Soccer will never become big in the US

[frogsrangers]

We have been hearing since 1994 how Soccer is the next big thing in the US. 22 years. Then in 2002 when the US Men made the World Cup quarterfinals we heard how soccer was about to explode. And again in 2010. And after the Womens Team won in 1999 and last year we heard its just a matter of time before soccer becomes huge.

And it has never happened.

Go to ESPN.com and they are always trying to shove soccer down your throat. Lots of front page headlines about soccer and a large soccer site staff.

Yet no one cares.

I live in Seattle and the Sounders soccer team actually draws well. But that's because this city is filled with a bunch of liberals who wish we were more like Europe. The people who like soccer tend to be white liberal men who think we should be more sophisticated, like Europe. That's why soccer is big in this city, lots of white liberal men.

But sports viewership overall is driven by white middle American men who tend to be more blue collar and conservative, and therefore more likely to dislike soccer.

This is why ESPN and the liberal media want soccer so badly to succeed, because it would piss off the white conservative men who hate soccer. And soccer succeeding would mean liberalism succeeding. The two are synonymous.

But it will never happen.

[jjgold]

its decent but we are garbage

nerds play and then the non americans we have are rejects from other countries

[Chi_archie]

https://www.umbel.com/blog/sports/10...it-in-america/

The U.S. Youth Soccer organization says that participation in soccer is 30 times higher now than it was just 40 years ago. There were 103,432 children registered to play soccer in the U.S. in 1974, 1.6 million children registered to play in 1990, and more than 3 million registered to play in 2014. The Wall Street Journal noted that youth participation in soccer is double that of tackle football and larger than baseball by about 1 million participants.

[lakerboy]

Eventually enough Mexican immigrants will make the us national team good. Let's face it soccer is a european/south American dominant sport. We have heard how the Africans will win the world cup one day. I don't see that happening in the foreseeable future. See in poor countries the kids play soccer. in the usa poor youth drink and do drugs.

[Antibet]

There is no way the USA will ever become as sophisticated as Europe, unless all rednecks in America turn gay

[frogsrangers]

https://www.umbel.com/blog/sports/10...it-in-america/

The U.S. Youth Soccer organization says that participation in soccer is 30 times higher now than it was just 40 years ago. There were 103,432 children registered to play soccer in the U.S. in 1974, 1.6 million children registered to play in 1990, and more than 3 million registered to play in 2014. The Wall Street Journal noted that youth participation in soccer is double that of tackle football and larger than baseball by about 1 million participants.

Youth participation in soccer has always been high. Doesn't translate to eyeballs tuning into soccer on TV or making the MLS relevant.

Football is the least popular youth sport when it comes to participation but draws the most eyeballs on TV.

[frogsrangers]

Eventually enough Mexican immigrants will make the us national team good. Let's face it soccer is a european/south American dominant sport. We have heard how the Africans will win the world cup one day. I don't see that happening in the foreseeable future. See in poor countries the kids play soccer. in the usa poor youth drink and do drugs.

This is another reason why I think ESPN pushes soccer so hard, they are bleeding cable subscribers daily and need to gain new subscribers, they see the booming Mexican population and think that by pushing soccer it will draw in the latinos.

Same reason why Churches(specifically the Catholic Church) are very pro-immigration and open borders, losing congregation membership and need to refill up the pews so the coffers remain full.

And its the same reason why the PGA moved the tournament from Trump's Doral Course to Mexico City. Pathetic attempt to pander to the growing latino population to try and grow its fanbase.

Everything these days is about pandering to mexicans.

[Chi_archie]

2. More Americans watched the Women's World Cup final than the NBA Final or Stanley Cup

When compared to the other major 2015 summer sports events, the Women’s World Cup finals viewership beat out the NBA Finals (19.94 million viewers) and the Stanley Cup finals (5.5 million viewers). It only slightly fell short of the 28.3 million viewers who watched the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament championship game on CBS on April 6.

[frogsrangers]

2. More Americans watched the Women's World Cup final than the NBA Final or Stanley Cup

When compared to the other major 2015 summer sports events, the Women’s World Cup finals viewership beat out the NBA Finals (19.94 million viewers) and the Stanley Cup finals (5.5 million viewers). It only slightly fell short of the 28.3 million viewers who watched the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament championship game on CBS on April 6.

