Soccer will be the #1 sport in USA in 20 years, here's the reason why (pic)

[bballaman369]

Number one in terms of what? Attendance? Profit? People have been saying this for years and it's not happened yet.

I remember like 10 years ago everyone was talking about how soccer was gonna take over. I just don't see it.

[Coachbombay]

It just might be if President Dolan doesn't build his Wall.

[GriecoR]

Mind blown at people saying soccer is boring while thinking football/baseball are fast paced sports lol.

[miscerini]

Mind blown at people saying soccer is boring while thinking football/baseball are fast paced sports lol.

lol this

they can't sit through 90mins of a soccer match, but can sit for hours watching stop-start NFL and baseball waiting for pitcher to scratch his balls/chew gum/spit

this also goes for aussies, who have a similar negative outlook on soccer, but have no problems watching a cricket test match that lasts for a fkn week

[miscerini]

yea but soccer is boring to watch. it really is as simple as that.

not all sports are about achieving a high score

soccer is more about the anticipation of scoring - via one on one's with the keeper, through-balls, corners, free kicks etc

also about the quality saves and goalkeeping, watch some of manuel neur's clips on youtube

[HughBMyron]

A lot of Americans are slowly begining to realize that the NFL, MLB, and NBA are just huge advertisement programs rather than sporting leagues. I've heard hardcore Football fans talk about how they dislike how the NFL is only like 11 minutes of actual sporting. How sad is that? Like the whole other 2 hours is just filled with advertisement.

Anyways, reasons why Soccer will be #1 in 20 years:

-It's growing, there are new teams being created every year by a lot of rich people. It's only a matter of time before NFL, MLB, and NBA owners start to turn to Soccer. Major League Soccer is expecting a new team from LA and Miami. Just recently, NYC, Minnesota, Orlando, and Atlanta created new teams in the league.

-Soccer is more popular than people think. Every summer, when teams from overseas visit the USA to play friendlies and other events, the games sell out and break records. For example, there was a game between Barcelona and Juventus in NJ this summer that made it's way to being one of the biggest sporting events in NJ & NY history.

-Most kids these days aging from like 4-8 play Soccer. Obviously a lot of them will turn to other sports when they get older, but with how popular Soccer is among younger kids, there's no doubt that there's going to be a huge influx of soccer fans in the near decade or two.

This image here is the attendance of a normal average Major League Soccer match between two teams. Keep in mind, this is not some kind of special game, just a normal league game.



If the media supported Soccer as much as it supported the NFL, Soccer would be the #1 sport in USA. But good ol' uncle sam will not let that happen considering Soccer matches on television shows more sporting rather than advertisements.

P.S. The term "Football" is common in regards to Soccer in USA. This can be seen in the names of MLS teams and upcoming MLS teams where the "FC" in the team names stand for "Football" club. Also, even in commentary for MLS games, some commentators use the term "football" when referring to Soccer.

How was this not a special game?

It was the first GAME in the new FALCONS Stadium...that's why they sold out lmao.


Jesus OP is clueless.

[PeaceWithin]

Would rather see rugby take over, and the transition from the NFL to rugby would honestly be easier for fans. Still a full contact sport, but much more active playing time and strategy.

[whitepaper]

I love soccer/football, but the MLS is pathetic, and so are its fans. They legit just try to copy any and all European team fans in every way.

Nothing about MLS fans feels authentic at all. A league that isn't respected in the slightest, and talent that is over the hill or is simply atrocious.

****ing pathetic


But let's hope football picks up.

[Briisk]

I love soccer/football, but the MLS is pathetic, and so are its fans. They legit just try to copy any and all European team fans in every way.

Nothing about MLS fans feels authentic at all. A league that isn't respected in the slightest, and talent that is over the hill or is simply atrocious.

****ing pathetic


But let's hope football picks up.

