Why is "football" (soccer) so popular in the UK? All the time not just right now w/ FIFA? In the US no one cares about it and I don't know anyone who watched FIFA. We have soccer teams here at schools but football, basketball, and volleyball are way more popular. Does anyone know why it's so huge there? Do a lot of people there play it or watch it?
2006-06-12 04:33:19 · 12 answers · asked by . 3 in Sports ➔ Football ➔ English Football
Football was developed in England. In fact, the UK has invented more sports than any other country in the world.
As to why its so popular, that is something of a social phenomenon, but a lot of the teams were developed from low income area - Arsenal was developed from the military depot in London, Blackburn Rovers was developed by old members of Blackburn Grammar school. In its early days, because of the low cost involved in watching the matches, and the limited time (all matches pretty much finish in under 2 hours, including stopages), it became very popular with the working class - mill workers, factory workers, general labourers, who did not have a great deal of disposable income or a lot of leisure time, so would go to watch a match to "escape" from the reality of their lives.
Oh, and its not just the UK. It is very popular in all European countries (Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland and France all have great domestic leagues), is very popular in Africa (with the emergence of more and more world class African footballers), and is amazingly popular in South America (Brazil is pretty much always the best team in the world, and Argentina is always up there amongst the best). America is pretty unique in not having a massive following in football. It is about the only country to show any major interest in "Grid Iron" (American football) or Baseball (both developed from UK sports - rugby and rounders). Basketball is pretty popular in countries like Greece, and volleyball is quite popular in a lot of warm countries - but the UK is just too cold for it.
Basically, football is the number one sport in the world - more people watch it than any other sport, and it has a lot more money involved in it in total than any other sport. The football world cup is a true world cup, with countries from around the world participating, as opposed to the world series, which involves a team from America versus, erm, a team from America...
2006-06-12 04:54:21 · answer #1 · answered by Mudkips 4 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Football (soccer) is huge in the UK. It is probably the most popular sport there and is the most popular in the World ( the second most popular sport in the Uk is probably Cricket or Rugby ). It ( Football )orginated in the UK, in England, i think, and the tradition still lives on there, as also in the rest of the World.
2006-06-12 15:26:18 · answer #2 · answered by yomamabob1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first of all it is the original football.all other games should be called different.football is not soccer.its football.in the world you have RUGBY football AUSSIE RULES football AMERICAN football.you don't call football soccer just because you have got all these other games called football.you cannot score a goal by handling a ball in football.nor does a score ever count for more than 1.it is the planet game.there is no game played by or watched by more people.world wide.if you live in a country that calls football soccer.you are losers.you will never win the world cup.because it means that you have got another sport in your country called football.that you take more seriously.
2006-06-12 12:05:34 · answer #3 · answered by confucius 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I actually feel a little sorry for North Americans because they don't have the game bred into their culture. I suppose it is understandable that we like what we grow up with. here in the UK it is football, (soccer to you) Over there you have American football. Just a cultural difference. To cut a long story short your games bore the bejaysus out of us and ours bore the bejaysus out of you. We agree to differ. Tonight I hope that the USA does well but they will be I think getting a real football lesson in their opening game.
2006-06-12 13:42:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not just in the UK, in Italy, Spain, Africa, South America etc, it is the most popular game in the WORLD, just not in the US.
Most men I know play football, my partner plays it 4/5 times a week, and we don't call it soccer.
2006-06-12 11:43:05 · answer #5 · answered by sling it bird 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm from the US and I have always liked football(soccer) way more than American Football, basketbal, or baseball. I would rather be kicked in the face than be squished by some 500 pound fat guy!
Josh;)
2006-06-13 12:22:32 · answer #6 · answered by Yehoshua 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey you guys are just as bad when the SUPERBOWL comes around so don have a go at us ,,by the way USA are playing tonight, and yes over here we will be watching!!! hope you do good as my daughter was born there 17 yrs ago
2006-06-12 12:30:37 · answer #7 · answered by womam12 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe you should check out the MLS....soccer the fastest growing sport in the US.
2006-06-15 06:48:03 · answer #8 · answered by Cromag 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's like a way of life here (UK).
2006-06-12 11:53:57 · answer #9 · answered by R.I.P. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its because it is an amazing and fun game, and if you try it, try playing it and try understanding the game properly, then u will have a better idea...
2006-06-12 11:41:27 · answer #10 · answered by RD 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