How can we get more people in the U.S to love soccer like so many of us do?
345284
I like to play all sports, but this has to be said, Baseball is boring!. FOOTBALL, BASEBALL, basketball, these teams play east vs west, that's it!! dc united vs boca jrs, galaxy vs real madrid soccer is big international whats not to love; laker's vs heat! how many times do they play in 5 years? like 25 times, RealM vs LiverP champions league final! how many times those these happen! once in a decade. To help Americans enjoy soccer, you have to help them understand the game and you have to introduce them to the WC that will make any one jump for joy.
1038100
It will be famous. Maybe not like in the rest of the world, but I think it will. I love soccer and have alot of passion for it (although passion for basketball too). We need passion. Not saying we don't but many people think that it's for wimps. They should see some of the nasty fouls in a World Cup and I bet you they'll figure it out. Our team is very good and we should follow through. I know that high schools and colleges play alot of soccer but I wish we could attract alot of young players and train them at the max. A few years ago, nobody gave a damn about us. We just have to show our real potential and play our game. We, as a country, should back our team up in every match. It's nice to know that more and more Americans like me are into soccer.
398722
I see it very difficult to happen since Americans don't like or don't pay as much attention to soccer as they do to other sports, but as soon as they start paying attention to soccer as they do to baseball or football I think it would only take them as much as 3-4 world cups since they can really afford sponsoring a very good team.... but hey that's just my opinion
1163662
Soccer (football) isn't popular in the US because it's boring.  There are better athletes and more money in other sports.  We don't grow up saying, "If I could only be David Beckham and play in the World Cup."  We say, "If I could only throw the winning touchdown pass in the Super Bowl."  Soccer players are glorified cross country runners with coordination.  On top of all that, we suck miserably at the sport because our best athletes go elsewhere.
349491
Americans, in general, are not too interested in soccer even if US is playing.  The exception are the many Imigrants who will watch and root for their birth country's team.
585820
Too many people are influenced by their personal geneology to support Team America. Sure, the United States of America is great and it is absolutely the nation of hope and dreams; it is the most diverse country in the world and everyone seeks refuge and freedom here because of that. as americans, i for one love the stars and stripes. however, we do not forget where we've come from and our race becomes a bigger issue than the soccer itself. race, racism, racial profiling..they will always be a big issue and will not cease to exist. alot of people root for their native country for pride and for bragging rights. it may sound pitiful, but its the truth and this is the messed up world we live in. So that is why alot of people do not support team usa.
96723
soccer, by far! more partipants and viewers worldwide than any other.
1105175
I went to the German-American Institution in St. Paul, MN yesterday to watch the Germany-Costa Rica game.  I expected to be the only woman there ... as it turned out, I was the only American.\n\nOut of the 25 people there, only 5 were men, and at 40, I think I was also the youngest (other than the kids).\n\nThere are women fans, just not as many as men.  And, it varies wildly from country to country.  Lots more women are interested in soccer in the USA than in other sports - there are simply more women playing soccer there.\n\nIt's the game that draws people on an ordinary day.  For the world cup, it's rooting for your country if you aren't normally a fan.
434452
I think most Americans have a very short attention span, and soccer is simply too low scoring for them.  They like the high scores of American football, or even the seemingly random Hungry Hungry Hippos action of professional basketball.\n\nMaybe if you took the goalies away Americans would watch more soccer.
1158205
There's still HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS watching it, myself included. I'm an England fan but wanted to see the USA do a lot better than they did, I feel it would have been good for football in the states & for it's international standing.\n\nAnything you'd like to talk about, feel free to contact me via my profile.
1033558
I think there's been a surge in popularity for soccer here in Houston. All the sports cafes are booked with people watching the game. Some regional restaurants have had parties and stuff. I know when Ghana won they showed some African restaurants with people dancing and cheering. Mostly people here are only watching for their country or maybe their favorite team.
748010
I have exactly the same problem mate. Traditionally, like most people in the US, I have grown up watching American football and have always enjoyed it. Recently though I began watching football(soccer) and have fallen in love with the sport. I love the pace of the game, and the skill of the players. I have actually begun watching more soccer than football, so I guess that proves I like soccer better.
384326
The main reason why soccer has not exploded yet is that the average american's attention span is very small.  Football, baseball, etc. are broken down into different plays, quarters, innings, etc.  There are breaks for commercials entertainment and so on.  But soccer only has two halves and the teams play for 90 minutes.  The play does not stop unless there is a foul and a yellow or red card is given.  Soccer can feel boring to most americans who simply don't see the art in it.  That being said soccer can explode here if the USA teams do well.  Soccer has drastically become more popular since the USA women's soccer team did so well around 2000.  Now that Mia Hamm and others are retiring the men now have to shoulder the burden of carrying on soccer.  If the US men's team win the World Cup at any time in the next 50 years then yes soccer will become more popular.
1182855
No.  Soccer is not very important nor popular in this country like other countries.  You watch like a two hour game and only see like one or two goals.  Very slow and boring game to watch on TV.  Might be more exciting if you could be at the game itself though as the people are very entertaining and it would be cool to see some fights.
681983
I'm a soccer coach from England that has been working in the States since March and I am so impressed with the way soccer is being played and promoted - especially for the girls and how big it is wit the amount of sports it has to compete with. Look at the facts USA are ranked 4th in the world and the Women's team have won a world cup - so if you go on who deserves to win the World cup the USA have to be up there as other countries have so little sports compared to here in the USA .
322902
Americans are a proud people...and what's hard for you, and other countries where soccer/football is predominant to understand, is most Americans love our own sports.  We're a country based on freedoms, those freedoms earned by our war of independence with England.  Soccer has been played here for years, but not as a professional sport.  I think what turned Americans around about soccer and how it's viewed, is the Women's Olympic team and their triumphs.  For me, my ties are with England, having been raised there when I was a child.  Although my parents are American, my brother was adopted there, and is completely "British" in attitude, demeanor, everything except accent!  He speaks better "suthern" than I do!  But being raised HERE since he was 3, his favorite sports are baseball and our football.  For myself, I am a diehard Manchester United Football Club fan, with plans to finally see my team play next year live!  But what I love the most, I think, is the fact that a man who owns one of OUR football teams here in the state I live in (Florida) ALSO owns controlling interest in my British football team!  How great is that?!  American owned...but British through and through.  Give us time, we're slowly coming around to loving soccer as much as the rest of the world!  I wear a multinational necktie at work, with flags of all the countries that have soccer teams in the World Cup, and soccer balls on it, you would not believe the responses, or conversations that start because of that tie.  I am quite surprised at how many people come into our restaurant and talk to me about soccer!  So you see...times are changing...people are aware of the sport the rest of the world considers "football", and if I mention "soccer", they usually correct me.  Patience is a virtue...and it's really great seeing how this game is finally taking off here in the USA. :)
1068886
I totally agree. People that hate soccer hate it cause there's not enough scoring and getting rid of offsides would allow more goals and therefore more people could enjoy futbol.