Why isn't soccer popular in U.S.A.?

i just went to our state soccer tournament our team lost but there was a bigger tournament than any high school football game i've been to. and yes i would rather shoot myself than have to watch baseball the rest of my life its fun to play but boring to watch unless its an allstar game which is still pretty boring, soccer is only interesting in high school and like the world cup when people can actually get goals i do like football more than soccer though just a personal preference

Well they have not overshadowed the growth of soccer, because we still see random sports popping up all over the place, and gaining some popularity.

The issue is that (someone mentioned this above), that nothing "happens" during most of the game. To a soccer buff this is not true, but to a newcomer this makes a big difference. Take for example basketball, someone who has never seen basketball, sees a dunk within the first 5 minutes of watching a game, while is soccer 5 minutes might get you a good run down the wing, and a corner gone awry.

Other problem is that even though soccer is the most popular sport played by kids, before they reach middle/high school, it does not translate over. The kids who do play, never get a chance to really watch any good games on a regular basis. They never get the opportunity to appreciate the pros, and thus are pushed into the thought process which dictates that the most exciting the game gets, is when they are playing.

Final problem, being an American, I lack patience and so do most other Americans. It took me a while to get used to watching games on tv. While on the field, at my playing level, you would see someone trying to take the ball themselves a half of the field, it doesn't happen very often in a real game.

Final problem, this can be solved by airing more games on tv and such, but not enough money has been invested in American soccer to make this possible. Perhaps things will change this summer with Beckham in the house. ESPN2 has already started soccer one night every week, this is a huge improvement, and signals that soccer is starting to gain popularity.

There are too many reasons however there are 2 reasons that stand out the most.

1- It's all about the MEDIA. If you watch Football, Baseball or Basketball almost every 5 minutes there is a commercial break ( Advertisers that pay the bills). In Soccer, the media companies and their advertiser can NOT afford or wait 45 minutes of continuous play without commercials and than wait another 45 min for the other segment of commercial. Its all about the money!!! Therefore, to them soccer is not profitable.

2- It is a cultural matter. Unlike Football, Baseball and Basketball, soccer was never part of the US cultural life. However, that's changing little by little as the new generation rapidly embracing the Beautiful Game.

I for one hate commercials and think that sports should be broadcast with no interruptions and minimal Time outs.

Some day the US team will win the World Cup and everything will change. Tell than God bless Fox Sports Channel :)

Sport is cultural. Our history has been to follow other sports: baseball, football, basketball, Nascar. You can't say kicking a ball in a net is inherently more or less fun to watch than throwing it in one. Much of the world plays soccer because it's a cheap game to play-- just need something round to kick. As the world globalizes and North American culture changes, so might our interest in soccer. Personally, I'd rather watch an English soccer game with almost no one I know than a NCAA basketball game. It's also part of our American "popular culture" to trash soccer as being boring. Even Sports Illustrated jokes about it. Partly elitism/parrochialism (We're Americans and we don't have to like what the rest of the world does). But the more you watch, the more you like.

Playing some doesn't hurt either. I heard a Brazilian commentator say the problem with Americans is that they grow up thinking soccer is a non-contact sport, something to be played gently, so the tough kids play football. Not so. I think Brian McBride could have made a few football teams.

On the contrary, soccer IS very popular in the U.S. Unfortunately not at the professional level. According to reports there are more young people participating in soccer than any other sport and more than hockey, football and basketball combined. Why not at the pro-level? There are several reasons for that, one undoubtedly being the the large and influential media hype arrayed against what they consider to be a non-American activity...whatever the hell that's supposed to mean. But be patient, the game is growing steadily and recruiting more and more 'believers' with each passing year. While it will never replace grid-iron football, baseball or basketball entirely, I have no doubt it will eventually take it's rightful place in the hearts of enough Americans to make it a viable and profitable enterprise....as well as being the best sport for the youth of the country to play.

Think about it this way: How many people do you know who like to watch tennis or golf? Probably none or very little. Soccer is just like that. Baseball has overshadowed other sports, although I agree it is quite boring to watch. But baseball is America. Just like Coke. So people watch it even if they don't like it. However Soccer is the European sport and it isn't very popular here. Also people don't realize how much fun soccer can be unless they actually play it. Oh well!

Because soccer is dull and boring. Hockey too. Baseball also. Americans don't want to pay 25 bucks to see grown men slothfully score a 1-0 game for three hours out of the day. Come on.

This country loves scoring and parents like to push their kids into sports that are profitable. Baseball, football & basketball are the big three here. Hockey is a distance 4th. It doesn;t even have a TV contract.

Soccer players are great athelics with great skills. And a number of them switch to pro football or basketball to make more money than they could ever make in soccer. Heck, the best soccer players in this country don't make any where near tha same money as the better players in Europe. So the very best American soccer players play in other countries, leaving the 2nd class players here.

Not the best way to build a sport.

well, in my opinion, America is already preoccupied with okay sports such as baseball, "football", golf, and basketball.

They probably don't think soccer is a sport cuz of how long it takes to score points while in other sports, points r scored instantely.

Also, American children start playing soccer when their liitle cuz their moms want to be "soccer moms" and their dads want to yell @ other little kids. But as some other dude who answered this question siad, they r never interested in soccer when they're older.

In my opinion, football, which is soccers real name, is the best sport EVER!!!!! if Americans don't think football is so popular, why were they sooooooooooooo upset when the USA was eliminated during the World Cup?!?!?!

soccer just isn't won of the main sports like football and baseball and basketball. but your in luck because soccer is becoming very popular now.