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'Soccer' And The USA

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posted on 2/7/14

Good article.

The popularity of the sport HAS increased in the last few years in the US. No doubt some of the big names going to play in the MLS helps the league. Also, there's been a lot of money that's been and looks to continue to be pumped into the game across the pond.

The biggest stumbling block from the MLS and US soccer development program has and ALWAYS will be that Basketball, (American) Football, Baseball and even Ice Hockey are 'traditional' American Sports. Those are a fabric not just of America's sporting heritage, but everyday life.

Still, as a fan of football in general, I welcome the games popularity taking off over there.

posted on 2/7/14

Football getting popular in the US is only good for the game imo

posted on 2/7/14

The biggest stumbling from football not taking off in America is simply because they are not very good at it. Americans do not like the idea of not being good at something. It's in their DNA.

posted on 2/7/14

Football will never be their main sport. Probably in areas with Latino population it will become huge if not already but it will never catch up on basketball/baseball/egg ball. But their attitude last night was fantastic. English, Italians and the rest who got knocked out early should be ashamed hugely.

posted on 2/7/14

comment by Wild_ Rover (U5211)
posted 3 minutes ago
The biggest stumbling from football not taking off in America is simply because they are not very good at it. Americans do not like the idea of not being good at something. It's in their DNA.
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Which is why they have improved dramatically over the last 20 yrs.
They'll continue to improve and will probably win the world cup before England win another

posted on 2/7/14

Thanks Moist

Whilst that might be true for the time-being, that it's not a traditional American sport, I think a lot of that is due to the lack of quality in MLS at the time, which in itself can reduce the interest in the sport significantly.

Whilst not American, David Beckham's brand has done a lot to raise the profile in the States - we all know how the US loves a good-looking, marketable athelete - so as the quality increases, so does the popularity.

posted on 2/7/14

I got this from a US guy

Football players from USA are growing in talent a few things have changed in their youth development.

1.) As of 3 years ago every MLS Professional team has started their own development of youth players starting with U12/13. Using similar model as other countries where they develop talent as a future investment to sell players to other teams or keep in house.

2.) Manchester City opened their own MSL team start playing in 2015 90% of their players will be from other countries.

3.) Record number of American born kids that show drive and talent at early age (11-14 yrs.) are trying out for professional clubs in Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, etc..(my son is part of this group)

4.) US Corporations are discovering that there is a lot of money to be made with a world audience vs.. just a USA audience.

5.) Fact today more youth kids in the USA play football (soccer) than all sports combined (basketball + baseball + Football (helmet, pads, kinda football).

posted on 2/7/14

PP - source of the US guy..? Just a typical chap like you and me?

Point 4 - It's surprising they've ONLY just cottoned on to the global appeal of football and how much moolah they could earn (though for the good of humanity, I'm not necessarily saying more corporations being involved in football is a good thing... )

Point 5 - I've heard this - but that by the age of 10, they're pressured into doing the other 'traditional' sports instead, I think partly due to it being considered a sport more popular with girls over there

comment by BO$$™ (U6401)

posted on 2/7/14

The USA will easily win a world cup before england. they have alot of taltent out there so i reckon in about 10 years they could be a major force.

comment by El Cap. (U9537)

posted on 2/7/14

I can't see US winning the World Cup. They've improved drastically and will only get better, but so will other teams. They've done very well but they're gonna need a miracle if they every displace Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, Spain and the other powerhouses.

They came up against a decent European side yesterday and if it wasn't for Howard they would've got spanked.

posted on 2/7/14

comment by 50-Always the victims (Luis Suarez) (U1147)
posted 52 minutes ago
Football will never be their main sport. Probably in areas with Latino population it will become huge if not already but it will never catch up on basketball/baseball/egg ball. But their attitude last night was fantastic. English, Italians and the rest who got knocked out early should be ashamed hugely.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Agree in part, because the Latino (mainly Mexican) community is growing exponencialy in importance, and many immigrants love their from the strong Mexican league. that's why teams like Chivas are opening franchises in the US. In terms of viewing figures, football has already surpassed ice hockey (according to some studies) and is on path to do the same to basketball.

I believe that the "big 4" sports are going to turn into a "big 5" as time goes by, even if not evenly spread across the country (which already occurrs with sports like ice hockey). The global (thus financial) appeal of the game and the grass roots movement are also major factors to insure this.

posted on 2/7/14

comment by Mikel Ar-tiki-taka-teta (U14196)
posted 53 minutes ago
PP - source of the US guy..? Just a typical chap like you and me?

