With such a large, sports-crazed culture, it remains a shock that the world’s most popular sport, soccer, is not a mainstay in American popular culture. With all the money and popularity the game has garnered over the years around the globe, the United States as the wealthiest sports market in the world would seemingly be a primary target for expansion and a perennial superpower on the international stage. However, for years the US has lagged behind the rest of the globe, but now, soccer in the US is finally on the rise. With more resources than ever before being invested into the sport, now is a prime time to join the movement and propel the US onto the world stage.
Common arguments against soccer are often that it is too slow-paced and too low-scoring, but this low scoring is what makes the game great. This low scoring creates almost constant pressure, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. One team could have complete control, then the next moment they have fallen behind spectacularly. The fluid nature of the game makes for constant excitement and nonstop action with players constantly moving with and without the ball. At any moment a long ball over the top or a defensive mistake could completely blow the game wide open and swing the balance of power in a fixture. The low-scoring nature of the game also makes every goal an explosion of emotion. In sports like basketball and football, oftentimes scoring opportunities are not as exciting due to the constant scoring nature, but with soccer, a tidal wave of emotion floods for every single goal, no matter how difficult or impressive the shot is. “I love the passion for the game,” said senior McClendon May, “there is nothing like that feeling when someone scores in any other sport.”
With this nonstop action means quick games and no commercial breaks. One of the major problems that plague modern American entertainment is the sickening number of commercial breaks. It seems that on every change in possession, score, turnover, or timeout there must be a 2-minute ad break. In soccer, because of the lack of stoppages, there are no commercials outside of halftime. This lack of commercials also ensures that the game doesn’t take up an entire day like watching other sports does. With a running 90-minute clock that doesn’t stop at all, viewers can be sure that they don’t have to worry about the game eating into their busy schedules. “Waking up early on Saturdays to watch the Premier League is now a weekly tradition for me,” said junior Hassan Jasseh, “I love spending my morning watching soccer and the rest of my day doing whatever I need to do.”
With teams all over the world, any fan from any background is sure to find a team they can relate to and follow. Soccer is truly an incredible sport with even more amazing fans. With some of the most passionate fans in the world, they bring the game to a whole new level. The US is a sleeping soccer giant ready to be awakened, and it is up to the American public to help it realize the potential to dominate the beautiful game for years to come.
