Why is soccer not popular in the US? The real reason unveiled

Despite having the best women's team in the world, soccer is still not as widely followed in the USA compared to sports like baseball, American football and basketball. Today we delve into why soccer is not popular in the US and the underlying reasons behind this.

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, with over 3.5 million global followers. However, this enthusiasm is not shared in the United States, where it ranks only fourth in terms of live audiences.

Why is soccer not popular in the USA?

The main reason that soccer is not popular in the USA is because their men's team has always been average. The fact that America is consistently ranked highly in most other sports means that soccer will be looked down upon for its relative mediocrity.

Reasons why soccer is less popular in the United States

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1. Lack of success

The association of the US men's national team with failure and loss discourages new audiences from becoming fans. Their ladies' team is much better but still needs to get more attention aside from during the Olympics and the World Cup.

2. Lack of a strong league

Major League Soccer (MLS) struggles to attract top talent because all the talented players prefer to play in Europe. To make it worse, all the promising young players from the MLS never stick around the league and are taken into European junior academies. This makes the league's gameplay less competitive.

3. Lack of superstar names

Another reason soccer did not become popular in the US is star power. America lacks the star names that dominate world football. The best American players are nowhere near the world's best. Currently, their biggest high-profile star is Chelsea FC forward Christian Pulisic.

4. Poor soccer culture

A significant reason soccer is not popular in the US is a poor understanding of soccer culture. Americans prefer baseball, basketball and American football; many consider the game too tactical and boring. The fact that they dominate other countries in the aforementioned sports also increases the antipathy towards the sport.

Why is MLS not popular?

Soccer is not as popular in the US as other sports since it doesn't have as significant revenues and hype. An MLS player's average salary is $410,000 yearly, while their NBA counterpart makes $8.32 million. This pay disparity means that even potential youngsters choosing sports in the US school system are less likely to gamble on football.

Why soccer will never be popular in America

Many ask whether soccer will ever be popular in the USA. The reality is grim as all the other major sports have had a huge headstart, and catching up will be challenging. The lack of world-class players with global fans and global appeal also reinforces the perception of mediocrity associated with the sport in the country. However, the country is hosting the 2026 World Cup, and this is a rare opportunity to recruit new domestic and international fanbases.

What does the future hold for soccer in the US?

As time passes and more players from the USA find themselves in Europe's top leagues, their national team has the potential to grow stronger. Players like Tyler Adam, Weston Mckennie, Christian Pulisic, and Yunus Musah, among others, are all playing for some of Europe's biggest clubs. This experience will no doubt help the national team in achieving its goals.

For a country that excels in almost every sport, soccer is the one blot on America's dominance. There are many reasons why soccer is not popular in the USA, but it remains to be seen whether the mood in the country will change should their national teams garner success in the World Cup.

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