[Alberta's Child]

Thus, they have a different take on it than us oldsters do -- they grew up playing it, appreciate the game, and like to watch it, fantasizing themselves on the field in a close game, just as we older types do in the Super Bowl or World Series. My sons-in-law, kids in the 1980's, both love soccer.

If that is the case, then why do they play most professional soccer games in stadiums where they close off the upper deck because the crowds are so small?

The ironic thing is that soccer was probably poised to become much more popular here in the U.S. when this country hosted the World Cup. I truly believe that the incident in which that Columbian player was shot to death back home after he mistakenly scored into his own net did irreparable harm to soccer -- it confirmed the nagging suspicions of most Americans that soccer is nothing more than a Third World sport.

[1rudeboy]

. . . in stadiums where they close off the upper deck because the crowds are so small?

Watch it, you're getting close to describing a White Sox game. [and I'm a White Sox fan]

[Lancey Howard]

I truly believe that the incident in which that Columbian player was shot to death back home after he mistakenly scored into his own net did irreparable harm to soccer -- it confirmed the nagging suspicions of most Americans that soccer is nothing more than a Third World sport.

Yes, that was high-profile, to be sure. That incident did for soccer what the boxing judge fix at the Seoul Olympic games did for boxing. Soccer is seen as not only a Third World sport, but as a European sport, and (like the author said) most of those countries have demonstrated how weak they are by going socialist. Third World, socialist.... no thanks.

[Cincinatus]

If that is the case, then why do they play most professional soccer games in stadiums where they close off the upper deck because the crowds are so small?

It just hasn't achieved critical mass yet. Twenty years is a short time in terms of ingraining lifetime sports-watching habits. Baseball was around for decades before it became the "national pastime." Football never really took off (in terms of massive popularity) until the 1960's, with weekly TV games, even though it had been around for years.

[GoreIsLove]

I would think the loss to Brazil in the second round that year killed any chance that soccer would be big in America. It's was probably one of the most riveting sports contests I've watched, ranking up there with the Tyson/Buster Douglas fight.