Soccer (or football, as it is everywhere else in the world) ranks seventh or eighth in terms of popularity in the US, with baseball, American football, basketball, hockey, nascar and golf beating it. Why is that?
Why is Europe so beyond crazy about a sport that doesn't generate much interest in the nation full of outstanding athletes and most developed show business?
The issue hinges upon differences in sports culture between the two continents. Where European players see commitment to one's team, the US players prioritize financial well-being. Where European fans see aggressive all-out dedication to their beloved Manchester United, Americans see it as a family trip to the arena, with hot dogs, peanuts and—oh, by the way—the actual game.
The game itself is just not a big deal to Americans, I have seen that over and over and over again. Perhaps the level of consumer well-being in the US leaves Americans with many options of where to go and where not to go, so the process just isn't as much fun.
Abundance creates numbness as it makes joyful experiences mundane. They will go see a romantic comedy, a monster truck performance and their favorite team play with the same dedication.
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Similarly, the game of soccer itself opposes everything that a US sports fan would like to see. There are no tremendous athletes who can level other people with their brute strength. There are no fantastic finishes, where LeBron James hammers the ball down on three defenders, once again displaying utmost domination of physical prowess.
No. Soccer is a game where grace and agility are the key factors to success. That's no fun to watch! Are you really going to outrun your opponent? Is that it? Can you at least do a Terrel Owens after you score a goal? If you ask me, however, the process to achieve the physical fitness that soccer players possess is a lot more strenuous. A lot.
Moreover, the US is a nation that tends to prioritize immediate gratification. Look at the prevalence of fast food restaurants and electric can openers! In the nation where time is money, patience is no longer a virtue.
It makes sense, then, that soccer is not the game of choice by many Americans. Who wants to watch a 90 minute soccer game that ends 0-0? Where is the score, touchdowns, dunks, three pointers, home runs?
It's a consumer culture, and immediate gratification is needed in the form of these things. Europeans tend to enjoy the process, rise up for every breakaway, every corner kick, every goal siege. Americans need goals. Simple as that.
OK, you may probably maintain that hockey isn't too much of a scoring game, but Americans still like it. However, think about the dynamics of hockey and soccer.
Have you seen a hockey player who rests in one place for at least five seconds? How about fights? Have you noticed the difference between the sizes of the playing field? And how many hockey games really end 0-0?
Furthermore, ask people why they like hockey, and they will tell you three things: fast pace, people crashing to the glass and fights. Doesn't really remind of soccer, does it?
Soccer will not become any more popular than it is today, due to many subtle cultural and ideological differences between Europe and the US. Many of them have to do with different abundances of leisure activities, preference for sports that require different kinds of physical fitness and the clash between goal-orientedness and the joy of the process.
Add tradition to the mix, and it becomes clear why a young American kid will see Michael Jordan, while a young Italian kid will choose Paolo Maldini as their idols.
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2 months ago
Well it's not only Europe who love football unlike the US....I think its the whole world who love football unlike the US. I love football and i enjoy watching it, i think the only American sports that clinches my attention is basketball and for some reason lacrosse (is that American?).
No offense, but I went to a baseball game where they were no home runs, wasn't too exciting. But I'm not slamming American sports, I'm just being honest...just like they don't like football, I don't like almost all their sports.
from 2 months ago
Tahira,
I agree, people South America, Latin America, Asia and Africa (and probably Antarctica) love soccer more than the United States.
I'm European myself, and even though I enjoy most of the American sports a lot, I enjoy soccer (I should really call it football just cuz) a lot. It's great times right now back home since eurocup 2008 is on. I guess my point is that American spectators want different kind of action when they watch sports. The "gratification" aspect is what I'm arguing to be the driving factor in not enjoying soccer too much.
I'm not the biggest fan of basebal either. So we have that in common. I do respect it for its tradition though. This tradition argument can easily be applied to why Europeans love soccer. Tradition plays a major role when people choose to watch sports, since kids grow up in households where parents watch some kind of sport and quickly develop as similar passion. Passion for soccer did not develop in the US, but it sure did in europe.
Yup, lacrosse is very American. It's said to have been rooted in the Native American culture.
2 months ago
Yeah, you are spot on with the tradition point. I think that is the major reason why Americans don't like football so much and vice versa.