Point 4 - It's surprising they've ONLY just cottoned on to the global appeal of football and how much moolah they could earn (though for the good of humanity, I'm not necessarily saying more corporations being involved in football is a good thing...)

Point 5 - I've heard this - but that by the age of 10, they're pressured into doing the other 'traditional' sports instead, I think partly due to it being considered a sport more popular with girls over there
----------------------------------------------------------------------
but the point is that they take sport seriously from a young age, even if some go to do traditional sports there will be still some that want to stay doing Football.

Schools hire proper football coaches, and have proper leagues from a young age, I'm not sure our schools do that at all unless you're at a football club

posted on 2/7/14

comment by Passion Power saves the day!! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (U8398)
posted 1 hour, 50 minutes ago
I got this from a US guy

Football players from USA are growing in talent a few things have changed in their youth development.

1.) As of 3 years ago every MLS Professional team has started their own development of youth players starting with U12/13. Using similar model as other countries where they develop talent as a future investment to sell players to other teams or keep in house.

2.) Manchester City opened their own MSL team start playing in 2015 90% of their players will be from other countries.

3.) Record number of American born kids that show drive and talent at early age (11-14 yrs.) are trying out for professional clubs in Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, etc..(my son is part of this group)

4.) US Corporations are discovering that there is a lot of money to be made with a world audience vs.. just a USA audience.

5.) Fact today more youth kids in the USA play football (soccer) than all sports combined (basketball + baseball + Football (helmet, pads, kinda football).
----------------------------------------------------------------------

posted on 2/7/14

Finally seems that at least some arrogant and parochial Englishmen are awakening to the fact that the USA is actually embracing football (or SOCCER as it is known in many parts of the world outside jolly olde England) and addressing their fear that the yanks will someday be a real force in the game.

I said a long time ago, I can see the US getting to a World Cup Final (and possibly winning it) before ever England do again. Nothing that has happened since convinces me to change that opinion.

The problem with British players is that there simply is no hunger in their make up any more. They have 'got it made' so to speak. The best players are at the best clubs, getting paid in the millions and put on a pedestal by adoring fans and the darling media. Compare that to players from South America, Africa and, yes, even the USA, all with something to prove, all with a desire to better themselves and their families and fight their way out of the ghettos and favelas. In the case of the Americans, the motivation they get from those idiotic football snobs that look down their noses at them and their sports, drives them on to a level that English players left behind decades ago.

posted on 2/7/14

USA are boring and park the bus. Only one team wanted to win that game and Belgium throroughly deserved it. USA only started to play well when they were 2-0 down by which time the game was over and Belgium relaxed which allowed USA to get back in it. USA were also very lucky against Ghana too and didn't deserve to win that game so I don't really agree with the media being up there backside so much.

posted on 2/7/14

USA are boring and park the bus. Only one team wanted to win that game and Belgium throroughly deserved it.

That was a cracking game; can't remember the last time I enjoyed watching England play. If our lads had as much heart as the Yanks we'd be in the quarters.

posted on 2/7/14

It was a cracking game because of Belgium instead of crediting rich dirty nations like USA let's credit smaller countries such as Columbia and Belgium instead as both of them play beautiful football.

posted on 2/7/14

comment by RedandBlacksocks (U10609)
posted 6 hours, 5 minutes ago
Finally seems that at least some arrogant and parochial Englishmen are awakening to the fact that the USA is actually embracing football (or SOCCER as it is known in many parts of the world outside jolly olde England) and addressing their fear that the yanks will someday be a real force in the game.

I said a long time ago, I can see the US getting to a World Cup Final (and possibly winning it) before ever England do again. Nothing that has happened since convinces me to change that opinion.

The problem with British players is that there simply is no hunger in their make up any more. They have 'got it made' so to speak. The best players are at the best clubs, getting paid in the millions and put on a pedestal by adoring fans and the darling media. Compare that to players from South America, Africa and, yes, even the USA, all with something to prove, all with a desire to better themselves and their families and fight their way out of the ghettos and favelas. In the case of the Americans, the motivation they get from those idiotic football snobs that look down their noses at them and their sports, drives them on to a level that English players left behind decades ago.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
WTF?.it's called football...it was called football before any American sports were thought of. It's the oldest domestic sport in the world. It's fücking FOOTBALL, usr use your feet...self explanatory really. Unlike that American Rugby game, or the male rounders or the male netball sport the tanks play....

posted on 2/7/14

Yanks.....

posted on 3/7/14

It was a cracking game because of Belgium instead of crediting rich dirty nations like USA let's credit smaller countries such as Columbia and Belgium instead as both of them play beautiful football.


