16 Reasons Soccer Still Struggles to Catch On in America

The Quick Report ^ | February 7, 2025 | Steven Stiles

[DoodleBob]

Soccer and the metric system were rebukes to American exceptionalism.

Liberals are drawn to soccer precisely because it is one of the few remaining venues where American exceptionalism does not prevail. The World Cup, rather, is a working model of President Obama’s foreign policy vision: a world in which America has no special role, where inferior countries are no longer humbled by American greatness, where every country is exceptional, and free shots on goal are not earned, but given away as a handout to those who have mastered the art of falling down. In the group stage, at least, the games can end in a tie.

[stanne]

I’m a girl but I would say we don’t do lower body strength sports for men here. It’s okay if others do it because we really are non judgmental. But. No interest. For women. Watching sports

[stanne]

And. We’ve been defending the euros and keeping a close eye on all the others who participate in this activity.

Yawn.

[Equine1952]

I ready that whole article looking for: # ?. Cause it sucks. Guess I’ll stick to hockey.

[FamiliarFace]

I like men’s butts and legs, so I don’t have a problem watching men’s soccer at all.

[FatherofFive]

Because it is boring?

Or worse

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=soccer+is+from+the+devil&refig=69193db28f7d496cbcd3a684b727aaf8&pc=HCTS&FPIG=71DC2E8439A340A1938F55BF61BA1E12&first=25&ajaxnorecss=1&sid=1D0B66AB66B66CC73BA6700967E06DAC&jsoncbid=1&ajaxsydconv=1&ru=%2fsearch%3fq%3dsoccer%2bis%2bfrom%2bthe%2bdevil%26refig%3d69193db28f7d496cbcd3a684b727aaf8%26pc%3dHCTS%26FPIG%3d71DC2E8439A340A1938F55BF61BA1E12%26first%3d25%26FORM%3dPERE1%26ajaxnorecss%3d1%26sid%3d1D0B66AB66B66CC73BA6700967E06DAC%26format%3dsnrjson%26jsoncbid%3d1%26ajaxsydconv%3d1&mmscn=vwrc&mid=80F2ADB25DB8E1D8CA3B80F2ADB25DB8E1D8CA3B&FORM=WRVORC&ntb=1&msockid=c12b12afc29e11f09e4b8f2b709d2762

[Organic Panic]

I can save a lot of ink about soccer.

It is boring.

[FamiliarFace]

I think all of the reasons stated are why most Americans hate soccer, but way back when a guy named Pele played the sport, I had my first taste of it, and have loved it ever since.

[stanne]

Meh

[Leaning Right]

> Preference for High-Scoring, Action-Packed Games <

There it is, for me anyway.

I could be watching a game, go out for a hamburger, take a nap, then go back to the game. The score hasn’t changed.

Make the goal twice as wide, and they might win me back.

[Drew68]

At least football has drives where they fight to get closer and closer to the end zone for each play.

Soccer is boring. Yet, cover your face to sneeze and you've just missed the only score in the game.

[real saxophonist]

Several years ago, former Rockies player Vinny Castilla donated the money to build a baseball diamond here, appropriately called Vinny Castilla Field.

No baseball game was ever played there. A playground was built in the outfield. The pitcher's mound was flattened, and the field was turned into a soccer pitch.

So I don't know where this author is coming from, soccer has taken over this area like a cancer.

[Labyrinthos]

Soccer is kind of faggy.

[Equine1952]

Colorado right? That explains your problem. Thank God they didn’t screw the Avalanche up.

[FamiliarFace]

These guys look so much more in shape than the Travis Kelces of the world. I know I’m in the minority. Don’t care.

Many Americans think it’s boring, because not only do they not understand the game, they don’t WANT to understand the game.

Look, I love football, hockey, tennis, golf, soccer, baseball, pretty much any sport. The games are all different and I think that’s just fine.

[iamgalt]

They left out the main reason. It sucks.

[sloanrb]

Why is soccer so popular in the rest of the world? Because it is the only major sport that can be played with just one item: a soccer ball. All other major sports require additional equipment.

Baseball requires bats and gloves.
Basketball requires a court and hoops.
American football requires helmets and other protection.

Whereas in a poor country if you have just a soccer ball you can easily play a regulation game in a field. So it is very easy to have a large population that is used to playing just one sport.

[decal]

The stopid offsides rule that rewards incompetent defense.

The stopid yellow/red card that rewards lousy acting (don’t watch the NBA for the same reason).

Scoring (or the lack thereof) doesn’t matter that much - hockey is low-scoring but exciting; cricket is high-scoring but dull.

[FamiliarFace]

You’re watching the game wrong. You’re watching ONLY for the scores, and the beauty is ALSO in how many times you stopped the other team from scoring.

[real saxophonist]

Oh, yeah. Well, there is the Colorado Rapids, whatever Major League Soccer is. Don’t care.