2 months ago
They were given a chance by FIFA in 94 to fall in love with the Beautiful game but the Americans failed to capitalise. Pele, Best, Beckenbauer and Beckham have played in the MLS and they have failed to capitalise...
from 2 months ago
Haha its funny to hear someone accusing the premier capitalistic nation in world history (thus far, China can overtake if they change) of not capitalizing.
Maybe we just don't like soccer and never will? As is the case with Europeans and their love for our sports.............
2 months ago
The trouble is people keep trying to pander to the American taste. Football should be liked and enjoyed on it's own merits and should not have been fitted around an American ideal. USA 94 will go down in history as an awesome tournament, and rightly so. Once all the silly razzle dazzle that preceded it went, it got better and better.
Give football another 50 years in the US and it may be up there. The fact is, football in Europe has some incredibly deep sociological roots.
I have to disagree with one of your points though Tommy - "Similarly, the game of soccer itself opposes everything that a US sports fan would like to see. There are no tremendous athletes who can level other people with their brute strength. There are no fantastic finishes, where LeBron James hammers the ball down on three defenders, once again displaying utmost domination of physical prowess."
By trmendous athletes, what do you mean? The average midfielder covers over 10 km a game. Have you seen Cristiano Ronaldo's physique? And strength? Some of the defenders around today are beasts! As for finishing. Goalscoring is an art and the best in the business are heralded for it. Henry, Raul, Berbatov, Del Piero, Van Basten. No they have no backboard to smash but beating 3 men and smashing the ball past the keeper from 12 yards off the underside of the crossbar, mate, believe me, it's something else!!
from 2 months ago
Adam, I'm right there with you my man, it's a good point. I agree that it takes a lot of effort to do what Cristiano Ronaldo is doing. Or anyone real fotball pro for that matter. Look at Thuram. That guy is a complete beast, wh can play a mean linebacker in any NFL team.
I did, however, mention that "If you ask me, however, the process to achieve the physical fitness that soccer players possess is a lot more strenuous. A lot." What I meant by the comment that you quoted was that I am a little appauled by the lack of appreciation for agility and endurance. What I meant by "tremendous athlete" was the popular perception of size and muscle mass that is appealing to the audience. I agree with you 100% that a good athlete is not necessarily a huge muscular runningback. And I def agree that scoring a beautiful goal requires grace and skill. It's a pity that these traits are very underappreciated and I believe Valdas in the comment below summarized my point as well.
from 2 months ago
Yep, totally with you now mate. I agree. To be honest though, there arent too many (european) football players who could fit into an (american) football roster. The physiques and requirements across the board are just too different. Rugby players on the other hand... now there's a different argument altogether.
2 months ago
It's because, like Tommy said, Americans do not know how to enjoy the process. If there are goals scored, they may be satisfied for those few moments, but if the game ends 0-0 then they will choose a different sport to watch which would provide more entertainment for them. It doesn't matter if Beckham is running around, if he doesn't score, then he is no good. I feel that's the kind of thinking most Americans possess. It has to do with their culture, the "lazy" culture if you can say that.
Overall, a good article Tommy, I give you an A (or a 10:))
from 2 months ago
No its not just scoring Valdas; its violence as well. Football (the biggest sport) and MMA (the fastest growing) give us our daily craving for it. We also hate rewarding floppers and fakers. The scoring is not the sole issue. I've got an article outlining the top ten reasons.............
Beckham is no good because he's no good. Regardless of the sport americans can identify when an athlete is known more for his promotion and marketing than his play. Why? because we are the kings of it; we do it all the time. We promote Lebron James as the next Jordan when he's in high school.
" but if the game ends 0-0 then they will choose a different sport to watch which would provide more entertainment for them"
Because ties are the worst. While they can happen in football (rarely) they happen in soccer nearly 50% of the time. Why pay to attend a game or waste time watching one that inevitably has no outcome? In this country if your're not first your last haha.
As for calling us lazy well thats just stupid; there are as many lazy americans as anywhere else. To call the country who plays in some way or another every sport on the planet; including a few we invented Football, Baseball, and Basketball, works themselves to death (the old attage americans live to work europeans work to live). But the most hypocritical part of that comment is that it comes from a european point of view, an area of the world that promotes socialism and relies on it more and more everyday. There is nothing lazier on the face of the earth than a socialist system; relying on the government to make everything equal so you don't have to work for it. Cmon now.
