Why isn't soccer popular in America? (organic, pub, pool)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Exactly.
I've been hearing the same thing for 40 years: soccer will take over America. The youth who play it will keep watching when they grow up, creating a huge fan base for professional soccer.
I've yet to see it happen.
Even in cities that have MLS teams, soccer is still a very niche sport with a very narrow fanbase.
It's kind of like saying professional dodgeball is going to supplant the NFL just because a bunch of kids play it.
So true. Millions of those American boys and girls that played soccer as a youth, have absolutely no desire to watch a MLS game or English Premier League game, which both have dismal TV ratings in America. The English Premier League is even on NBC, and still nobody watches it.
I still think you and him are not taking enough responsibility for all the English racist crap, among English supporters. There are you happy now? Also the booing of the opposition national anthems was another disgrace. But you will probably say they weren't really booing, or it was just a few, or other countries do it. We in America never boo opposition national anthems, because it is disrespectful. In 1980 at the legendary "Miracle on Ice" in beautiful Lake Placid, when the USA stunned the mighty USSR hockey team during the height of the cold war. The Soviet anthem was not booed by the American fans.
WE'RE not taking responsibility? Are you suggesting we're somehow responsible!!!?
So true. Millions of those American boys and girls that played soccer as a youth, have absolutely no desire to watch a MLS game or English Premier League game, which both have dismal TV ratings in America. The English Premier League is even on NBC, and still nobody watches it.
About 500 million people worldwide watch an English Premier League match, that's just the English league, millions worldwide also watch 'other' leagues, you simply can't argue with the numbers. I know for a fact there are US Chelsea supporter clubs, I think Pulisic has increased their numbers. I understand though that Pulisic is probably not the best known sportsman in the US but he is the best known US sportsman outside the US! Horses for courses.
One of the reasons why association football is struggling to get a foothold in the US is the lack of international competition: Concacaf is indeed a lame continental confederation.
But I’ve just got a brilliant idea: England should leave UEFA and join Concacaf!
If such thing happened several birds would be killed with a single stone:
- England would take a step further in the direction of distancing itself from The Old Continent (we Europeans would be devastated, but we’d respect the will of our friends from across the Channel)
- England would finally have the chance to win some trophies again (though arguably the Gold Cup is not exactly as prestigious as the Euro Cup)
- the US would be exposed much more frequently to fierce competition and fine football.
One of the reasons why association football is struggling to get a foothold in the US is the lack of international competition: Concacaf is indeed a lame continental confederation.
But I’ve just got a brilliant idea: England should leave UEFA and join Concacaf!
If such thing happened several birds would be killed with a single stone:
- England would take a step further in the direction of distancing itself from The Old Continent (we Europeans would be devastated, but we’d respect the will of our friends from across the Channel)
- England would finally have the chance to win some trophies again (though arguably the Gold Cup is not exactly as prestigious as the Euro Cup)
- the US would be exposed much more frequently to fierce competition and fine football.
Domestic clubs do very well in Europe, indeed Chelsea have just won the European Champions League, and UK teams do win trophies.
In fact domestic clubs are now dominating European trophies, with a number of all England finals in recent years.
Getting to the final of the Euros is also an achievement, and we were only knocked out on penalties.
If Southgate builds on this team, then there is no reason why they shouldn't win trophies.
As for leaving UEFA, it's not going to happen and why would we want to join Concaccaf.
One of the reasons why association football is struggling to get a foothold in the US is the lack of international competition: Concacaf is indeed a lame continental confederation.
But I’ve just got a brilliant idea: England should leave UEFA and join Concacaf!
If such thing happened several birds would be killed with a single stone:
- England would take a step further in the direction of distancing itself from The Old Continent (we Europeans would be devastated, but we’d respect the will of our friends from across the Channel)
- England would finally have the chance to win some trophies again (though arguably the Gold Cup is not exactly as prestigious as the Euro Cup)
- the US would be exposed much more frequently to fierce competition and fine football.
not really reason football is not big in usa is because media. if media would talk about it 24 '7 like they do for other sports it would be huge just imagine if espn would have topics talks from
get up= one or two soccer topics that is from 5 am to 8 am
first take = had one or two topics from 8 am to 10 am
pti , around the horn and specific soccer show like nba jump had one or two topics a day for a year sport would SKY ROCKET but they do not even they make sure there is no soccer topics in day prime time on ther talk shows
also FS1
if they had one or two topics a day for year sport would be big
As for leaving UEFA, it's not going to happen and why would we want to join Concaccaf.
The former British Empire colonised a large chunk of North America; as a result England is to this day burdened with the grave moral responsibility of bringing and spreading civilisation to those barbarian lands.
By joining the Concacaf and promoting the Superior Game amongst those masses you would be absolved from your obligations
The former British Empire colonised a large chunk of North America; as a result England is to this day burdened with the grave moral responsibility of bringing and spreading civilisation to those barbarian lands.
By joining the Concacaf and promoting the Superior Game amongst those masses you would be absolved from your obligations
The Dutch, Spanish and French also played a part, as did Italy's very own Columbus.
I hardly think we have a burden or responsibility, nor do I consider the US to be a barbarian land.
The UK left the US with Cricket, which was once the national sport, however they decided to play rounders and a strange form of padded rugby instead.
The popularity of certain sports in certain sports is not primarily due to the inherent awesomeness of the game.
It's generally due to:
a) inherited culture
and
b) media interest
I grew up with baseball but recognize that cricket isn't necessarily more boring than baseball is.
And for example, curling certainly isn't less exciting than golf. But look at the popularity disparity between them.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.