Why don't most Americans like football (soccer)?

Question

I personally love soccer. I've lived in the U.S. most of my life, though I was born elsewhere. What's wrong with it? It's fast-paced, it's tense, it's exciting, it's got no sissy padding (although sometimes injuries are faked, which is always frowned upon) what's the problem?

Personally I don't like the following American games for the following reasons:

Basketball: it's the same pace as soccer, but there's too much scoring and crap; there's no tension. It's all accumulation. It's fun to play though. In fact, watching half-court games and variants is more fun than full games.

Baseball: Most boring sport ever. America's worst contribution to the world since the Atomic Bomb. It's people throwing balls to each other and chasing them. It's not exciting at all. I guess you have to be drunk to watch it.

American football: I like it for the tactics and all that, but other than that... commercials! Waiting!

So if you hate soccer, explain why, giving real reasons, please.

haha, I didn't get the offside rule for a long time.

How to cheer for soccer? What...? Yell something like,

"Get the f----in' ball!!!"

"Get up! Stop faking it!"

"Headbutt him!"

"Kick it in! No! Not like that!"

"Pass it, you idiot! He's wide open!!!"

What's not to understand? Kick the ball into the other goal. And don't break the rules. Football and baseball have absurdly complicated rules that interfere with the enjoyment of the gameplay. You have to learn all about it first. The most complicated thing in soccer is offsides. I feel like punching you, lady, so I'll stop.

crack of helmets? That's stupid. I prefer the crack of skulls, noses, legs, chests--stupid hulking behemoths in armor pushing each other back? They wear padding. You know who else wears padding?

Women.

Getting hit in soccer is like getting hit in a fight. And yeah, the soccer players who fake injuries are not tolerated at all. Just look up Cristano Ronaldo videos on YouTube. That idiot dove every second. Just look how many people hate him. So yeah, go put on your pads and we'll fight. I know American football would probably have a lot less careers without padding--oh wait, ever hear of RUGBY!? Yeah. Idiot. Now that's a man's sport. They don't worry about "prolonging careers" (or plays, for that matter). Deny that, "Awesome" Bill.

Answer 1

Most Americans are ignorant to anything that's not from the US. They freakin' have to degrade to greatest sport in the world by calling it "soccer", what the f*cks up with that? Football is the best sport in the world, the agility, the pace, skill, and when someone cracks a shot 30 yards out and puts it in the back of the net, there's nothing better. Yeah Basketball is bloody boring because they play an hour something game that could be finished in 5 minutes. American football- gay, fat people grabbing each other, 2 second plays with 1 minute between(retarded), commercials on top of commercials, and time outs, dumbest sport ever.

The REAL football is played on a pitch with a ball and two nets, not a field full of fat people humping each other over a lemon shaped ball.

Answer 2

Here is my theory: I think Americans like sports with short plays. If you look at basketball it doesn't take long for the ball to get scored... and a new play begins.

The same goes for Football, the quarterback throws the ball it gets caught a quick tackle and that is it.

Baseball a pitch, a swing, next play.

The other characteristic American sports like Baseball and Football is that it is easy to distinguish who's attacking and who's defending in Basketball it can change but the plays are so short that it doesn't really matter.

As you say it, the great thing about soccer is the build up, to see how the spaces get open, it's a dynamic game in which defense can change to offense in a flash. I love soccer, I've played it for over 20 years. Unfortunately it is has lost some of the excitement because of the highly defensive and tactical matches like most of the ones we saw during this last world cup.

