Why weren't Americans as "excited" about the World Cup as the rest of the world?

Answer 1

A number of reasons come to mind.
1. Not enough stoppages in the action (no time to get food!)
2. Actually have to play other countries to win.
3. Not enough safety padding on players. (too dangerous!)
4. Balls kicked into stands must be returned to field.
5. Players must actually be fit and able to run.
6. Players not allowed oxygen tanks on the sidelines.
7. The score does not go into triple digits.
8. Very short attention span.
9. An IQ of more than 50 is required.
10. And finally, they had no chance of winning.

Answer 2

THIS American was/is!
And I was rooting for Italia from the very beginning-even when, especially when, they played against the U.S.
And I do not understand when Americans say that football (soccer) is not exciting. To me, it is the most alive and exciting and beautiful sport. Goals are just a small part of the game. Watching the second to second moving of the ball with the skills and techniques of the players is constant and there are no breaks for 45 minutes-I love that aspect of it. It is also probably another aspect of why much of America doesn't care for it-they don't get the exposure because networks don't have the commercial time they want and since making money is their primary motivator-it doesn't fit their marketing. That sucks. I may be an American, but my heart and soul is that of a European and it saddens me greatly that America has alienated itself from the rest of the world in so many ways-and not being enthusiastic about something that the rest of the world embraces with a passion is yet another example of that.
Time for me to pack my bags...

Answer 3

The Americans are never excited about the world cup. There is only a small population that live for the sport here in the states.

I do have to say, I have followed the last three cups very closely and our support for the game has grown tremedously in the past 8-9 years. It is no where near the support that other countries give there teams, but its growing!!!!

Answer 4

They enjoy pretending to be different from rest of the world. Just consider the term "soccer"! the whole world, every nationa, calls the game football,it's football because you can't use your hands during the game,even if the ball hits your hand accidentally a foul is committed. But the Americans call it soccer and another game which somebody grabs the ball tightly with his hands and runs while holding it is called "football". That's insane!
One reason you usually hear from them is that the final score is far too less than their favourite games. They never seem to understand that all the excitement of football iss because of few number of goals in each game and when one team reaches a score more than 4 or 5, the game becomes boring because of watching only one team doing fine and the other one just watching!

Answer 5

Because Americans view sports watching as a time for socializing, hanging out and eating.
You can't really do that in soccer because a goal can occur at any time, and there might not be another one.
In baseball, basketball and football, if you miss an important play, you can make it up a few minutes later, because something else will occur.

I also think because Americans actually ENJOY being contradictory: "If the rest of the world loves it, we hate it!" -- that seems to be their unofficial motto. A similar attitude applies to the metric system and nationalized medicine (U.S. being the only developed nation not to have one)...but that's another matter entirely that doesn't belong in sports.

Answer 6

people in the US don't understand the game of soccer. they don't see the truely amazing things about the game. there are few people that can run for 90 minutes and only have 3 subs the entire game. there are no time outs and play is always going. what people don't realize is that soccer is big in the US. when looking at stadium size, it doesn't look like there is a strong fan base but that is because the average stadium size is much larger than the european stadiums. during the women's finals at the Rose bowl they sold out the stadium. yes, the whole stadium. there is a large soccer group here, it is just over shadowed by the many sports that this country has.

Answer 7

USA has so many sports to choose from and so soccer tend to be overlooked by many. Soccer is universal to the rest of the World because that's the only game they basically play, or know since childhood. USA on the other hand has this and that and hardly anyone picks soccer. And mainly I think they're not too fond of watching it as much as the rest of the world..

Answer 8

Because the chances of them going to the play off rounds were slim to none. Apparently if American commentators have to say the words "We lost" they implode.

I could not get over how self centred the American media is. I was watching my beloved T&T play in the first round on ABC. During the half time break, instead of showing hilights from the current game, the network dicussed the American line up and their chances for a game that was a few bloody days away. I smacked the TV and thankfully found another station with British commentators who gave a proper half time wrap up (AND they invited the damn sport, too).

Answer 9

first of all, i wouldnt say "americans" cause keep in mind that there is a south america where people are technically "americans"...

basically, people from the united states are idiots and think that everything they do is better than anything else the world does. they will never be able to appreciate the sport of football cause theyre too busy watching their boring sports baseball and golf.

the rest of the world seems to have some sort of common sense that the united states is lacking.

Answer 10

They are not excited like the rest of the world because they think soccer is a boring game. like in the Philippines, the same with America. Basketball crazy.