TAMPA - MacDill Air Force Base is home to over 600 military families, 800 servicemen, and is the birthplace of maybe the next big US soccer star.

"He must have been about 8 years old," his dad Jerry Green recalls.  "He said, 'dad, I want to go outside and play soccer.'  So I said okay let's go.  That first kick whizzed past my ear, and I'm thinking good grief!  Back up, you're too close!"

With the World Cup just weeks away, Tampa's own Julian Green has suddenly become one of the hottest names in sporting news.

"The kid is loaded," said Former MLS player, and BHSN soccer analyst Eddie Rodriguez.  "He can play left footed, right footed, and he's got plenty of speed."

Being born on a military base, to a military family, putting on the red, white and blue seemed like the perfect fit.  That's where it all gets interesting.  The 18-year-old soccer star has spent the last 16 years of his life living in Germany - a byproduct of his parents' divorce.

As a result, he started playing professionally in Germany for the prestigious soccer club Bayern Munich.  As he rose through the professional ranks, and began to draw attention from soccer fans and reporters, US soccer started to take notice.

Eventually, Julian was offered a spot on the US Men's National Team.  However, the offer came with a tough decision.  The 18-year-old is eligible to play for both the German National Team, and the American team, but had to decide which one.

"It was tough," Jerry Green said. "He loves America and loves Germany, so it was a tough call."

In the end, the 18-year-old picked the American side, a decision which made his father happy.

"I remember getting off the phone with Julian and coming downstairs and telling my wife that he was on-board.  And she said, 'woo hoo!'"

Julian made his first national team appearance in early April, playing 30 minutes against Mexico in an international friendly.  Now, he has his sights set on making a World Cup roster.

"The World Cup?  Sure, he'd love to be a player there," the elder Green said.

And he's going to give it his best, and we'll see."