Expert Article (Final)

Baseball, Basketball, Football, and Soccer?

Soccer’s Growth and Impact in the US

Many Americans enjoy watching sports and having gatherings for huge sports events such as the Super Bowl and World Series. People enjoy watching sports during their free time. There’s a reason why baseball has the nickname of being America’s “national pastime”. People always refer to the big four sports in America as baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. But what about soccer? Why is soccer not included in the big four or why is it not thought about often in America?

Soccer is one of the world’s most popular sports, so it is intriguing to see how this isn’t the case in the US. You can see soccer’s popularity range from countries such as Argentina, France, South Africa, and so many more. There’s no coincidence that so many countries see soccer as their most popular sport. So, what’s the difference with the US? America has so many great sports people can choose to watch, so it makes sense it can be hard to become the most popular. However, being the world’s most popular sport, soccer can’t even break into the top four in America. Why? It is important to dive in to understand why soccer has lacked popularity across the country and to see a glimpse of the sport’s future.

Why isn’t Soccer Popular in the US?

There are a variety of reasons people can address to explain why soccer isn’t as popular in the US. The biggest reason is the presence of other sports and their connection with American culture. Sports such as football and baseball have established a long history in the country and have undoubtedly put themselves in the routine and culture of everyday life in the US. Professor Markovits from the University of Michigan has stated that once fans subconsciously associate themselves with a sport as their “national pastime”, it becomes difficult for them to gain interest in any other sport. Soccer in a way has been “crowded out” by these other sports in America and has made it difficult for the sport to gain any traction in rooting themselves in the national culture (Ontko).

Another very interesting reason for the lack of popularity of soccer in America is the lack of business and revenue it brings in. America has established itself as one of the most powerful capitalist societies. Corporations want to make the most money as possible and soccer at times doesn’t make that feasible. All the main sports in America include timeouts and breaks all made for TV advertisements TV networks can take advantage of. Soccer only has a halftime break which TV networks don’t find very beneficial and don’t prioritize in broadcasting.

Soccer on the Rise

Despite the lack of popularity of soccer in the US, it is on the rise. Both participation and interest have increased over the last couple of years. Major League Soccer (MLS) has experienced a 27% rise in interest since 2012 (LoRé). The league has also decided to expand and will soon consist of

30 professional soccer teams across the country. More teams in the country give the opportunity for communities to learn more about the sport and gain interest. For example, MLS has decided to create new teams in cities such as Austin, Nashville, and Charlotte which tend to also be cities not occupied by a lot of sports teams (Sen). MLS teams are also showing increased attendance and a rise in cable viewership (Malter). U.S. Soccer CEO and Secretary General Will Wilson recently spoke on the hire of David Wright who will serve as Chief Commercial Officer for the U.S. Soccer Federation. Wilson stated that the hire was to improve the sport’s growth and leave an “immediate and long-term positive impact on U.S. soccer”.

Soccer has also been gaining traction in revenue and TV networks. Soccer media rights revenue has increased over the last couple of years. The MLS has network deals with ESPN, Fox, and Spanish-language network Univision Deportes. The National Women’s Soccer League has also signed a three-year deal with CBS Sports for streaming services. It is evident that TV networks are starting to see the rise in interest of the sport and the possible revenue it can start to bring in.

The potential for soccer in the US is growing. With studies showing younger people gaining more interest in soccer, it seems inevitable that the sport will be catching up in popularity and revenue as the other main sports in America. According to a 2018 Gallup poll, 7% of Americans cited soccer as their favorite sport to watch which is an increase from previous years (LoRé). In 2026, the World Cup will be in North America, but more specifically the US. The World Cup is one of the world’s biggest events with an average of 3.2 billion viewers. This will undoubtedly create a new phase in the growth of US soccer and continue to increase the participation and interest of people across the country (Sen). MLS commissioner Don Garber has acknowledged that “the rising popularity of the sport of soccer, the economic value and opportunity that the sport is providing” are all drivers of the sport’s growth (Burns). The future of soccer in America is very bright.

Should You Watch Soccer?

Many people enjoy sports, but everyone has their preferences. Some people may only watch one or some people may watch them all. Soccer may not be on par with the other sports in America, but it is gaining popularity and moving in the right direction. Whether you know about soccer or not, there are many reasons why you should play or even watch some soccer. One main reason you should gain an interest in soccer is its simplicity. There aren’t all these complex rules you need to learn to understand the sport. Due to its simplicity, you can play soccer either indoors or outdoors. Most of the time all you need is a soccer ball and people to play with.

One of the biggest ways of learning more about soccer is by going to a game and being a part of the atmosphere. In LA, there are two teams that you can go watch, LA Galaxy and LAFC. LAFC has earned a reputation for having some of the most electric atmospheres in all American sports. Not only do you have the opportunity to be up-close to watch a game live, but you get to experience the excitement and passion of the fans. You see people cheering and waving flags in support of their team. You get to experience what happens on and off the field with soccer.

Soccer is such a popular and beloved sport across the world for many reasons. Soccer is starting to rise in the US, so it’s only important you start to get into it too. 

Works Cited

Burns, Mark. “Commissioner Garber on Growth of MLS.” Sports Business Daily, 24 Feb. 2020, www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2020/02/24/In-Depth/Garber.aspx.

Dure, Beau. “Why US Men's Soccer Will Always Be Chasing the Pack.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 31 Oct. 2019, www.theguardian.com/football/2019/oct/31/why-us-mens-soccer-will-always-be-chasing- the-pack.

LoRé, Michael. “Soccer's Growth In U.S. Has International Legends Buzzing.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 30 Apr. 2019, www.forbes.com/sites/michaellore/2019/04/26/soccers-growth- in-u-s-has-international-legends-buzzing/.

Malter, Jordan. “The Growth of US Soccer Is Big Business.” CNBC, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2018, www.cnbc.com/2018/08/15/the-growth-of-us-soccer-is-big-business.html.

Ontko, Kelsey. Why Is Soccer Less Popular in the U.S.? 24 Oct. 2013, sites.duke.edu/wcwp/research-projects/soccermarkets-in-the-u-s/soccer-exceptionalism-in- america/.

Sen, Conor. “Soccer Is the Future of U.S. Professional Sports.” Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg, 20 Dec. 2019, www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-12-20/soccer-is-the-future-of-u-s- professional-sports.

“U.S. Soccer Federation Names David Wright as Chief Commercial Officer.” US Soccer. Sponsored by Volkswagen, 9 Sept. 2020, www.ussoccer.com/stories/2020/09/us-soccer- federation-names-david-wright-as-chief-commercial-officer.