So a once-every-4-years championship game on a Sunday Afternoon in the summertime was able to beat out the NBA finals.

How did the non-championship Women's World Cup games do?

Why aren't professional soccer leagues big in the United States?

The Women's World Cup Final success should surely translate into the success of a professional women's soccer league, right?

[pavyracer]

Youth participation in soccer has always been high. Doesn't translate to eyeballs tuning into soccer on TV or making the MLS relevant.

Football is the least popular youth sport when it comes to participation but draws the most eyeballs on TV.

Read it again:

participation in soccer is 30 times higher now than it was just 40 years ago. There were 103,432 children registered to play soccer in the U.S. in 1974, 1.6 million children registered to play in 1990, and more than 3 million registered to play in 2014.

[QuantumLeap]

So a once-every-4-years championship game on a Sunday Afternoon in the summertime was able to beat out the NBA finals.

How did the non-championship Women's World Cup games do?

Why aren't professional soccer leagues big in the United States?

The Women's World Cup Final success should surely translate into the success of a professional women's soccer league, right?

He's comparing apples to oranges, taking the finals game (once every 4 years) and comparing it to the average for the finals in NBA, not just the final game.

Youth soccer is big because any kid can kick a ball, even non-athletic ones. Not just any kid can be good at football or basketball.

[new era]

TBH Who cares? Trump will ban it or something in the US. The fact that its not popular in US is better.

[Killer2121]

2. More Americans watched the Women's World Cup final than the NBA Final or Stanley Cup

When compared to the other major 2015 summer sports events, the Women’s World Cup finals viewership beat out the NBA Finals (19.94 million viewers) and the Stanley Cup finals (5.5 million viewers). It only slightly fell short of the 28.3 million viewers who watched the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament championship game on CBS on April 6.

Most people just watched it to be patriotic or because they're friends were watching it. Olympic garners high views but we don't see a surge in interest in gymnastics or swimming. People will just support their country.

[Killer2121]

https://www.umbel.com/blog/sports/10...it-in-america/

The U.S. Youth Soccer organization says that participation in soccer is 30 times higher now than it was just 40 years ago. There were 103,432 children registered to play soccer in the U.S. in 1974, 1.6 million children registered to play in 1990, and more than 3 million registered to play in 2014. The Wall Street Journal noted that youth participation in soccer is double that of tackle football and larger than baseball by about 1 million participants.

Same thing in Canada... Soccer is just an easy and affordable way for parents to get their kids exercise and a social life. By the time kids get into high school, they've already ventured into hockey, basketball or obesity here in Canada.

[VegasPlayer]

Been to youth soccer practice and youth football/baseball practice. 2 different worlds.

[thetrinity]

It actually will be popular 20 or 30 years from now when American football is obsolete.

This generation is the first where the kids actually watch soccer as well as play it. The middle age man didn't have the internet when he was younger as well as access to so many European games on TV. Schools are full of jerseys from Barcelona Madrid man city arsenal. Kids know all the global stars.

[grease lightnin]

I was with you rangers until you made it a conspiracy theory

Lakerboy, mexicans are usually not very athletic because of the mayan blood, too small

Trinity, american football will not become obsolete but it will probably become more and more watered down

[daneblazer]

Need American blacks to play soccer and not football & basketball. Unfortch not many in the hood walking around with Manchester United gear on

[opie1988]

I also think a big part of it is that soccer, especially as you become older, is quite gay.

[Antibet]

Pussification and gayification of the USA should do the trick. Leave Obama for another 4-8 years, and soccer will become #1 sport in States

[grease lightnin]

I also think a big part of it is that soccer, especially as you become older, is quite gay.

Opie makes quite a point here.

[Stackzilla]

Anyone posting here with negative comments about soccer ever actually play soccer?? OP so what game did you lose big on that was suppose to be a sure win??
I do agree that just because participation of youth soccer goes up every year does not translate to us producing the next Messi or Ronaldo could be due to the fact the coach is probably a dad with nights and weekends off who bought a book on Amazon written by an American which he keeps in his back pocket knowing he would master the game overnight. So pretty much 90% of all youth coaches in the US. While in Europe/ South America most kid's 1st toy is a soccer ball.