2 months ago
Interesting, I think a lot of americans view soccer as something "foreign" and a threat to their national sporting culture. I constantly hear how soccer is being "pushed down america's throat". Perphaps once soccer stops being an "immigrant" sport in america and looses its ethnic identity it can be truly appreciated as a real american sport?
from 2 months ago
Gem,
we love immigrants, we are a nation built on them time and time again; we just don't like soccer. But the growing hispanic community can change that perhaps.
2 months ago
It never ceases to amaze me the number of articles that get written about the 'baffling' unpopularity of soccer in the US. These usually contain all kinds of ill-informed, sweeping generalizations about American consumerism, lack of attention span or laziness and inevitably decend into a retarded debate about the word "Soccer" vs "Football".
Try to find a similar article about Australians and you'll come up a bit short.
In Australia, they call it soccer too. Their national team is laughably called the "Socceroos". Their club sides, like in the US, have stupid names like Queensland Roar and Newcastle Jets. The most popular sports in Australia, in terms of crowd attendance are Australian rules football, horse racing, motorsport, rugby league, cricket and rugby union, in that order.
And yet...how often do you read articles about how Australians are culturally mypoic, lazy and arrogant for not liking Soccer?
The comment above about 'tradition' is spot on. To understand the sporting preferences of ANY country you have to look at their cultural history. That is something that is very difficult and takes a very long time to change.
It's not that baffling.
from 2 months ago
Jerry,
It's a great point. However, Australia has never really been a world superpower regarding the sports industry. I agree with you that they share a lot in their treatment of soccer; however, the reason why we are discussing this interesting topic is the amazing difference in the appreciation of a multimillion dollar/euro industry (if we leave out the fact that it's one hell of a game) in two very influential parts of the world. Europeans can't live without it, Americans can do without it. The difference is well worth discussing. Australia shouldn't really play a role in this debate. It never had the European tradition, nor the American dollars to play a part in this discussion.
from 2 months ago
Sorry Tommy, I can't agree.
Firstly, I find it flabberghasting that you would entertain the notion that Australia "never had the European tradition". I think the Aboriginees might disagree with you on that one! Also, they're the most successful sporting country on the planet (per capita), so I think we can safely describe them as a world superpower when it comes to sports. Think Tennis, Rugby, Cricket, the Olympics etc.
Anyway... I think your reasoning about soccer as an industry and asking why it has failed, relatively speaking, in the US, is very easily dismissed. It's a bit like asking why Tesco are struggling to make in-roads in the US grocery market. The answer is that it takes time, a very long time, to overcome existing, established and strong competition. And Tesco doesn't face generations of brand loyalty and traditional cultural values that exist in sports. It only has to offer cheaper and better products to succeed.
We are both Europeans that live in the US Tommy (I live in Boston), so I find it surprising that you fail to see the obvious explanation to your question. There is no such thing as a 'typical American', any more than there is a 'typical European'. We are all products of our personal environment and our shared cultural history. If Soccer had been introduced to the US and established before other sports could develop and take hold, I have no doubt it would be just as popular here as it is around the world. It has nothing to do with some kind of implied inferiority in the American psyche.
I take particular exception to your statement - "Moreover, the US is a nation that tends to prioritize immediate gratification. Look at the prevalence of fast food restaurants and electronic can openers. Can we get any more lazy?"
Sure we can. Your journalism! No offense Tommy, but resorting to the tired old clliche of Americans as lazy is, in itself, incredably lazy.
Furthermore, how you can describe a nation obsessed with Baseball as needing "immediate gratification" is beyond me. The average Baseball game takes over 3 hours and each team plays 162 games in the regular season. When they get to the play-offs, each round is a best of seven series. That's not immediate gratification Tommy, it's a looonnnngggg painful drawn out process! Most American sports, with the exception of the NFL, follow a similar pattern in the post season.
In the end, it has nothing to do with sweeping generalizations about 300 million people, it's the same reason the NFL will never be the most popular sport in Europe. We have a different cultural history.
from 2 months ago
read below please
2 months ago
Jerry,
Well first of all, I do see what you're saying about baseball. It definitely provides spectators with a different kind of game: long and slow. One which I wouldn't watch. But baseball has other things going for it. It definitely isn't a game providing us with immediate gratification, but it has such amazing tradition as the one and only true American sport (even though it is said to have originated in Romania), that many people watch it namely for that reason. It sort of doesn't fit into the whole argument about process vs. goal-orientedness. It's a unique sport that requires separate attention. I was hesitant to include it in my argument, but I still did. You can argue that it doesn't fit and I'll probably agree.
