Soccer’s Popularity in America Still Likely Unaffected by WWC Win

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: July 11, 2011

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The United States women’s soccer team beat Brazil in a very dramatic game. Even with the bad calls and questionable Brazilian tactics, the game was exhilarating to watch and may well be an instant classic.

Along with games like these, the inevitable argument over soccer’s popularity in the US will crop up again. This game might finally kick start the Americans' interest in soccer and finally stop fighting and love the game.

It doesn’t seem likely, though.

We’ve been through this before in 1999, 2009 and 2010. Each time was supposed to be the time that Americans hopped aboard the bandwagon.

A few factors will keep that from ever happening.

It starts with inconsistency. For every Hope Solo penalty save, there’s a group-stage upset loss to Sweden. For every Landon Donovan miracle goal (still gives me goose bumps), there’s a next-round loss to Ghana or annihilation by Mexico.

Americans like winners, and while the women’s teams have always been winners, they aren’t the team that needs to win. It’s pretty sexist, but nonetheless true: American’s value male winners over female. Since the men’s national team doesn’t seem very close to competing at a high level, it may take a while for the US to care about international competition for more than a couple of weeks.



 

The MLS does nothing to help the status of the game, either. It’s mostly seen as a stepping stone to bigger and better things for some and a nice place to end a career for others.

Americans like to watch the best of the best compete. That happens in the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and on PGA Tour. It’s not always about the athletes being from America as long as they play in America. Since nearly every elite soccer player plays overseas, Americans have little interest.

It’s not as if America could never embra...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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