When are Americans going to like soccer?

Question

It seems like america is the only country where soccer is not the number one sport. why can't americans see how interesting soccer is to watch. Soccer is the only sport where i don't fall asleep. some people think that the scoring is too low but that is what makes the games exciting and especially when they come at a suprise. A lot of people in the Usa watch soccer but they come from different countries. I hardly ever see any american really into soccer.

also check out my other questions about the referree and kaka.

Answer 1

I know soccer isn't big here in the US. I ref, watch (when I find it) and play soccer, so I'm into it. But here in America the majority of us are surrounded by NFL loving jocks who are so full of themselves and this soccer is for fags and girls. Thats because they have never played it. It really is a challenging sport and it isn't given due credit in the US. But the jocks always say "soccer is for girls" and most of the people who follow the jocks think "if they think its stupid then it must be" b/c the followers can't make an opinion of their own.

As for when it will catch on I don't know. I know it is the #1 played sport by kids in the US. But the pro-league here (MLS) is a joke so I think that has a major influence as to why people don't watch it. And its never on regular cable you need to "1,000 channel package" to watch it.

Answer 2

A number of misconceptions that you seem to be under.

1. The US is not the only country where soccer is not the #1 sport. It isn't in Canada, or India, or China, or Japan, or Australia, or New Zealand, or most of the Caribbean. If you don't think that's a lot, consider that China, India, and the US are the three largest countries by population on the planet, with nearly 45% of the world's population living in those three countries alone.
2. Some Americans do see soccer as interesting and some natives are into it, but it is not going to pass football, baseball, and basketball in popularity. Despite what some people think, those three sports are much more strategic than soccer. Baseball isn't referred to as "the thinking man's game" for nothing.
3. Scoring is too low, and the rules discourage scoring (not that I don't like a good defensive battle, but more for one team playing defense vs. employing things like the offsides trap).
4. One of the big problems many people have with soccer is the fact that it is essentially a non-contact sport, and all too often the best in the world are rewarded for diving. Somebody trips them, and they're down for 15 minutes writhing in pain, but as soon as they're carted off, they're ready to come right back in. If I want to see acting, I'll go to a movie theater. Watch an NFL WR take a hit and pop right back up, if only to tell the strong safety that that was a weak hit and he'll be catching another ball over the middle next down.

Answer 3

More and more of us like it each year. I went to a bar to watch AC Milan vs. Liverpool for the european championships last year, it was so packed you could barely move and it took me an hour just to order something to eat. I live in the San Francisco bay area though, things are a little different here. But I took off work to watch Portugal and Holland today.

It is a great game but I don't think it will ever be number one here. I love it, but although I'd rather see the US win the world cup than I would see us win the world baseball classic or the olympic gold medal for basketball, I would rather see my favorite American football team (49ers) winning the super bowl than the US win the world cup. Probably the majority of soccer fans here prefer one of our own sports or the other to soccer too.

Answer 4

Americans only like what the media feeds them. If USA wasnt in the World Cup, they could care LESS about soccer. Its only because the media makes it a big hype that they will follow. Much like zombies. Even with Hockey, you ask some of the southern states and they look at you as though you fell out of a tree. However when they have a chance to win a Stanley Cup or make it to the finals, people begin to catch on and act as though they are hockey experts.

Answer 5

I work in a sports bar. Americans are watching soccar. But it will never be as big as baseball, football, basketball...all of which were created in America.

Soccar is very popular with the teens and younger right now. I suspect 2 World Cups from now will have many more American Soccar fans.

Answer 6

When they stop calling football soccer. You ask anyone from any country about football stars and they will mention a few like ronaldinho, wayne, figo and the rest but you ask americans the same quiz they will say Vince young, Reggie Bush and the rest. Got it?

Answer 7

I began to wonder when we starting liking soccer as I tried to walk through Times Square this past weekend, and everyone was stopped, starring at the USA vs. Italy game Saturday afternoon. We couldn't even move! It took me over 25 minutes to walk 8 blocks. The crowd was going wild!

Answer 8

its not gonna happen anytime soon if ever. Its a shame really Football is such an awsome sport. Its something that almost the entire world has in common except America.

Answer 9

Well, I think they're beginning to like soccer, at least some people there anyway. They don't like it because there's very few goals/score ...
Maybe if you give 4 points to a goal (like rugby), or 3 points for long-range goal, or something like that ... they'll like soccer more.

Answer 10

mabey when the US wins a world cup,they will finally understand the greatness of the game.... i love basketball and baseball but for me soccer brings a lot of energy and it brings people together. the US needs that right now