Why is football more popular in the United States than in other countries?
489146
Because we have the best football and the other football teams or people that or not good enough to make it in the NFL..
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.
1162469
nithiii, you need to watch yourself in talking about American's and Soccer.  In the USA, soccer isn't the most popular sport because we have many other sports that share time with it.  In other parts of the world, the other sports that are big in USA, aren't as big there (baseball, basketball, etc)  If soccer were the only major US sport, it would be huge here like in other parts of the world.\n\nI think the original question of why is soccer pointless is a stupid question.  As an American and a soccer coach and referee, I think the sport of soccer is highly entertaining and enjoyable.  Its one of the few sports that you know exactly when its going to end or at least close.  Its also one that can end in a draw and still be enjoyable.
476085
haha, excellent question. \nBTW, I think that American football is much more boring that soccer. 95% of the game is breaks and time out. Only 5% of the game is actual action.
22036
Actually, soccer was much more popular in the early 20th century than it is now. But I think your question should be "why isn't professional soccer more popular in the US?".\n\nHere is a quote from Soccer Times about recent US soccer participation:\n\n"According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers of America International 2003 Superstudy of Sports Participation, 17.641 million Americans played soccer at least once in 2002, a 7.4 percent decrease from the 19.042 million in 2001. Still, the number of players in 2002 represented a 14.6 percent increase from the 1987 benchmark of 15.388 million."\n\nThe article goes on to further claim that soccer only trails basketball in overall popularity for team sport participation.\n\nI've heard many reasons why people don't follow pro soccer: lack of scoring, diversity of professional sports offerings and lack of television programming.
1021912
In the USA, football (soccer) isn't one of their major sports - it's a shame cos if it was they would be brilliant at it as they are a huge nation.  It is getting more popular though, so in time who knows.
1104176
Most Ameicans are into high scoring games (NBA, NFL). Another reason is that th media has the Fifa World Cup in the back burner. And also, because Americans think the sport is boring. The irony of this, they watch golf. Go figure. \n\nGO USA, win, lose, or draw!
1098792
they have American football...which actually is adapted from rugby, play in England and most of common-wealth countries. So not to confuse with their popular game they called football..soccer.
721807
Because the entire world (with the exception of the USA) calls it football, maybe.  You use your feet, so "FOOTball," get it?
355933
pitiful. in Europe, their futbol is as popular as our football, baseball, basketball and hockey combined. Fans have both killed, and been killed over the game. the entire professional entertainment world revolves around the Premier League scheduling. In the US? name 5 of the professional soccer teams in the US.....
361067
Basketball is mostly popular in america and a bit in some countries but soccer is loved worldwide so soccer wins the battle.
117934
According to wikipedia, over 240 million people regularly play soccer (aka football) in more than 200 countries.\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soccer\n\nHere is a very unscientific survey of self-proclaimed most popular sports: http://www.johann-sandra.com/popular.htm
870184
Hello, i'm david i used to live in europe for 15 years, i lived in the usa for 4 years now. I am a huge sport fan, when i was in europe i followed soccer and basketball. In europe american football is not popular at all, nba is making its case right now, but not the nfl. I think the only people who care about American football are American, but don't get me wrong i am a Chicago bears fan since i moved too america. The top two reasons i believe is that football is slow paced and there is two many commercial and it is called football
989474
The most popular sport in the world is Soccer, name known for the americans, the rest of the world knows it as Football.
801552
USA fans are more passionate because there is a greater variety of sports. Here in England there are really only soccer being a popular sport where as in USA, you have basketball, baseball, american football, hockey etc.
19642
Soccer is a fairly new sport in the US.  Other countries have played soccer for decades but the US invented other sports (AKA Football).  Soccer has began to gain popularity though.
498785
Because football mirrors the American psyche better than any of the other major sports. Americans find "soccer" boring because there simply isn't enough scoring. Baseball, which used to be America's game is much too analytical and the action is too intermittent. Basketball has become more of a "black" sport for middle America. Hockey is too much of a "Northern" sport.\n\nWhich leaves football which is popular in every region of the country.Actually, football is different than it was 100 years ago, which illustrates one of the reasons football is popular- the rules can be changed slightly or even in bigger ways to make it more exciting. In baseball, you can't change the rules without purists crying foul. In football, they change the rules in subtle ways almost every year to make it more exciting.