I realize my "lazy" comment might have been a bit uncalled for, perhaps I should have used "less involved". Sure, students on college campuses always root for their teams like maniacs, but you should have seen what was happening here in Lithuania when we won the European basketball championship. But I'm digressing here.
"If Soccer had been introduced to the US and established before other sports could develop and take hold, I have no doubt it would be just as popular here as it is around the world. It has nothing to do with some kind of implied inferiority in the American psyche". I realize that if soccer had come here before other sports came, it would have blossomed. There's no argument there. It's obvious. Plant the seed and 90% of the world will be playing cricket. We arguing why, in the times of such overwhelming domination of soccer in Europe and South America, the sport here is welcomed reluctantly. I am saying, and I stand by it, that the priorities here are different. I have heard an arrogance theory too, whereby people claim that a sport that didn't originate in the US is not welcome here with much enthusiasm. Might be, I don't know. I don't want to agree with that. As I see it, the reason why soccer never blossomed here is because, as a huge number of people keep telling me, soccer is BORING. NOTHING EVER HAPPENS. Why do people say that? I'm saying it's the culture they have lived in, where obvious brute streght, ENTERTAINMENT aspect of sports and instant gratification (we're excluding baseball from all this) undermines patience and enjoyment of the process.
A word on our Australian disagreement. You're saying that Australia does have the European tradition, and you're agreeing with me that the US does not. It's strange given that both were Brttish colonies once. Either both of them have it, or they both don't. I'm saying Australia, except for a couple of specific sports, is not one of the superpowers. When was the last time Australia won anything in the international arena? Even its tennis has gone downhill, you have to agree. I'm not even talking about soccer, basketball or any other major sport. Give me any major sport where Australia is dominant. Rugby? Maybe. But I hear New Zeland is the place to beat down there.
2 months ago
I just don't understand why the world cares that we don't like soccer. It's funny to me. We could care less if you don't like our sports; we're not gonna waste time crying about it. Besides we don't want to be like Europe, we made our own government, our own culture, our own sports, etc. with the intention of being different.
from 2 months ago
Spense, "the world" cares about whether america likes soccer about as much as they care about american football and nascar :) If you like it, great but please stop buying premiership clubs we already got the russian billionaires ruining the league with Chelsea. If you don't that's great too, just no more condescending soccer bashing, let those who enjoy soccer watch it without dissing or insulting their sport.
I know the British do get mad when you call it soccer though and say "yanks we invented the language its football" lol They don't even realize that they actually invented the word soccer. It actually came from "Association" Football, which was the original name used by the Football Association. Kind of like rugby football became known as rugger, asSOCiation football became soccer.
from 2 months ago
Hahah gem i love the point. In fact I was astonished that the Russian ex kgb owner of chelsea didnt rig that game against Man Utd; especially since it was in moscow. In fact i lost money betting on that game; and my knowledge of soccer is solely based off of playing FIFA.
As for me i've never hated soccer or even disliked it; like i've continually said its better than everything but hockey, and NFL in my opinion; even better than the NBA since Jordan left; its become a joke league run by a joke owner. The reason i prefer those other two is the physicallity; i feel like if someone is going to make millions playing a sport there should be some inherint danger of irrevocable bodily harm; plus its even more exciting to see a guy get knocked out and come back in the game later and make plays, its test the human spirit.
In regards to American's bashing soccer i think its two fold.
1. sometimes you guys deserve it, when you go on these soccer crusades and marvel in your "beautiful game", and explain to us that 90 minutes of passing should get our blood flowing (im not speaking for myself, once again i enjoy soccer).
2. Americans like to talk shit; we're great at it. The most recent case that serves as a microsim of it was Mayweahter vs. Hatton. That mentality has permeated throughout football and basketball ever since Muhammed Ali started doing it.
"I know the British do get mad when you call it soccer though and say "yanks we invented the language its football" lol They don't even realize that they actually invented the word soccer. It actually came from "Association" Football, which was the original name used by the Football Association. Kind of like rugby football became known as rugger, asSOCiation football became soccer."
