Throughout American sports’ history, soccer has long been considered a second-class sport, but times are changing. Soccer has become one of the United States’s favorite sports, and it continues to grow even larger with time. The number of people watching soccer in the United States has grown almost 85 percent in the last 30 years.
Soccer has risen to be the United States’ third most popular sport, behind basketball and baseball. America’s Major League Soccer is one factor in this sport’s growth. Teams in Major League Soccer include Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle Sounders F.C., and Portland Timbers, with players such as Clint Dempsey, Thierry Henry, and Landon Donovan.
The United States National Soccer Team is another major reason for soccer’s growth in the United States. Since the 1990 World Cup, the Men’s National Team has won the Concacaf Gold Cup five times and has made it out of the group stage of the World Cup three times. Moreover, the Women ‘s National Team has won the Women’s World Cup twice. Both teams’ success has resulted in their having many American fans rooting for them.
With a combination of hard work and supportive fans, the Men’s National Team qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Because of this accomplishment, people in the US may be more encouraged to watch and play soccer.
This new attraction will cause soccer equipment sales rates to boom. Since the growing audience is mainly comprised of children, there will be a race among kids to purchase the newest World Cup gear that matches favorite players’ styles.
Paul Krumpe, head coach at Loyola Marymount University said, “Soccer in the United States has grown so much since when it first appeared in the United States. It has changed because of the propaganda of soccer. Soccer has a lot to do with money and advertising, and new players want to be like their favorite players so they buy their jerseys and cleats. Soccer has grown as a sport and as a business.”
Mathis Mannel, assistant head coach of Loyola Marymount University’s soccer team said, “Soccer has grown in the past 30 years because of how the game has changed and [because of] new styles of the game. New, young, exciting players like Lionel Messi, Cristano Ronaldo, Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, and Gareth Bale have been attracting new viewers from all over the world — especially in the United States.”
Sophomore soccer player Sam Stein, stated, “Soccer in the United States has definitely grown… about seven years ago I had never played soccer before but when I was very young, I saw a soccer game on TV and I wanted to play.” Stein also mentioned that he believes soccer will one day be the favorite sport of the United States.
With a heavy European influence, soccer has evolved into a beautiful game in the United States. American players ranging from beginners to professionals, view European players as role models not only for the sport but also for life.
Soccer fans in America follow European teams such as Manchester United, A.C.Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint German.
Junior Sea King soccer player, Colin Nolls said, “Soccer is my favorite sport to play, because I love running and giving it my all on the field. Soccer is an amazing sport that the United States has grown to appreciate and love… It has grown in the United States and will continue to grow for years to come because of the way the sport instantly attracts people.”
Soccer has grown to become one of the United States’ favorite sports, not only because of advertising influences and new players, but also because of how the game brings people together. Mennel said, ”It is a truly amazing thing when people from a country that aren’t used to seeing too much soccer come and unite for the love of the sport.”