I think it’s interesting how largely immune to the soccer craze the United States is. It’s kind of like how ABBA was a huge hit everywhere on Earth except for the U.S.
The US has had some peaks and valleys with interest. MLS has actually been around for 25 years now and I’m reasonably sure it’s fairly successful (granted I don’t follow it but it’s still around and it gets decent tv coverage). And interest does spike during most World Cup years, especially when the US is good (relatively speaking). Women’s World Cup was very popular last time out IIRC, especially given that we won the thing somehow.
EDIT: Looking at the short-lived history of the Women’s WC, we’ve done quite well. What’s up with that, rest of the world?
And Dancing Queen was number one in the US for a little bit, and you even hear it on American radio stations from time to time, but compared to how the whole thing was received in the rest of the world, it’s nothing.
Thank You for the Music related content - take it the ABBA appreciation thread 😉
I am talking about soccer. I was using ABBA as an example. The most famous soccer (or ABBA) got in the United States was nothing compared to how beloved it got in the rest of the world.
I know mate - It’s just a pun on the ABBA topic.
(with a few more afterwards for ZigZig too)
I think it’s interesting how largely immune to the soccer craze the United States is. It’s kind of like how ABBA was a huge hit everywhere on Earth except for the U.S.
Soccer seems to be doing quite well - the MLS has expanded to 26 teams (with 11 more cities being invited to bid for a slot, and more slots to come). Teams are building purpose-built stadiums, attracting decent quality talent, and the MLS seems to be on the up income/revenue-wise.
Crowds are doing quite well too, noisy & passionate - finding their own identities & styles - and tickets seem reasonably priced on the most part.
The sport is still quite popular with young kids participating - though there is seemingly a lack of quality coaching in the important mid-teen years, with an over-empathis on physicality, speed and power over technique and decision making - where a mixture/balance is required. (Better quality coaching - and more of it - is likely required at the lower/younger levels, maybe a change in attitude?) More players playing abroad in Europe, or maybe even South America or Mexico, would likely help on the technical and tactical aspects too.
It didn’t help that the US failed to qualify for the World Cup, of course - yet you should be okay for the next WC if lessons are learnt. And also if Trump doesn’t piss off the countries in your CONCACAF federation again (personally, I thought it was hilarious - in the context of wishing to see the ‘smaller sides’ beat the ‘big boys’ - what occurred in the final WC Qualifying round at half-time).
Soccer breaking the US’s ‘Big 4’ sports may never happen - or being a longer-term craze, yet it doesn’t really need to. It’s chugging along quite well, the interest and investment is there along with a fairly loyal fanbase - the infrastructure required to sustain itself is now there (though obviously there remains issues - as there is for any pro-sport administration). You’ll also likely be better prepared to take advantage of that World Cup coming to your shores in 2026…
This is an expanded version of what I said. But mfm just sees ABBA.
I was using it as an analogy.