5 Reasons Why Soccer Lacks Appeal in U.S.

Soccer as a sport is one of the most watched, most followed, and most love sports across the globe. The sport has reached a level that no other sport can compare to. Professional level soccer players have salaries several times higher than other professional athletes. Some of the players have reached a level of stardom that surpasses the leaders of their countries. Soccer is an international sport with a strong following virtually everywhere, except here in the U.S.

The U.S. support of soccer is meager compared to other nations. The players make a fraction of the salary of international players and the stadiums rarely fill to capacity. Soccer coverage is virtually non-existent on television and interest in the sport is limited.

Why is this international sport with widespread appeal across the globe unable to gain attraction, viewership and support here in the U.S.? The top five reasons why soccer struggles to become a major sport in the U.S. are listed below.

1. Pace. Soccer is a slow pace sport that can at times lack excitement. Many games are played to a 0-0 draw. Lack of scoring and a slow moving game can hamper our interest. Americans enjoy fast paced action and high scoring events. Soccer does not fit into this category.

2. Competition. Their are numerous major sports on television to watch at any given time. Soccer faces stiff competition trying to draw viewers from other sporting events such as football, basketball, Nascar, and baseball.

3. Ability level. U.S. soccer is not yet at the level of play of other nations. The US World Cup teams have been less than stellar and cannot compete at the level of other nations. Without winning a major event, the team cannot garner recognition by the American public.

4. Professional Teams are sparse. Most major American cities do not have a professional soccer team. Select cities do have teams, but many do not. Many fans cannot head to the local soccer stadium to watch their favorite team play. Without teams across the country, soccer will never gain the following of sports such as baseball or football.

5. Lack of Understanding. Most American do not understand the rules of soccer. Soccer is new to this country and understanding the intricacies of the game are difficult. Without a thorough understanding of the game, viewers will become confused or frustrated. Most of the U.S. population had little to no experience with soccer and its rules in their lifetime. Attempting to learn the rules of this sport as an adult is unlikely to occur.

There are numerous other reasons why soccer has yet to gain a foothold in the American sports market. Its widespread international appeal is unlikely to spread to the U.S. soon. Soccer has grown in popularity here, but stills plays a backseat to the other major sports and will likely do so for a long time to come.