The World Cup is taking over the United States this summer. But the not-so-secret American takeover of football has been building its foundations for some time now. While it may seem like a sudden shift, the fingerprints of American influence on the sport can be traced back decades.

In New Zealand, rugby isn’t just a sport. It’s a national obsession, a major cultural force and a huge source of pride. So news that Silver Lake, a private equity firm based in California, is looking to buy 12.5% of the revenue generated by the All Blacks has sparked a fierce debate in the country of 5 million.