Firstly it is Colombia!!! And you call the USA dirty, yet Colombia has been the centre of most of the major drug trafficking World wide for decades, and it is the USA you deride?

posted on 3/7/14

comment by RedandBlacksocks (U10609)
posted 6 hours, 5 minutes ago
Finally seems that at least some arrogant and parochial Englishmen are awakening to the fact that the USA is actually embracing football (or SOCCER as it is known in many parts of the world outside jolly olde England) and addressing their fear that the yanks will someday be a real force in the game.

I said a long time ago, I can see the US getting to a World Cup Final (and possibly winning it) before ever England do again. Nothing that has happened since convinces me to change that opinion.

The problem with British players is that there simply is no hunger in their make up any more. They have 'got it made' so to speak. The best players are at the best clubs, getting paid in the millions and put on a pedestal by adoring fans and the darling media. Compare that to players from South America, Africa and, yes, even the USA, all with something to prove, all with a desire to better themselves and their families and fight their way out of the ghettos and favelas. In the case of the Americans, the motivation they get from those idiotic football snobs that look down their noses at them and their sports, drives them on to a level that English players left behind decades ago.



I am a big fan of the United States & its diverse cultures, however the USA has largely been very insular when it comes to team sports.

Who else could have a World Series in a sport that only two countries play on any good level?

American Football is also only played at any level in the USA...............................................

Association Football (to give it its correct name) is played in virtually every country in the World & I believe that something like 200 "countries" start off in the qualifying groups.

Just to clarify, there are only 193 UN recognised countries so how do we get 200+ entering the World Cup?

Simple..............................Certain countries like Taiwan for instance are not recognised for political reasons (upsetting the Chinese?) & then there are smaller places like Gibraltar etc who whilst entering a team do not have UN Status.

The reason the USA has been so insular is possibly driven by the fact that it is really 50 countries in one. Each State is in itself a free governing entity with its own regional laws & police forces. There are Federal laws & taxes, however States generally run themselves.
The other thing to remember this is a vast country with a population of some 300 million, and latest reports suggest that less than 30% hold passports & that fewer than that have ever left continental North America.

posted on 3/7/14

He did not come from Russia, He is Ozil or is it Ew-zil, maybe its Or-zil…no hang on its Ert-zi, oh whatever he is an Arsenal player....all you need to know (U6483)

-----------------------------------

Pretty much wrong on all counts.

WTF?.it's called football...it was called football before any American sports were thought of. It's the oldest domestic sport in the world.

Not really. The MCC was formed before the FA in England, so it's not even the oldest " official " sport in England. But going back further, combat sports, atheltics, archery etc were being contested in organised tournaments long before anyone had ever even thought of football.


It's fücking FOOTBALL, usr use your feet...self explanatory really.

The term " football " comes from it being a sport that's played " on foot " to distinguish it fom the mounted sports the aristocracy played like polo. You were allowed to use your hands in early football games. As such, Rugby, Aussie Rules, American Football, Gaelic Football etc are all perfectly entitled to refer to their primary code as " football "


Unlike that American Rugby game, or the male rounders or the male netball sport the tanks play....

Baseball was being played professionally in the US before the F.A. existed via the NABBP in 1858.

Also Soccer is an English term that was used to differentiate between the 2 codes of football in Britain at the time Rugby / Ruger and Association / Soccer. Each country uses football to refer to their most prevalent code and it's perfectly fine to use soccer to refer to Association football in the context of it being a minority sport.

posted on 3/7/14

Genius Greaves is 100% behind Poch! (U1302)
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Who else could have a World Series in a sport that only two countries play on any good level?

I think it's funny that since the Baseball world cup started, the U.S. have only won like 4 of them and Cuba have like 20 something.

posted on 3/7/14

Genius Greaves may I ask why you're bumming the Americans for? Colombia are a lot better then USA smaller country and no one hates them. USA are a bunch of twaaaats that go around bullying other countries just because they know they can. Now stop bumming the Americans you twaaaaat

posted on 3/7/14

comment by BIGIRISHGOONER (U8171)
posted 3 hours, 6 minutes ago
Genius Greaves is 100% behind Poch! (U1302)
---------------------------------------------------------

Who else could have a World Series in a sport that only two countries play on any good level?
----------------------------------------------------------

As my previous post suggested I am not a fan of American sport and do hate the fact they assume the whole world loves their sport over anyone elses.

I have family in America who could not believe I could not name any NFL players.....they assumed all the world just watched their sport.

But with regards to the Baseball world series, its called this as it was original sponsored by a newspaper called the World (or World Series)......

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