How many soccer fans are there in Americas?
405496
At the end of the 1980's, about 12 million Americans under the age of 19 (37% of them girls) were playing organized soccer.\nSource-SAMM
827884
Manchester United have the world's biggest fan base
884269
Wow! I knew a lot of people didn't like soccer, but how many is a Brazillion?
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.
995240
Wow same!  I'm American and this is the first year I've even watched a soccer match without just taking a glance and dismissing it with boredom.  I don't know what about this year caught me, but now I'm really into the WC.  However, I think once this dies down, I'm not sure if I'm going to continue sating my apetite for soccer w/ national games (mainly cause I'm a staunch supporter of European teams).  Too bad the rest of America is too intrigued by our own brutish version of football to care about soccer.  It's merely a reflection of us as a country I guess, and it fits well with our war-mongering image.
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.
105126
Yes, lots of people like soccer.
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.
435143
not many like soccer\n\nin the USA a LOT in the world mmmm not many.\nif i ask 100 people in Peru or Venezuela only 5 or 10 will actually have played basketball
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.
799548
While soccer has the biggest international following of any sport, in the USA, there's just too much competition and too little interest in America.  Baseball, basketball, hockey, football, NASCAR and college sports all eat up precious amount of media time.  MSL, America's soccer league, gets covered but it's secondary.  \nIt's fan interest and papers and other media cater, as they should, to what their readers want.  It's a shame, soccer is a great game but the competition with other sports is just too great.
891380
Until MLS showed up, there has not been a long term effort to market the game here as it is world wide. The NASL and ASL before that had their reasons for failure. Either lack of gate or too much "Americanization" of the sport did them in but MLS is experiencing slow and steady growth. The other side is that there aren't as many fans of soccer here than say NFL fans. They are probably not as numerous as NHL fans. I think it will take hold and hopefully make the abominable indoor version obsolete.
687285
The biggest sport in South America has to be Soccer!
1176602
It isn't just Australian fans.  Soccer fans in general are extremely nationalist except for the United States team.  We just don't give a hoot.
748266
If you count recreational referees up to FIFA level, it would well be into the 10,000's worldwide. Then count the 20,000 in each stadium every match, then... lol\nBTW I am a United States Soccer Federation referee since 1995. A German Soccer Federation (DFB) referee since 2004. A United States Soccer Federation referee trainer since 2005. I have refereed matches in the US, Germany, England and Italy.
494347
While I do think there will be some interest among non-soccer fans, I think the World Cup will go largely unnoticed unless the US team does very well. This is unfortunate as many people are just not very open to different sports, but this is similar to the situation of baseball in Europe. Many European sports fans think baseball is boring and stupid, but have never really given it a chance.\n\nI think the best hope for soccer in the US is for Major League Soccer to get stronger as the kids who play soccer grow up to become soccer fans. This will take time, but I think things are looking up.
1021994
Brasil everybody there are playin' and have the biggest population of Futebol fans.