# Why Americans don't like soccer? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 29, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111 "2011-04-29T02:39:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/161 "2011-05-01T02:35:51Z")
Meh. Wait until soccer in the US wakes up one morning and decides to rename itself “football”. That’s when the fun starts. [http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/04/30/why-its-called-soccer-not-football/#comments](http://www.theroar.com.au/2011/04/30/why-its-called-soccer-not-football/#comments) ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/162 "2011-05-01T04:17:38Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Soccer is really fun to play. I played keeper for 18 years and was pretty damn good at it, too. I loved it. You’re a liar and a half for that one, FoieFras. Soccer was tedious itself to play, and I wanted to injure myself to get off the field. I hate, Hate, HATED that game. It would not upset me if every soccer player on the planet abruptly lost both legs. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelQReilly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@MichaelQReilly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelQReilly)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/163 "2011-05-01T04:26:57Z")
Somebody should tell [these people](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbn3rOPmR9w) or [these people](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9WxHJLqZc0)that Americans don’t like soccer. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2011, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/164 "2011-05-01T09:25:58Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > You’re a liar and a half for that one, FoieFras. Soccer was tedious itself to play, and I wanted to injure myself to get off the field. I hate, Hate, HATED that game. It would not upset me if every soccer player on the planet abruptly lost both legs. Such infantile rhetoric doesn’t help really does it? It is almost like you resent people for finding pleasure in something you don’t understand. The failing isn’t _theirs_ you know. Of course to those who enjoy playing it (billions) football is an enjoyable game. To those who find it boring, it is boring. How you feel able to pronounce objectively on the the enjoyability of a game is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![JessMagic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c0e974/32.png) [@JessMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JessMagic)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/165 "2011-05-01T16:57:08Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Missed the edit window, but here’s an explanation… [http://www.suite101.com/content/the-rene-higuita-scorpion-kick-save-a153726](http://www.suite101.com/content/the-rene-higuita-scorpion-kick-save-a153726) > > I’m not 100% sure that the ref had blown the whistle, but that’s what I read. I never knew the ref had blown the whistle. I always thought that Higuita did it out of showmanship, and the fact that it was a relatively high-profile friendly match. Of course, the man had previous, even in much more meaningful games. Here he is, miles out of his box for some reason, taking on an outfield player to disastrous effect, **in a World Cup match** : https://www.youtube.com/embed/tT790tEixVA?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque What a nutter. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/166 "2011-05-01T23:46:12Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > This thread is depressing. I have no idea why a simple question(which we’ve already discussed in a zillion other threads) lead to such negativity and sweeping generalizations about other cultures and sports. > > For a site dedicated to fighting ignorance, this thread has had a lot of it. > > ☹ We’re no special than the rest of the internet. The bell curve exists here, as much as some of us like to think we’re special. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/167 "2011-05-02T00:17:24Z")
> [@JessMagic](#): > > I never knew the ref had blown the whistle. I always thought that Higuita did it out of showmanship, and the fact that it was a relatively high-profile friendly match. > > Of course, the man had previous, even in much more meaningful games. Here he is, miles out of his box for some reason, taking on an outfield player to disastrous effect, **in a World Cup match** : > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT790tEixVA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT790tEixVA) > > What a nutter. Yep Higuita had form and the scorpion kick was all about showmanship (he could’ve much easily of cuaght the ball for a greater advantage). ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/168 "2011-05-02T13:18:05Z")
I’ve been out of this thread for a couple days. I’m not sure what kinds of answers were expected when the OP asks, “why don’t Americans like soccer?” I gave an explanation for why I don’t like soccer and apparently I’m pissing on the sport, its fans and even other cultures. That said, I’ll make a revision to one of my comments. I said it doesn’t require much skill. I should say, it doesn’t require much skill to play recreationally or semi-competitively. Of course I’m not talking about professional soccer players. Any professional athlete puts a tremendous amount of work on perfecting his or her skill set for their sport. But a person who’s never played the game before can certainly play competitively the first time on a soccer field. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/169 "2011-05-02T14:00:49Z")
