# What country is LEAST interested in the World Cup? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 12, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625 "2014-06-12T14:36:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/1 "2014-06-12T14:36:04Z")
I’d be curious to discuss what country adjusting for population exhibits the LEAST interest in World Cup soccer. The natural and reflexive answer here is the USA, but I doubt this is true, because 1. Soccer interest is on the rise there and 2. They’re in the World Cup and people will watch their countrymen play any sport. Canada, for instance, might be even less interested. We don’t have a team in it. India perhaps even less; like Canada, they’re not in it and soccer is not the country’s most popular sport. Any other candidates? ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/2 "2014-06-12T14:38:42Z")
Probably countries without electricity or TV’s. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/3 "2014-06-12T14:43:44Z")
And which countries are those? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/4 "2014-06-12T14:49:03Z")
Interestingly, even in the most 3rd World of 3rd World countries, some form of soccer is played in the streets. At least, if what I’ve seen on all the different PBS, NatGeo, and travel shows on TV is truly representative of things. I’m reminded of that scene in _Spies Like Us_ where the freedom fighters want to use Dan Akroyd’s head as a soccer ball. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/5 "2014-06-12T14:52:10Z")
Mongolia has only won 9 games in the 55 years since they first got an international team. It’s hard to imagine they’re too into it. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/6 "2014-06-12T15:06:42Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Mongolia has only won 9 games in the 55 years since they first got an international team. It’s hard to imagine they’re too into it. Just because they don’t win doesn’t mean they’ve no interest. Football isn’t the biggest sport in the world because everyone wins. > [@](#): > > With football becoming the most watched sport in Mongolia in the past five years, the magazine will feature content from the UK edition as well as relevant local content such as an introduction to local football clubs, players of the national team and their history, football news, children’s clubs and academies and fan club information. > **[Dotdash Meredith - America's Largest Digital & Print Publisher](https://www.dotdashmeredith.com)** > > Dotdash Meredith is America's largest digital and print publisher, with brands including PEOPLE, Better Homes & Gardens, Allrecipes, Investopedia, Verywell, and more! Learn about career opportunities, our leadership team, and how we can help you... ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/7 "2014-06-12T15:29:44Z")
I’d certainly argue for Canada–no national professional league, with only Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC representing fully professional ball (and them in the primarily American MLS). With a strong tradition of other sports, particularly winter sports, it’s not super surprising that Canada might be less of a footy nation. I might make a purely anecdotal argument for the Pacific Islands, particularly the more US- and UK-influenced ones. American football and rugby are very popular in Tonga, the Samoas, PNG, etc., but I’ve not sen much footy. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/8 "2014-06-12T15:30:26Z")
Non-hipster parts of the USA. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/9 "2014-06-12T15:46:43Z")
What about any of the scandinavian countries? Or North Korea? ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/10 "2014-06-12T15:51:26Z")
In general, places that have never shown a great deal of interest in the sport and whose people seemingly have more important things to worry about than the results from a soccer tournament. For me those would be: most countries in Asia (places like Bhutan, Pakistan, and Laos) and countries in the South Pacific. Don’t think I can pin ONE single country down as THE one that has the least interest in the FIFA World Cup but I’m guessing that any of those countries would be a good bet for that. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/11 "2014-06-12T16:15:45Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > What about any of the scandinavian countries? They are all footballing countries. Sweden hosted the World Cup in 1958 and Denmark won Euro 92. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/12 "2014-06-12T16:28:26Z")
India has never qualified for a World Cup. I don’t know if the tournament receives significant attention there anyway, though. > [@Munch](#): > > Or North Korea? North Korea has qualified twice, including recently in 2010, and the leadership has devoted significant resources to the soccer team. You’re probably right that the general public may have little exposure to this this year’s WC, though, since NoKo did not qualify. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/13 "2014-06-12T17:47:29Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > They are all footballing countries. Sweden hosted the World Cup in 1958 and Denmark won Euro 92. And Norway has among the highest per capita rates of participation and television viewing, according to the authors of _Soccernomics._ A recent NY Times(?) poll of fans from participating nations revealed that 60% of U.S. respondents said they just didn’t care at all about the World Cup. Surprisingly, French and English apathy rates were in the 50% range. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/14 "2014-06-12T18:03:15Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > Surprisingly, French and English apathy rates were in the 50% range. Women. Can’t live with 'em, can’t live without 'em. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/15 "2014-06-12T19:25:24Z")
Israel? The Vatican? Some of the island nations in the South Pacific? Tonga, New Caledonia, Micronesia? ---
**Author:** ![Cognoscant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Cognoscant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cognoscant)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/16 "2014-06-12T19:56:48Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > The Vatican? Are you kidding? A place surrounded by Italy, with a pope from Argentina? It’s possible the Vatican City is one of the MOST soccer-mad countries. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/17 "2014-06-12T20:10:20Z")
> [@Cognoscant](#): > > Are you kidding? A place surrounded by Italy, with a pope from Argentina? It’s possible the Vatican City is one of the MOST soccer-mad countries. Not to mention that the last pope but one was interested in saving both souls and goals. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/18 "2014-06-12T20:12:22Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > What about any of the scandinavian countries? Oh, hell no. If World War III breaks out, Christ returns or aliens land during the World Cup, you’ll only hear about it over here after the sports news. Edit: What **Baron Greenback** and **Red Wiggler** said. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2014, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/19 "2014-06-12T20:23:52Z")
I remember even in Iceland hearing that the national team was a Big Deal, and they came surprisingly close to qualifying last year. They play in a [rather nice stadium](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laugardalsv%C3%B6llur), not far from the indoor arena where Bobby Fischer once won the world chess title. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625/20 "2014-06-13T00:39:13Z")
My first guess would be the DPRK, or one of the island micro-nations. Tuvalu seems like a good choice. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-country-is-least-interested-in-the-world-cup/690625.md?page=2)