The state of Soccer in America

It should be obvious to any casual observer in America that Soccer just isn't quite the same here as it is in other countries in Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa. It is openly mocked by comedians and politicians, and certainly has gotten very little respect in the states since the North American Soccer League collapsed some 20 years ago.

Even if you get "soccer" popular in America, the rest of the world will never take your "soccer" seriously until you call it by its proper name.

I'd like soccer to start being popular here, but I just don't think it'll happen,  Football and baseball are too commanding of presences in this country, each for different reasons, and I think they, and the other sports, are going to make it so that soccer will stay as it is - marginalized until the World Cup, and then we get to watch our team get obliterated.  But hey, it'll probably be more popular and televised than hockey!

I think the real issue is the money North American sports pull in through televised advertising. Basket ball, hockey, American football, baseball...etc are all commercial friendly sports. Soccer with its non stop action is not a commercial break friendly sport and thus doesn't get the kind of sponsorship money and air time it needs to become a major sport in the US.

Being from Seattle, and being at that opening game and part of the sell-out crowd, I would say that at least in this city, I think soccer will really get a foothold. I am not sure how many at that game were first time soccer followers than not... but I think we can see that with the success of the season opener, more people will be jumping on the bandwagon here.

As for the opening game, it was electrifying. Quest Field (where the our NFL team the Seahawks play and now where our Sounders FC play) is known for getting really loud and shaking as it did. But what makes me so happy about it, is that we made the stadium do that cheering our brand new Soccer team instead of our Seahawks.

I think it was a good day for Seattle soccer, and probably the Northwest soccer because of the Portland and Vancouver teams coming in the next two years. Hopefully, and I do really hope, that the success here can at least somewhat translate to success for Soccer across America. It really is the world's sport after all.

Also it doesn't help that America are rubbish at football, the only sports that are really popular in America are Am. Football, Basketball and Baseball all sports created by Americans and that Americans are best at (mainly because they are the only major country that take these sport seriously)

I watch MLS sometimes, but honestly, it doesn't intrigue me at all, specially when I can watch Juventus, AC Milan, Manchester United, Liverpool, Aresenal, so on and so forth. MLS just doesn't do it for me, it looks like I'm watching college soccer, and why should I watch that when I can go out and play it? The only way soccer in America will get popular is if MLS really brings it to the table.

"MattyFTM said:

"Even if you get "soccer" popular in America, the rest of the world will never take your "soccer" seriously until you call it by its proper name."

Unfortunately that will never happen. We don't even use the metric system, and we drive on the wrong side of the road. The closest we will get is to continue to name our teams "________ FC" (for the uninformed, FC means Football Club)"

 and we drive on the wrong side of the road. 

"I think the real issue is the money North American sports pull in through televised advertising. Basket ball, hockey, American football, baseball...etc are all commercial friendly sports. Soccer with its non stop action is not a commercial break friendly sport and thus doesn't get the kind of sponsorship money and air time it needs to become a major sport in the US."

"MattyFTM said:

"AgentJ said:

"MattyFTM said:

"Even if you get "soccer" popular in America, the rest of the world will never take your "soccer" seriously until you call it by its proper name."

Unfortunately that will never happen. We don't even use the metric system, and we drive on the wrong side of the road. The closest we will get is to continue to name our teams "________ FC" (for the uninformed, FC means Football Club)"

Yeah, I don't mind soccer being the most commonly used colloquialism of football in the US, but would it really be too much to ask to have all the official names say football, to recognize that football is it's actual, internationally recognized name? Or even calling it Association Football to differentiate from American Football. Like renaming the MLS to MLAF (Major League Association Football). People could still call it soccer, but it'd be nice to see them recognize it's proper name on official names and things. Maybe I'm just being pedantic. I dunno."

We could rename it to MILF. Major International League of Football. What? Whats wrong with MILF?"

"Diamond said:

"super_machine said:

"I think the real issue is the money North American sports pull in through televised advertising. Basket ball, hockey, American football, baseball...etc are all commercial friendly sports. Soccer with its non stop action is not a commercial break friendly sport and thus doesn't get the kind of sponsorship money and air time it needs to become a major sport in the US."

This.  Other sports have an established presence in America.  They have fans putting out billions of dollars.  Soccer/Futbol doesn't.  It'll need many years to build up a presence if it ever wants to be 'big in America'."

I'm assuming that you reaad the original post. While it certainly won't happen overnight, I think the success of the Seattle team proves that Soccer can be viable. Toronto has a similarly strong fanbase, though they didn't sell 22,000 season tickets. The presence of players like Montero and Ljundberg are the kind of things that MLS needs in order to be big. It needs Icons and rivalries, and both of those things seem to be taking shape. It will take time, but it may come sooner than you think."

"It is openly mocked by comedians and politicians"

What's there to mock?
Football is awesome.

