US Soccer has come on a long way in the last 5 years or so. I'm not sure that Robbie Keane will contribute much to the cause though
CA is great, I had a fantastic time there. I was watching the Chargers game last week and they cut to an outdoor ice rink in Coronado and everyone on it was skating around in their shorts and t-shirts.
I may still get into FIFA, maybe next year; huge barrier to entry, time-wise, as you say though.