Completely agree, those redcoats get riled up over everything, which is why FIFA wont let them host the world cup haha. We should just make it official, and kill the word soccer; and identify between the two based on spelling Football (american) Futbol (european)
from 2 months ago
Spense, the only things you or anybody ever needs to know about soccer is all described in this great book which describes the source of all evil in the world: Manchester United (hint: they call them the red devils cuz they are evil).
http://www.amazon.com/Stand-You-Hate-Manchester-United/dp/0340717548/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213940166&sr=8-1
I agree with you that the soccer snobs do bring the hate onto themselves by making crazy predictions of how soccer will take over america and overtake baseball and american footballl or saying that americans are too dumb to "get" soccer...thats a great way to introduce people to a sport: insult them as dumb and then tell them how a sport they don't know much about will take over the sport they grew up with ;) And lots of soccer fans get really passionate about it and couldn't imagine someone not liking it, so the pointless arguements over which is better "soccer vs baseball/basketball/NFL/hockey/whatever" always start. The game will grow in america no doubt, and the key to that will not be the MLS and posterboy Beckham but more tv exposure to the Premier League, European Championship (kudos to ABC and ESPN for fully covering it) and of course World Cup (when it seems americans care about soccer for a month)...
Let me say this though: The BEST game in the world is basketball imo, I want it to overtake soccer as the most watched sport one day. I don't see it happening, but one can hope. Soccer comes in second because of the all the un-sportsmanlike behaviour by oscar-performance faking diva players. I agree with the american assessment of soccer players being a bunch of cheating primadonna pussies, compared to rugby, hockey and american football players they are a bunch of spoiled actors and will cheat at any opportunity. Watching Drogba dive around like a swan during the Champions League made him look as pathetic as he is in the premiership.
I never understood the hooplah over the naming thing. I actually like the name soccer, it sounds like "suck her" or "sock her", and I'm all for either sucking on women's body parts and then socking her up.
2 months ago
Tomas, really interesting article in an interesting topic.
Although I agree with most of reasons you or your friends mentioned, I could supplement them a little.
America is mostly about LEADERS. Europe is mostly about THE TEAM.
Americans love leaders, they really know how to worship, support them and make them superstars. For example, each game in NBA spinning only around the stars (which I find really boring).
Europe has leaders. But who wins is always the team. Ronaldo or Zidane are/were gods in soccer, but it is the team who makes them play like gods.
I think that US just preferes sports of different style which adds on soccer being so unpopular. SO, Americans, don't like football, BUT WHY SHOULD THEY?
And one more thing - please, do not feel ofensed - this might sound very primitive or even stupid, but Americans loooveee being different from the rest of the world:) All the world loves soccer? Well we don't:) we have our own unique sports we like. I think it makes their prefered sports look even more special.
I would also strongly support this comment "I constantly hear how soccer is being "pushed down america's throat". Perphaps once soccer stops being an "immigrant" sport in america and looses its ethnic identity it can be truly appreciated as a real american sport?". Why does everybody care about soccer popularity in US? I myself dont understand why this game is no. 1 in the world:) ok, sometimes it is really interesting, but when you watch the game for 1,5 hour of 0-0, then additonal 0.5 hours of 0-0 and then penalties which are often just about the luck - I usually swear myself I will never watch it again. Yesterday I was looking the match in Zurich but I founf the fans crowd even more amusing then the game itself:)
Basketball is way more interesting I think.
from 2 months ago
Lina,
I appreciate the honesty haha. I don't know if it came off that way, but I'm not trying to bash Americans for not liking soccer. It's definitely their choice. I think the desire to appear different has something to do with it. Very good point. I'd say it's a collection of things.
About LEADERS vs. TEAM you have a point there. However, I could find examples that may sahke this argument a little bit, like how people loved the Hawks this year, for playing like a team and almost eliminating the Celtics, or constant domination of the Spurs who are the most glued-together teams in NBA for the last decade (probably). And how Real Madrid in Europe is accumulating star power to attract viewers to the soccer fields. But I'm nitpicking here. Thanks for your insightful input Lina.
about 1 month ago
the dichotomy between a world of soccer and an america of baseball is a false one; there are many large countries in which soccer is not the preeminent sport. Among them are India, Pakistan, Japan, the US, Phillipines, much of Oceania, parts of Eastern Europe and much of Central America and the Carribean. Perhaps it can be asked why a nation of 80 million people like Germany is only able to compete internationally in a single international team sport. Last I checked the Brits do well in Rugby and Cricket as well as soccer and the States competes in basketball, hockey and baseball. As far as foreign or native, baseball and soccer both originated (via evolution from previous bat and ball games or directly) from britain.
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