Why don't Americans respect soccer?
356073
I do not think they it is about respect.. most of the people that do not understand the history or meaning about the sport.Have to be educated on  what the game is about and why it is played the way it is played. With the MLS making its march in our sports culture, things can only go up and the people will be educated more and more every year. They will see that soccer or futbol is a worldwide sport that is played all over the world with alot of passion. ,and soon the whole country will wonder why we have not won this prestigeous trophy. The USA has a good program from youth to professional and the more people see that hard work they will wonder how Brazil has won the world cup as many times as they have,or maybe they will remember the NASL and so many good teams and players that participated in making a lasting impression on the American sports culture.. The USA has alot of potential and always have ,,look in 1934 the USA did well on a world stage and in 2002 ,we were a post shot away from being in semifinals against Turkey. The Country is doing well and they support the USA team,but with a World Cup win that would really get people even more exited every time a soccer game is played.
13538
definetly it is the sport of the world america is about the only place on the planet that doesnt rate soccer as its favorite sport
447916
im a canadian. The People in the us take football WAY too sriously. Some of them would sell their first born just to get into a game. I went to the orange bowl once in flordia, and the first thing i noticed was that almost everyone had their team colours on and that they were getting wasted out of their mimds just for a football game. There was fights and even a stabbing. People in the US take it like it was life and death. I mean some of them are F ucking nuts. oh and as for football being all american , it was invented by canadians uh burn. oh soccer umm its not really big in north america not even here in canada, Esspecially not in the US.
1182627
bob t youre an idiot.\nif soccer was a gay sport thats when american men would play it... \namerican women are better than other countries at soccer because there is more influence in america for girls to play than for guys... the guys think that theyre tough becuase they play football, basketball and other sports that prevail in america.
1061459
From what I gather (from asking Americans themselves and from other souces as well), Americans don't like soccer for two main reasons.  \n\nNumber one, they don't like soccer because of the limited score margin that soccer offers.  The sports on the good side of the American psyche (basketball, American football, baseball...) all are high scoring games with tons and tons of points.  The only exception is ice hockey... even it goes upto 5 and 6 points per team (happens sometimes in football- just last week, Serbia 0 - Argentina 6).   Oh, and Americans never settle for a draw.  It's either win or lose in the Land of the Free, baby!!\n\nSecondly, they think that soccer is a non-contact sport (which I think is nonsense - I mean, just look at the amount of shoving and tackling...).  Americans just love contact sports.  Another exeption to this generalization is baseball... but then, one can only imagine what would happen if people were to "contact" each other with baseball bats... (cracked skulls, broken teeth - the whole Mafia treatment).
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.
600130
well most americans have not yet been exposed to the spirit of soccer.\nLuckily though americans have started to make a move in the right direction. I hear of new MLS teams arrising each season and also more MLS stadium being revamped. \nSo hopefully in a decade or two soccer will be more of a adrenaline rush here too.
452993
The U.S. is such a huge country that we're completely content to compete against each other.  California is practically a different country from Texas.  There's plenty of rivalry there.\n\nI'm a World Cup fan, but there is simply no way you can expect Americans to enjoy soccer the way it's enjoyed everywhere else.  Many, many, many have tried and failed.  It's just not going to happen... especially now that television has changed how we enjoy sports.  American football, baseball, basketball: these all have built-in spots to break away for commercials.  Soccer doesn't.  That hurts its chances of gaining significant telelvision time here in the States.
1072805
Its more of a lack of talent than desire. Most of the people in the U.S. dont even know how to spell soccer, much less play it. Unlike all the other countries in the World Cup, where thats all they do is play soccer. I think we bit off more than we could chew, especially with a #5 ranking that we didint deserve anyway.
327317
The U.S. simply doesn't have the talent or speed to handle other teams around the world. You know a team will suck if their best player plays in the MLS. Oh and the NFL sucks the big one, NFL is almost or as gay as high school wresting.
