing, keep leading, and keep giving, long after most have stepped away? That’s what we wanted to uncover when we sat down with Joe.
Joe’s soccer journey begins the way the best ones often do: with a ball and a backyard. “My earliest memory—of anything, honestly—is playing with my dad,” he says, smiling. “He’d toss the ball in the air behind me, call ‘turn!’ and I’d have to control it before it hit the ground. Once, he pulled off a rainbow flick over me and ran straight through a wooden fence.”
Growing up on Long Island, Joe found himself in a cultural moment when soccer wasn’t the mainstream sport it is today. “It was considered second-tier,” he reflects. “Football and lacrosse ruled. But now, those same people are probably Spurs fans.”
He found community in the game early on, thanks to his father and two close friends, Justin and Cesar, who came from soccer-rich families. “They opened my eyes to the global game. Watching Zidane with them changed everything. That control, that poise. I’ve always tried to emulate the Marseille turn.”
For Joe, soccer was never just a game. It’s a rhythm, a way to connect. “Soccer is a universal language,” he says. “If I’m ever upset, a kickaround resets me. You can drop a ball anywhere and suddenly people who don’t even speak the same language are on the same page.”
That belief has followed him through club ball, college intramurals at Maryland, and eventually into the heart of New York’s soccer scene—the Cosmopolitan League.
“I came back from college and joined a D1 team that trained three times a week. The level was serious. There were former pros, guys with international experience. That league has always been full of talent. It’s only gotten more structured and competitive. And now with things like Game in Frame streaming games and people like you covering teams—there’s a real narrative developing.”
Joe found his soccer home in Williamsburg International FC in 2021. “I joined through social media, and it’s been one of the highlights of my past five years. The camaraderie is unmatched. Honestly, at this point, I play to stay fit, hang out with my friends, and enjoy a cheeky post-match Guinness.”
WIFC’s strength, Joe says, comes from its culture. “It’s open. It’s welcoming. We’ve got three teams and players constantly rotating in and out to help each other. That sort of interconnectivity is rare in amateur sports. You’re not just on a team—you’re part of a club.”
When asked what keeps him coming back, Joe doesn’t hesitate: “The people. My teammates.”
Now a center back, Joe grew up playing in the midfield—a background that deeply informs how he sees the game. “I use that experience to anticipate what opposing CMs are going to do. At our level, most players won’t pull off no-look passes, so I’m reading their eyes, reading their hips. Like Shakira said, hips don’t lie.”
His approach to defending is methodical. “I’m not the tallest, not the fastest. So positioning, scanning, and anticipating are everything. The modern CB has to build from the back too. I’d like to think I’m a ball-playing center back, but sometimes, you’ve just got to ‘kick it out’ and live to fight another play.”
Joe also acknowledges his limitations. “I’m not great in the air. But that’s why partnership matters. I usually get paired with someone taller, and we complement each other. Same thing goes for communication. I can be better. But knowing your role and trusting your teammates—that’s what keeps a backline solid.”
As an engineer, Joe brings a structured mindset to his game. “There’s definitely crossover. Spatial awareness, anticipating angles, calculating passes—maybe I’m not literally crunching numbers mid-match, but those instincts are there.”
His ability to stay fit and ready, even as he ages, comes down to discipline. “I’ve been lucky with injuries. But I eat well, sleep well, and I play small-sided games midweek to stay sharp. I’ll be sore for a couple days after a Sunday game, but it’s worth it.”
When asked about retirement, Joe laughs. “I’ll play until I physically can’t. Then I’ll coach. And when I can’t coach, I’ll go to matches and eat pies in the stands.”
He says it half-jokingly, but you can hear the truth in it. Soccer is in his DNA now. It’s not just about competing. It’s about connection. He sees that spirit reflected in WIFC—and in the people documenting its journey.
“Having the Game on Wheels blog cover us has been amazing. Your understanding of the game, your joy—it’s infectious. I hope you always bring that energy. You’re part of this family now.”
Joe Cascio’s story is not about glory. It’s about love—for the game, for his teammates, and for the moments that make it all worthwhile. In a sport that too often measures success by trophies or viral clips, Joe reminds us what really matters: showing up, giving everything, and building something real with the people beside you.
Soccer, at its core, is a community. And in Joe, Williamsburg International has a true center back—not just in defense, but in heart.
