soccer in the US?

Question

why is soccer so unpopular in the US? i live in alabama and everyone says soccer is for gays and hippies. i just tell them that a least our high school soccer team made the playoffs and the football team didnt. haha stupid rednecks

Answer 1

I have the same question: why do so many alleged sports fans like and appreciate a variety of sports (football to hockey to baseball to golf, etc), yet when it comes to soccer the mood turns sour and almost violently antagonistic. I mean, some folks don't like golf, but you never hear them screaming and carrying on about how horrible it is. The same with other sports - but when it comes to soccer, let the vile diarrhea-of-the-mouth begin.

I don't want to hear the lame excuse that there is not enough scoring (baseball and/or hockey have long been low scoring affairs). I don't want to hear that it is boring/not enough action (give me a break . . . baseball in nearly unwatchable with all the delays, and football is five seconds of action followed by a minute of standing around). Don't get me wrong - I am a sports fan, and can appreciate most sports (I have a tough time with those that are based on judging - skating, gymnastics, etc.).

What is it about soccer that creates such animosity? Is it the jingoistic view that since it wasn't "invented" in the USA, it is inherently evil? Is it that xenophobic fear that since the USA is not the "top dog" that we can't or won't appreciate it? Is it the fact that it is an easy target because it appears 'everyone' hates it and you're just "stupid" to even like something that the masses (which quite often are asses) frown upon? Is it because folks can get a quick laugh if they make fun of it?

Answer 2

Want to know why?

Because Americans already have a host of great sports that we love. Football, baseball, basketball, and hockey have all been part of our lives for decades and decades. There's just really not room on our schedules to accommodate yet another sport.

However, if you live long enough, you'll hear all kinds of whining from Europeans and Latinos who simply do not understand why Americans are not bowled over by soccer. Even worse, some Americans will take up the cause under the strange assumption that if it's popular in Europe, then it's automatically better than our sports. As if a preference for a sport was really a matter of good taste or bad. Or that not caring for soccer makes one stupid. Or, worst of all, an arrogant American.

In fact, just reading some of the previous posters validates that point. Nobody considers me arrogant because I don't support curling. Nobody considers me xenophobic because I'm not a fanatic for Australian Rules Football. I'm not ignorant for my apathy to rugby. Yet if I don't love soccer, I'm guilty of some grave cultural deficiency.

That's a really important point to make. Because nobody every really touts soccer as a game with more scoring or action than football. Instead, we're support to like it based on the fact that it's adored in Europe and elsewhere on the planet. In fact, it's pretty much common currency among all soccer afficionados wondering why their sport can't catch fire in the world's largest media market.

So there you have it. Most Americans would have been perfectly content to let the rest of the world enjoy their football. But instead, we have it rammed down our throat and told that we're a bunch of ignorant boobs because we don't enjoy it, rather than quite possibly believe that our taste in sports are a reflection of our own culture and history. That's the source of our hostility.

Answer 3

Mexico as many have said before. And they will only continue to get stronger because it was just announce that young leagues such as the sub-15, sub-17 and sub 20 will be developed. That way many youngsters will already have experience once they get to the first division in Mexico and wont take them that long to go to europe as some have given the excused that before mexican players go to europe they need more experienced. So im looking forward to the Mexican League. And To David Please do not bring the national team into this please how can you compare Landon Dodavon with someone like Rafael Marquez and the thing about Freddy Adu at least Mexico doesn not give citizenship to foreign players right away so they could play with the national team, at least Gio has a Mexican mother and was born in Mexico.

Answer 4

you have answered your own question lol... don't worry about it. Soccer is very popular in the US - realize how large the US is and think about all the local people you know that play it. Now try to imagine the same number of people playing it in every town in the US... that is a lot of people! watching it is a different story.

Answer 5

This country is very big and I will tell you this sport is very popular in the USA mainly among the people who have roots to other countries. Just because one lives here, it does not mean one needs to give up one's culture...and for many countries around the world....Futbol is part of that culture.

Come to NYC and you be amazed how many organized and unorganized games you will run into. During the WC Qualifiers....all the South American sports bars are packed to capacity......there is even a Boca Juniors restaurant!!

This country is very big and very diverse.......the area you live is not as diverse as it would be in other states. Southern and Mid states are American Football crazed culture.....hence your way of supporting the sport by telling them that.

Answer 6

because lots of people haven't ever watched it

I'm willing to bet that half the people who say Soccer sucks have never even seen a match

Answer 7

because the US wants to be different.
and that's why everyone thinks that football is cool here.
i agree with you. i love soccer too.

Answer 8

here the answer..sir.
im high school student playing soccer ..
im not from U.S i lived a lot of countrys.......
the people out side the U.S 75% playing soccer ASIA_EURO_S.AMERICA....
but U.S.A the people playing 3 games a lot
BASKETBALL
AMERICAN FOOTBALL
BASIBALL
thats way soccer not popular in U.S....
but i belive beckham can do it make more popular soccer in U.S after few years...
thanks take care dear....

Answer 9

its because they suck at it and they just want to bring people down i mean its true that in the U.S some of the people dont ever help each other elevate