1165248
Most of the hate comes from the American people themselves. I personally am a fan of the sport, and the US team. We did not do well in this tournament, but in 2002 we did better than at least 4 of the nations remaining in this year's World Cup.  That's how this and other sports are. You win some and you lose some. \n\nMost of the frustration with the answers I see on Yahoo, is that people are ignorant and don't understand some of the basics of the team or yet the sport.
418396
1st of all its not soccer!!!!!! it called football!!!! in the USA all these incidents dont occur cuz the US fans r not as passionate as european fans bout their clubs... look at the south americans 4 eg. the match b/w river n boca...
1017873
I know soccer isn't big here in the US. I ref, watch (when I find it) and play soccer, so I'm into it. But here in America the majority of us are surrounded by NFL loving jocks who are so full of themselves and this soccer is for fags and girls. Thats because they have never played it. It really is a challenging sport and it isn't given due credit in the US. But the jocks always say "soccer is for girls" and most of the people who follow the jocks think "if they think its stupid then it must be" b/c the followers can't make an opinion of their own. \n\nAs for when it will catch on I don't know. I know it is the #1 played sport by kids in the US. But the pro-league here (MLS) is a joke so I think that has a major influence as to why people don't watch it. And its never on regular cable you need to "1,000 channel package" to watch it.
999835
To answer your question: soccer is more popular around the world, therefore even foreigners have more recognition than Americans. Americans appreciate and recognize the USA soccer team - but not nearly as much as other sports here in America. \nThe culprit: Money. There is very little incentive for someone to excel in soccer, here in America - as an athlete, because it just doesn't pay well , compared to the top 4 sports and other sports that may not be as "popular", but more lucrative, like tennis. \nMLS was quite popular in the 70's here in America - largely due to Pele playing here at the end of his career. It went bankrupt and defunct - due to the competition of other sports literally out paying and out marketing soccer. 11 years ago - corporations, led by new MLS execs brought back MLS and have had a good amount of success, considering they started at "zero" again. \n\nUSA soccer and MLS still dont have the power of the dollar, for TV revenue and stadium revenue, when compared to all other sports, but again that is slowly changing. \n\nI personally believe if more money is out behind TV contracts, during the summer (between NBA/NHL and NFL) - their only competition is baseball. MOst baseball contracts for TV are regionally based - which in my opinion is an opportunity for MLS to market and capture a national TV audience. Unless my Mets are on TV - here in Atlanta (about 30-40 games a year) - I may watch another baseball game, but would be more inclined to watch a good MLS match if nothing else is on. Luckily the Atlanta MLS team just completed their stadium 10 miles form my condo - so I will be going to games. \n\nIn America - it is all about the dollar when it comes to sports. If and when MLS spends the money and pays players on par with other major sports - to develop the best talent form their youth - then we will see soccer take off. Considering Americas Latino population (great soccer lovers - paying fans) is growing , Europes population here and quality athletes out of 300 Millio people - soccer will take off in America. I believe the 2010 USA team will be far ahead of the past 4 WC teams - in talent, expectations and success.
908208
Well, most Americans have no patience.  It takes very long for somebody to make a goal, so they give up on the waiting.  In basketball, baseball, and that horrible thing that they call "football" here, the players score more frequently, giving people more to cheer about.  In soccer, we're waiting FOREVER with suspense, and then the game ends 1-0!  Grar, I cant believe Italy won the world cup again!!!  Sry, for that bit of anger, I'm a Germany fan.  The US is so pathetic that I dont even bother rooting for them.
723125
A lot of people in the US care about the world cup because most Americans are immagrants from europe and south and central americas. \n\nHowever it is hard to get excited when the games are on at 5am in the morning or midnight in 2002.\n\nIt does not get media coverage though.
1023506
Come off it, stingking13.  Do you think the 11 that start for the US are not passionate about the sport?  Just because the nation as a whole isn't rabid about the sport doesn't mean the players on the field don't give it their all.