I think some of the older teams in the MLS have that pathetic feel to them because of the location/stadium/fans, like the Chicago Fire. But these newer teams they are introducing are getting brand new audiences and those games feel authentic and real compared to the older teams that have been around since the start of the league. Check out a rivalry Portland vs Seattle. Everything about those games from the tailgate to the end looks awesome, and I bet feels just as good attending.

Fact is baseball is on a downward slope, and recently football as well.

[JonZ]

Soccers for *******s.

Dont even care enough to link to one of those youtube fake injuries vids.

[GnarlySheen]

holeefuk this thread still going. Obviously a bunch of rustled jimmies ITT.

[freeburn]

I love soccer/football, but the MLS is pathetic, and so are its fans. They legit just try to copy any and all European team fans in every way.

Nothing about MLS fans feels authentic at all. A league that isn't respected in the slightest, and talent that is over the hill or is simply atrocious.

****ing pathetic


But let's hope football picks up.

I mean I get what you're saying but I disagree for sure. The euro fans set the standard really and pretty much everyone who watches MLS is also watching euro leagues too. As fans we want our team to know that's the kind of love we have for them.

NY Redbull have an awesome supporter section and do an awesome March from the local pub to the stadium. It's pretty ****in awesome to be a part of it. Nothing pathetic about it.

What's pathetic is ******* ass Americans who worship euro teams who they'll never even see play. It's really convenient to be a barca or Madrid or man united supporter when your team is the best in the world.

If you are an American and consider yourself a soccer fan but don't support your club and country... Then you're not really a soccer fan. The end.

[nn586]

not in America, hell no

[woody19]

If football or basketball went away, I would just stop watching sports. Baseball and soccer are incredibly slow and boring outside a few moments. Doesn't matter if they have great athletes as they are flawed games in general.

[MoeBettuh]

In like 1990 they said this. I don't think it will ever happen.

[frankk213]

Real Madrid CF
Man United FC
Los Angeles FC

best teams

[UTSoccerbro]

It's pretty easy to see this happening. Soccer is way more fun to watch. brb game over in two hours, zero commercials, short halftime, no dancing robots or commercial breaks every three minutes, every minute counts, any team can win on any given day.

But nah fam let's watch dudes wear 20lbs of protective plastic to play ten minutes of actual sports. Oh but we need 55+ players on the team because everyone is only good at one particular thing (brb soccer you can name a limited bench, even the deepest squads have maybe 25 players and only 14 max get to play in any given game)

[Gnocchi]

How many people at these MLS games are illegals?

They keep going to cities full of them, NYC, Orlando, LA, Miami.

Seems like ICE should do some ops at these games. Probably cut the attendance in half and MAGA at the same time.

Soccer sucks and so does basketball.

[Qong]

The changing demographics of the country will definitely play a role in this, if it does happen. Hispanics are going to be the majority demographic of the country soon and Hispanics love soccer. I lived in Los Angeles during the World Cup. Literally thousands of Mexicans out in the street for the Mexico matches. Thousands and thousands. Many thousands.

Soccer is pretty exciting though. The 2006 World Cup was one of the most exciting sporting events I've ever seen. Italy - Germany in the semis was amazing:

The World Cup was hosted by Germany that year and the Germans looked awesome. They met the Italians in the semis and it's back and forth, back and forth, many near goals. The match goes into extra time. Near the end of the extra time Italy gets a corner kick and the result totally crushes the Germans. You could hear every heart in Germany breaking after that corner and then the Italian defense follows it up by making sure that there is absolutely no hope left, not even for a miracle. It was brutal.

[VTheKing]

How many people at these MLS games are illegals?

They keep going to cities full of them, NYC, Orlando, LA, Miami.

Seems like ICE should do some ops at these games. Probably cut the attendance in half and MAGA at the same time.