[Stackzilla]

Also yes some games are very boring same could be said for any sport

[jtoler]

Can you not see the world is changing, with open borders and a more varied population it very well could be big here one day and faster than you think. Said a while back Europe was the testing ground the U.S. is next, now they are playing the sympathetic card about letting alot of Syrian refugees in. World government is on a fast track.

[Inkwell77]

If soccer would just give red cards to guys diving and acting like they are hurt when they are not the sports popularity would increase dramatically.

It is hard to watch and promote and justify such pussification.
I love soccer and the physical aspect, but the powering bodies need to control the acting/pussy drama to help the sport

[funnyb25]

If soccer would just give red cards to guys diving and acting like they are hurt when they are not the sports popularity would increase dramatically.

It is hard to watch and promote and justify such pussification.
I love soccer and the physical aspect, but the powering bodies need to control the acting/pussy drama to help the sport

Bingo...it has become almost un watchable...not only do they dive and hold their face every single play, it takes away time and flow from the game. Yes, they add injury time, but there is never enough injury time they can add to make up for all the drama that goes on out there.

[sweethook]

your right , people to lazy for in the west

[themike78]

Soccer or futbol or whatever the fuk it's called should be illegal. Those games cause riots with very bad people and people get killed. Horrible sport. And it's for gay kids who can't play a real sport.

[pavyracer]

How about all the other plays that players get hurt? Did you watch the Brazil-Ecuador game last night? Elbows to the face on headers, head butting on headers, kicks to the knees with metal studs. James of Colombia dislocated his shoulder and put it back during the game. What a pussy!

The only protection soccer players wear is shin guards who are only covering about half the front shin. All others areas are exposed.

I challenge you to go play competitive soccer and you will be asking for a sub in 10 minutes. Oh my shin hurts, I sprained my ankle, I popped my shoulder, my butt hurts from falling on my ass. Every time I play soccer with American born players half of them leave the field with injuries from non-contact. And these are the same pussies who watch the World Cup and say they need to stop the diving and fake injuries.

[The Kraken]

Too much flopping, if you flop, you're dq'd for the match

Get rid of offsides

Make goals a foot wider, a foot taller, and a foot shallower

Aim for 18-20 goals a game

[pavyracer]

Too much flopping, if you flop, you're dq'd for the match

Get rid of offsides

Make goals a foot wider, a foot taller, and a foot shallower

Aim for 18-20 goals a game

How about learning to play the game properly with existing rules?

Sure lets make the NBA rim 15 feet tall to eliminate dunks and force players to shoot more.

Lets make the hockey crease 6 feet tall and 10 foot wide and use two goalies per crease. This will encourage more scoring.

[grease lightnin]

How about learning to play the game properly with existing rules?

Sure lets make the NBA rim 15 feet tall to eliminate dunks and force players to shoot more.

Lets make the hockey crease 6 feet tall and 10 foot wide and use two goalies per crease. This will encourage more scoring.

The point is more scoring. NBA has tons of scoring. You have something there with the hockey thing

[pavyracer]

The point is more scoring. NBA has tons of scoring. You have something there with the hockey thing

Soccer is not a game of scoring lots of goals. You get three points for a win, one for draw and zero for a loss. It's a strategy game. Why risk scoring more goals and let the other team equalize? Sometimes teams play for a draw in the first game of a 3 game preliminary round. Then open up game 2. There is a lot of strategy involved.

[grease lightnin]

Soccer is not a game of scoring lots of goals. You get three points for a win, one for draw and zero for a loss. It's a strategy game. Why risk scoring more goals and let the other team equalize? Sometimes teams play for a draw in the first game of a 3 game preliminary round. Then open up game 2. There is a lot of strategy involved.

Fukk that...

[Stackzilla]

Flops can be said for any sport..yea it's bad for the sport but it's also apart of the sport..if players were given red cards for flops in 3 years fans would be upset about the lack of flops in the game...any change in any sport always upsets the balance....and if you think flopping doesn't happen in most sports well....

Here's 5 min of Lebron James flops that's 1 player and he gets a 5 min video...