"Diamond said:

"AgentJ said:

"Diamond said:

"super_machine said:

"I think the real issue is the money North American sports pull in through televised advertising. Basket ball, hockey, American football, baseball...etc are all commercial friendly sports. Soccer with its non stop action is not a commercial break friendly sport and thus doesn't get the kind of sponsorship money and air time it needs to become a major sport in the US."

This.  Other sports have an established presence in America.  They have fans putting out billions of dollars.  Soccer/Futbol doesn't.  It'll need many years to build up a presence if it ever wants to be 'big in America'."

I'm assuming that you reaad the original post. While it certainly won't happen overnight, I think the success of the Seattle team proves that Soccer can be viable. Toronto has a similarly strong fanbase, though they didn't sell 22,000 season tickets. The presence of players like Montero and Ljundberg are the kind of things that MLS needs in order to be big. It needs Icons and rivalries, and both of those things seem to be taking shape. It will take time, but it may come sooner than you think."

I don't think opening night for a brand new team in a single stadium really proves much.  I saw the videos on Inside Xbox and it looked like people were really getting into it, but I think we have to look a few years down the road in cases like this."

Like I said, 22,000 season tickets and the next few games are either sold out or nearly sold out, so things are going to essentially be the same in the XBOX pitch at Qwest Field. It may be a while before the rest of the country gets into soccer, but it looks like the NW is already sold."

"AgentJ said:

"Diamond said:

"AgentJ said:

"Diamond said:

"super_machine said:

"I think the real issue is the money North American sports pull in through televised advertising. Basket ball, hockey, American football, baseball...etc are all commercial friendly sports. Soccer with its non stop action is not a commercial break friendly sport and thus doesn't get the kind of sponsorship money and air time it needs to become a major sport in the US."

This.  Other sports have an established presence in America.  They have fans putting out billions of dollars.  Soccer/Futbol doesn't.  It'll need many years to build up a presence if it ever wants to be 'big in America'."

I'm assuming that you reaad the original post. While it certainly won't happen overnight, I think the success of the Seattle team proves that Soccer can be viable. Toronto has a similarly strong fanbase, though they didn't sell 22,000 season tickets. The presence of players like Montero and Ljundberg are the kind of things that MLS needs in order to be big. It needs Icons and rivalries, and both of those things seem to be taking shape. It will take time, but it may come sooner than you think."

I don't think opening night for a brand new team in a single stadium really proves much.  I saw the videos on Inside Xbox and it looked like people were really getting into it, but I think we have to look a few years down the road in cases like this."

Like I said, 22,000 season tickets and the next few games are either sold out or nearly sold out, so things are going to essentially be the same in the XBOX pitch at Qwest Field. It may be a while before the rest of the country gets into soccer, but it looks like the NW is already sold."

As a spectator sport I think soccer could do well. But for it to really make it in the US it needs to be a sponsor friendly as possible. As it stands I dont think soccer is as commercially accessable as established US sports. The format of the game does not lend itself to commercial breaks like Baseball or American football does. Its sad to say, but the success or failure of professional sports in the main stream of America depends on the commercial revinue that pays for it. "

Yes, ajentJ thats actually a good idea. But you see my point. I really think that is one reason why soccer doesnt get the kind of big network, primetime coverage others sports get.

"I think the real issue is the money North American sports pull in through televised advertising. Basket ball, hockey, American football, baseball...etc are all commercial friendly sports. Soccer with its non stop action is not a commercial break friendly sport and thus doesn't get the kind of sponsorship money and air time it needs to become a major sport in the US."

It would be nice to see the US take the world's number one sport seriously.

Stop calling Football Soccer and stop calling US America, America is the damned continent and football is named football not that funny stupid word that who knows who invented it. And by the way, why US football is called football if you use your HANDS?.

"Stop calling Football Soccer and stop calling US America, America is the damned continent and football is named football not that funny stupid word that who knows who invented it. And by the way, why US football is called football if you use your HANDS?."

The state of soccer, IMO, is right where it needs to be:  non-existant.

"The state of soccer, IMO, is right where it needs to be:  non-existant.

Golf, however, needs more recognition.

"

Do you know everytime someone says soccer we english people die a little inside lol

Chelsea FTW

Frank lampard FTW

Shunsuke nakamura FTW

"I watch MLS sometimes, but honestly, it doesn't intrigue me at all, specially when I can watch Juventus, AC Milan, Manchester United, Liverpool, Aresenal, so on and so forth. MLS just doesn't do it for me, it looks like I'm watching college soccer, and why should I watch that when I can go out and play it? The only way soccer in America will get popular is if MLS really brings it to the table."

