1 thing keeps it from exploding in the USA.  The offsides penalty.  It takes away the open field from great athletes and puts all teams on an equal playing field so athleticism has less to do with who wins.  
Can you imagine football or basketball having offsides while the ball is in play? The WR is not allowed to run past a DB for a long TD pass. In basketball fast breaks are not allowed and no showtime dunks because you can't receive a pass behind the defense. It's the worst penalty in sports and it makes soccer unwatchable. If they take it out, scores would rise and interest would rise.
					Can you imagine football or basketball having offsides while the ball is in play? The WR is not allowed to run past a DB for a long TD pass. In basketball fast breaks are not allowed and no showtime dunks because you can't receive a pass behind the defense. It's the worst penalty in sports and it makes soccer unwatchable. If they take it out, scores would rise and interest would rise.

.  The football analogy is totally wrong.  Comparing apples to apples here:  WHEN A PASS IS MADE in American football the offensive player CAN be behind the whole defense.  WHEN A PASS IS MADE in soccer the offensive player CANNOT be behind the last defender.
							
						