Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
As of March 2022, sports browser ranked soccer, also known as "football," to the rest of the globe as the world's most popular sport. It is safe to say that the sport has earned its reputation, with an estimated 3.5 billion fans—or half of the world's population—supporting it.
Soccer is extremely popular throughout most of the world, but it is only recently started to become well-known in the United States. In past years, Americans ranked football, basketball, baseball, and hockey as their top four sports. According to Gallup, the discussion changed in 2021, with soccer moving to fourth place behind baseball and hockey.
The proliferation of American major league soccer teams can be ascribed to the rising internationalization of American culture. So popular is the sport that hundreds of thousands of fans in America are betting on soccer on online sites like Red Stag.
Both the culture and the demographics of the American population are constantly shifting. Most of today's people of color are Hispanic Americans, one of the minority groups in the US with the most significant growth rate. "Futbol" is king in Hispanic culture; 84% of Hispanic people follow the sport somehow.
Soccer is a game that means a lot to them, and as their customs meld with those of the typical American, it's sure to keep growing in popularity. Within a few years, the sport is expected to exceed baseball in popularity. No longer will football be used to refer to the ball with pigskin. Here are factors attributed to the growth of the sport.
The premier domestic league, Major League Soccer, debuted in 1996 with ten teams. The number has since risen to 28 teams as of the 2022 season. According to research by CIES Football, the average soccer attendance of 21,358 from 2013 to 2018 ranked No. 8 globally.
The league's expansion will give it nationwide recognition and make it easier to obtain television rights, contributing to its increasing popularity. The increase in soccer enthusiasts in the United States must be attributed to the MLS.
Since the league's debut in 1996, the league has been shown on national television in the US. Local networks or regional broadcast stations air games that aren't nationally televised.
The capacity for fans to follow their preferred teams, leagues, and competitions fosters enthusiasm for the sport and supports the MLS and other sports. Univision pays $15 million for television rights per season, while Fox Sports and ESPN each pay $75 million.
A few legendary players drawn to the MLS include David Beckham, Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kaka, Andrea Pirlo, and Frank Lampard. They have become renowned legends for their clubs and nation, contributing to the increase in soccer spectators at the stadiums.
The lifestyle, the league's rising standard of play, and the rising salary offered are key incentives for players to the MLS.
In addition to luring international celebrities, the US has also 'exported' some outstanding talent abroad. Now dozens of Americans compete in the best leagues worldwide, mainly in Europe. The most notable example is the $73 million acquisition of Christian Pulisic by Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund.
This transfer cost more than triple what John Brooks' previous record was. It is a significant development for American soccer and has undoubtedly encouraged more Americans to watch matches.
The atmosphere you experience at some of the biggest soccer matches in the world, including the "noisy stands" at Wembley, may not be comparable to anything else.
But in the past few years, there has been a significant advancement in the ability to replicate these environments. The Portland Timbers, Atlanta United, and FC Cincinnati are some notable teams that have had an impact.
The expansion into soccer-crazy communities and the construction of soccer stadiums have all contributed to MLS's rise to popularity on a domestic and international scale.
The optimism for soccer is still growing
The fact that the game is soon becoming a "first choice" sport for young people is significant for the sport's future in the USA. High school soccer saw the most significant growth, up 32% from 2002 to 2019, considerably outpacing other sports with declining participation, such as baseball (6%), hockey (7%) and basketball (-6%), and football (-2%).
Additionally, participation was almost equal between boys and girls, with the overall number of high school boys participating in sports closely followed by girls.
It is exciting to imagine where Americans can go from here, given the domestic game's enormous development and strengthening over the previous 30 years. Despite only having 24 teams and fewer games than future tournaments, the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA is still the most-watched event of all time.
It was also the most financially successful edition. Those marks will undoubtedly be broken when the World Cup returns to North America in 2026 with an expanded field of 48 teams.
It's just a matter of time before soccer starts supplanting America's traditional pleasures and the world's game genuinely becomes America's game as both domestic and international soccer gain popularity and the US population continues to change.
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