I live in Canada and though I don't follow sports at all and have no idea what kind of canadian teams there are, I think soccer is pretty popular here, at least among young people.  When I was a kid I played soccer for 5 years.  It's probably the most popular sport for a child to participate in by far, as you don't need a lot of equipment, and it can be played anywhere.  I'd rather watch a soccer game over american football, but I'd rather watch hockey over any sport... no other sport has that same excitement, and you can't get as close to the live action in any other sport when you're right down there with the players only separated by some boards and plexiglass.

"Even if you get "soccer" popular in America, the rest of the world will never take your "soccer" seriously until you call it by its proper name."

"the chinese need to bulk up a bit, Yao Ming is promising though. "

 I'd rather watch a soccer game over american football, but I'd rather watch hockey over any sport... no other sport has that same excitement, and you can't get as close to the live action in any other sport when you're right down there with the players only separated by some boards and plexiglass."

"TwoOneFive said:

"the chinese need to bulk up a bit, Yao Ming is promising though. "

I think the Chinese could take on the US at American Football with a bit of training. There will be tonnes of big bulky Chinese somewhere. There are so many Chinese people there is going to be plenty of bulky dudes somewhere. I mean, you know the stereotypical short Chinese stereotype? Its fairly true for the most part. But have you seen the Chinese basketball team? They're huge tall dudes. There are just so many Chinese people, that eventually you find some freakishly tall people. I'm sure it'll be the same for freakishly bulky people too."

"and we drive on the wrong side of the road."

FOOTBALL is awesome. I always love when the FIFA world cup/Euro cup and ect come around. Its the most intense and exciting sport to watch IMO. Its not popular in North America as much because North America has "American Football". Plus you all need to start calling it by its proper and original name. FOOTBALL. Which makes perfect sense because you kick a ball with your foot............... "American Football" should be named...hand ball or something.

You are right Destro, but its not going to change anytime soon.

It does irk me that we call it something different in the US. I don't know if it will ever be as popular, but I do notice, as mentioned above, that a lot of children play it. 'Soccer' is actually pretty fun to watch. But I know I would rather watch hockey above all else.

"Also it doesn't help that America are rubbish at football, the only sports that are really popular in America are Am. Football, Basketball and Baseball all sports created by Americans and that Americans are best at (mainly because they are the only major country that take these sport seriously)

It would be great to see football rise in popularity in America, but I can't see it happening soon

"

"jakob187 said:

"The state of soccer, IMO, is right where it needs to be:  non-existant.

Golf, however, needs more recognition.

"

Golf is one of those sports that is probably fun to play, but watching it is torture."

I lived in Europe for 4 years, where the only thing anyone could talk about was soccer. It annoyed the crap outta me. Every day it was like "OI! CHURCHILL! MANCHESTER U BEAT LIVERPOOL BECAUSE LIVERPOOL SUCKS!". Just shut up. It's a friggin' game. At least in the states, they have more than one sport, and at least football is mildly amusing to have on in the background of a party, but getting so excited over soccer is like being amazed at how grass grows.

As a Washington resident I was absolutely floored by the response from the recent success of the Sounders.  Very excited to see where this goes, personally for me, it's about time soccer became popular somewhere in this country, I can easily see Seattle being a lightning rod for getting people interested.

Left or right, it doesn't matter. Neither is more dangerous, and cars from both 'versions' are set up for the driver to drive on that side of the road. It's just the UK etc drive clockwise, that is to say the oncoming traffic is heading on your right, and the US etc drive anticlockwise, that is to say the oncoming traffic is on their left.

Anyway, Soccer I've heard comes from the English term Association Football. And just like the posh Englishmen would've said Rugers for Rugby, and Badders for Badminton, I guess Assers was a little too bizarre, so they called it Soccer. They other explaination I've heard is down to the type of sock worn during football, but that sounds... well they both sound strange actually.

And can people stop calling Americans terrible at football, because those who watched the World Cup know there's some pretty good footballers over there.

The state of Cricket in America on the other hand...

"jakob187 said:

"The state of soccer, IMO, is right where it needs to be:  non-existant.

Golf, however, needs more recognition.

"

Golf is one of those sports that is probably fun to play, but watching it is torture."

"Left or right, it doesn't matter. Neither is more dangerous, and cars from both 'versions' are set up for the driver to drive on that side of the road. It's just the UK etc drive clockwise, that is to say the oncoming traffic is heading on your right, and the US etc drive anticlockwise, that is to say the oncoming traffic is on their left.

Anyway, Soccer I've heard comes from the English term Association Football. And just like the posh Englishmen would've said Rugers for Rugby, and Badders for Badminton, I guess Assers was a little too bizarre, so they called it Soccer. They other explaination I've heard is down to the type of sock worn during football, but that sounds... well they both sound strange actually.And can people stop calling Americans terrible at football, because those who watched the World Cup know there's some pretty good footballers over there.The state of Cricket in America on the other hand..."