10 Least Interested Fanbases in World Football

Some "fans" just don't care. Not that we can blame them in some cases.

Everybody knows about hooligans, the stereotypically rabid football fans that operate under a scorched-earth policy wherever they go. But what about the opposite? Are there fans that don't give a rip?

You better believe it. And some of them are a lot closer to home than you might think.

OK, maybe that's not so hard to believe. It's no secret that Americans are mostly ambivalent towards soccer, skyrocketing MLS attendance figures aside.

With that in mind, what we have here is a list of the 10 least interested fanbases in world football.

Some of these groups have large numbers but still don't seem to care. Some just don't have many members at all.

But remember, this is all in good fun. Enjoy.

1. United States Men's National Team

Let's get this over with right away.

Admit it, fellow American footy fans. Though an increasing number of us follow and obsess over the game, our brethren (and, uh, sisthren?) really couldn't care less.

Remember the Gold Cup final last year? Remember when the Mexican (actually lots of them were Mexican-born American citizens!) fans outnumbered us, shamefully, in our own country?

Our goalie—the home team's goalie!—spent the entire match ignoring obscenity-laced insults because the home fans weren't loud enough to drown out the "visitors." Shameful.

Could you ever imagine that happening in Mexico?

If we're being honest with ourselves, it happens all the time here in the States. Sigh.

2. Manchester United

Success makes fans complacent. Manchester United legend Roy Keane figured that out more than a decade ago.

Take a look at what the former United midfielder said about his team's home supporters in 2000. Here's a hint: It's not a buddy-buddy-type lovefest.

"

Away from home, our fans are fantastic, I'd call them the hardcore fans. But at home they have a few drinks and probably the prawn sandwiches, and they don't realise what's going on out on the pitch.

I don't think some of the people who come to Old Trafford can spell 'football,' never mind understand it.

"

Little has changed in the intervening 12 years. United still have plenty of fans. But more than a few are casual onlookers.

Maybe that's just a price of success.

3. Chelsea

Back in the day, Chelsea was notorious for its insane supporters. They're still around, but they've been pushed into the periphery for the most part.

That's not a bad thing, but maybe the club has taken things a bit too far in the opposite direction. These days, with all the money flowing into Stamford Bridge, it's more like a library.

4. Arsenal

Let's not forget the original librarians of English football.

There were a few reasons Arsenal's old ground, Highbury, was known for its marble halls.

One, of course, was that it had marble halls. Another was that the atmosphere inside sometimes resembled that of a library.

Now the Gunners play in a larger, modern stadium. The Emirates Stadium can get much louder than Highbury ever was, but the fans are also much farther away from the pitch.

And they're still quiet.

Sorry, Arsenal. You stay on the list.

5. Mexican League

In 2009, the Mexican league suffered from a widespread lack of fans.

The reason: Swine flu.

Swine flu? Come on, hermanos!

Only a dozen disappointed hardcore fans? Weak. Just weak.

6. DC United

Like we said earlier, MLS attendance is up. Way up.

But that's with a few exceptions, notably DC United, the same team that won three of the first four MLS titles.

These days, United is drawing 15,696 fans per game, which doesn't sound that bad until you realize their stadium holds 45,596.

In their defense, though, we'll ask this: Would you want to watch a match inside this hulking monstrosity?

7. and 8. Scotland and Wales

This one doesn't feel right at all. Aren't Scottish fans some of the most dedicated in the world?

We thought so, but apparently they weren't last summer during the Carling Nations Cup.

Scotland beat Wales 3-1 during that competition, and almost no one showed up to watch the game in nearby Ireland.

That picture tells the story: 6,036 people attended the match at Aviva Stadium, which holds 50,000.

Party foul on Scotland and Wales.

9. Triestina

We've been tough on our first eight teams, but at least they have fans.

Triestina, an Italian club, doesn't.

Actually, we find it kinda awesome that they felt the need to cover the stands with pictures of fans. It's both creepy and intriguing at the same time.

We wonder, though: How's the home-field advantage?

10. South Africa

Fact: The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa had the third-highest attendance in the event's distinguished history.

Fact: That stat was based on total numbers of tickets sold, not the percentage of stadiums filled or actual spectators present.

Fact: A bunch of the games were poorly attended.