Answer 3

I also live in the United States and have all my life, and it is because most (not all) Americans are stupid, ignorant people who think they are superior because they are American and dont care about a whole lot else. As far as I am concerned, professional sports in America are just awful. Take "American" football (where they actually hardly ever hit the ball with their foot/feet), and compare it to soccer in terms of action time. In a soccer game, there are 90 minutes of action. In fact, the referee adds on time at the end of each half to maek sure that 90 minutes is filled. Someone once did a study on a football game to see how much "action time" there was. As in, time from snap to end of play. There werent even 20 minutes. As for Baseball, I have been waiting for someone to do a similar study. I bet there would be a similar result. Basketball has a lot of action, but there is a bit too much scoring, yes, and plus, just look at the ratio in the nba of players to players with with law charges. Honestly. A sport I like is hockey, which like soccer, makes for terrible tv coverage compared to football and baseball, and is much less popular. But even so, it still has a bunch of problems, namely the NHL deciding it was a good idea to go to shootouts in tie games (because we all know that a teams ability to score the most in shootouts is the same as playing regular hockey...). And MLS isnt so great either, it just isnt as bad as the other ones because it has only been around 11 years. Anyway, the best sports leagues in America are MLS, The WCHA (college hockey), and the PAC 10 (basketball).

Answer 4

I personally love soccer (FYI, I'm using soccer here instead of football to avoid confusion), but I think I have an insight into why most Americans do not care as much about the sport:

-Number one is marketing. You hear about Baseball, basketball, and American Football all the time in many different types of media, but you rarely hear about soccer. If more attention and advertising were initated, people would would gain more interest.

-Americans are also very attracted to sports that their parents, espessily fathers watched (Though I do know some very hardcore women fans that put me to shame). It's like one of the ultimate bonding activities (Even as an adult) to go to a baseball game and watch my last place Kansas City Royals, or turn on the TV and watch the Chiefs as father and son while barbequeing and drinking a beer or two.

-And finally, most people tend to dedicate themselves to one sport. They may like other sports, but their little faces begin to glow when the season starts for their chosen game. Change scares most people, so it's hard to accept a sport that is just gaining popularity at the moment in the United States even though it is the most popular sport across the rest of the world.

Answer 5

I find soccer boring until you get to the end of the match. Same applies to pro basketball, the last 2 minutes (which generally equate to 20 minutes in real time) is where most games are decided.

In addition, you have to understand that as Americans as a group we enjoy the violence provided by certain sports such as football and those entertainment events such as wrestling. How else can we always go off to war at the drop of a hat.

Answer 6

Soccer is ok. It just hasn't caught on here because of the other established sports. I think basketball is booring. Football (American style) is great. And your wrong about baseball. Baseball is the hardest of all of the sports that you have mentioned. You think it is booring if you do not understand the subtle ways of the game. And if you think it is easy, try hitting a 95 mph fastball or a Major League curve while guessing what is coming.

And back to American Football. There is a big difference between it and soccer. Football is war on a sports field.

Answer 7

.....THE EDUCATION OF THE WORLD CONTINUES, ONE MORON AT A TIME.....First of all, we don't need to be told what the difference between football and soccer is. We invented football before soccer was ever played and THE WORLD invented the name of soccer and promotes it widely, not the United States. Secondly, football requires padding simply to prolong the careers of the players by insuring their personal safety to a great extent. And having played the game myself can vouch for all players that there will be no tolerating a player faking an injury, it's not what real men do. Finally, before you strike a woman, look me up and try to strike me - and don't forget to bring your padding Susie.

Answer 8

Yes, I don't really like American football all that much eather, what we in America call soccer is much better and it is just as dangerous only without the pads. It actually takes more skill to play. It's a pitty it really hasn't caught on here.

Answer 9

My son played soccer from six-years-old through high school. I abhorred it! I never understood it and didn't know how to cheer for it. I mean, what can you say? Get it! Kick it! That's it. I love baseball and don't find it boring but American football is my favorite.

You feel like punching me? Ok...now that's a good reason for me not to like soccer if it draws people like you. Sheesh.

For those of you living in the U.S. who do not like American sports...move!

Answer 10

i agree with you 100%!!! ive lived in the united states for the majority of my life but being originally from argentina, i have football running throught my veins!! i cant get enough!!!

sports play basically only by the united states (american football, baseball) are boring and im convinced that the united states focuses on these cause they know they will always be number one since they have no other competition!!! in football (soccer), the u.s. is one of the worst and they cant stand being considered such a crappy team...so they dont even bother with it.