Soccer sucks and so does basketball.

you must've read ann coulter's exposé of soccer as a communist conspiracy

[nm1891]

I used to hate soccer entirley but went to a few mls games recently and it's a bit more fun than i thought. It wont touch the nfl anytime soon though, even with the nfl shooting itself in the foot recently. That beimgg said, football>futbol, i played it so im biased, but i can understand how someone who didnt play or follow it thier whole lives think its slow or boring. A lot of small things happening each play you need to know to look for to really appreciate everything going on and im sure its similar for soccer.

[Gnocchi]

you must've read ann coulter's exposé of soccer as a communist conspiracy

Location: British Columbia, Canada.

Stick to your own country's incompetent politics junior.

[faxanadu]

Grew up playing just about every sport. How anyone can think NFL is more entertaining that soccer is beyond me. I honestly think anyone that says that has probably never watched a good soccer match and has some idiotic "macho" bias.

Can't stand football games usually. Literally 3-4 hours of time involved only to see about 10-15 minutes of action. Baseball is pretty bad too. Basketball and Hockey are far more entertaining than football and baseball.

Watching what some of the best in the world can do with a ball and their feet ... mesmerizing.



The increase in Hispanic population is a big driving force in soccer's popularity.

Only annoying thing about soccer is all the flops.

Pretty GOAT stuff here...



The skill required to maneuver a ball with your feet around 4-5 guys while running at top speed, then launch a ball 40-50 yards towards a goal, while curving it around a player with your feet, to purposely land it in the top left/right corner... wtf. Show me something like that in football...

[MiamiLife305]

How many people at these MLS games are illegals?

They keep going to cities full of them, NYC, Orlando, LA, Miami.

Seems like ICE should do some ops at these games. Probably cut the attendance in half and MAGA at the same time.

Soccer sucks and so does basketball.

Pretty stupid chit to say

[faxanadu]

GOAT movie scene about soccer...

[jimmyjabbar]

The 1-0 score argument is something I will never understand. I'm sorry but you must have a very short attention span and suffer from ADHD if you really need to see dozens of goals scoring for you to feel joy. Soccer is more than just goals. Defending is just as important as attacking in Soccer. There's really no other way to put it. You have to use your brain and realize that there's two big nets, one on each team. There are two teams on the field, both teams have to defend their net. With 11 men on that field, scoring isn't always easy. That's one thing that make the game competitive. Another thing is, even if a game goes 0-0, there's still points being made from that game. A 0-0 game does not equal a 0 point game.

You know how i know youre gay?

[inb4everything]

Globalism (inevitable), Hispanic reproduction rates, Less 'Murican' people in the future...definitely in our lifetimes.

[VTheKing]

Location: British Columbia, Canada.

Stick to your own country's incompetent politics junior.

credulous, easily offended and quick to judge. ouch! good luck out there 'cause you need it ;/

[HMFIC_BROWSIN]

It's funny because euro's always think this MUST be true but honestly I have not met a single American-born person IRL who watches soccer. We don't even know the names of a single player on our national team. Most americans find it funny we even have a national team. It's so far out of sight here. Only foreigners watch it (from europe/mexico/south america). And even they are a small pocket of the "fans"

[Knights12]

It's funny because euro's always think this MUST be true but honestly I have not met a single American-born person IRL who watches soccer. We don't even know the names of a single player on our national team. Most americans find it funny we even have a national team. It's so far out of sight here. Only foreigners watch it (from europe/mexico/south america). And even they are a small pocket of the "fans"

That's a lot of Americans packed into a football stadium just to watch a soccer game on TV. The big event like Euros/World Cup draw millions of viewers for each match in the States.

Domestically, MLS now has teams with sellout streaks for seasons at a time, and it's gaining market share in TV. Money is funneling into youth programs to set up a better product for the future. Clubs in USL (2nd divison) were semi-pro and lucky to play in front of a few hundred people a decade ago, now it's fully professional and has teams playing in front of crowds ranging from 5K-30K weekly. The growth has been insane and doesn't look to be slowing down.