Well, since the above topic has been done to death…an anecdotal hijack 😃 Not only do Americans not like soccer…there is (or at least was) a little animosity to it. Back when I was in High School (in the U.S.), a group of us tried to start a ‘official’ or school based soccer team and league. It was met with…nothing. Here you had a group of teens generally thought of as being lazy getting together to do something and being shut down. Well, we did it anyway. We even had interest from students in other schools. We actually organized enough to but together a ‘season’ with 3 other schools…had refs and coaches from the community and everything. We were having fun. Not only did the school disapprove, they refused to provide any funding. After a few games they refused us from having the games or practice on school property even though we used the football practice field that wasn’t in use. There was even complaints brought up to the mayor of the city about us existing. We hung in there for a ‘season’ but couldn’t get it going again next year. I did get the feeling (and still believe over 30 years later) that they worked behind the scenes to make sure it was our one and only season. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/170 "2011-05-02T14:45:32Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > But a person who’s never played the game before can certainly play competitively the first time on a soccer field. That is not the case at all. A person who has never played the game will look like a fool the first time on a soccer field, guaranteed. There is much more technique and skill involved in playing soccer than you know. Making claims like that is ridiculous. ---
**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:** [May 2, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/171 "2011-05-02T14:50:04Z")
> [@BlinkingDuck](#): > > Well, since the above topic has been done to death…an anecdotal hijack 😃 > > Not only do Americans not like soccer…there is (or at least was) a little animosity to it. > > Back when I was in High School (in the U.S.), a group of us tried to start a ‘official’ or school based soccer team and league. It was met with…nothing. Here you had a group of teens generally thought of as being lazy getting together to do something and being shut down. > > Well, we did it anyway. We even had interest from students in other schools. We actually organized enough to but together a ‘season’ with 3 other schools…had refs and coaches from the community and everything. We were having fun. > > Not only did the school disapprove, they refused to provide any funding. After a few games they refused us from having the games or practice on school property even though we used the football practice field that wasn’t in use. There was even complaints brought up to the mayor of the city about us existing. > > We hung in there for a ‘season’ but couldn’t get it going again next year. I did get the feeling (and still believe over 30 years later) that they worked behind the scenes to make sure it was our one and only season. Awesome story. It’s like _Footloose_ for soccer. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/172 "2011-05-02T16:04:15Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > That is not the case at all. > > A person who has never played the game will look like a fool the first time on a soccer field, guaranteed. There is much more technique and skill involved in playing soccer than you know. Making claims like that is ridiculous. I can only speak from my own experience, which I have already admitted is not abundant. But it’s far from ridiculous. I have personally blown your guarantee right out of the water. Filled in for a competitive intramural team once, having never played before, didn’t look too foolish as I was asked to fill in for another handfull of games. Soccer comes pretty natural. Again, I’m not saying the first timer is dribbling through defenders, nailing bicycle kicks and dominating the game. I just don’t think it’s that difficult to at least blend in on a soccer field. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/173 "2011-05-02T16:43:59Z")
By that rationale, because I played on a ‘competitive intramural’ basketball team in college, it too requires next to no technique. It’s as natural as falling off a log. I even played more than one game on that team too. Fuckin’ simple, is what it is. ---
**Author:** ![carm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@carm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carm)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/174 "2011-05-02T18:31:29Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I can only speak from my own experience, which I have already admitted is not abundant. But it’s far from ridiculous. I have personally blown your guarantee right out of the water. Filled in for a competitive intramural team once, having never played before, didn’t look too foolish as I was asked to fill in for another handfull of games. Soccer comes pretty natural. Again, I’m not saying the first timer is dribbling through defenders, nailing bicycle kicks and dominating the game. I just don’t think it’s that difficult to at least blend in on a soccer field. Have to agree with **Jack** here. I’d love to see a first timer try play in even the lowest amateur leagues in Europe, they simply wouldn’t be able. Your college team must have been unbelievably bad if you didn’t stick out. Far from requiring little skill, I’d say technique is _far_ more relevant in soccer than in many other sports. Being fit, big and strong is not that necessary if you are skillful, unlike sports like basketball, American football or rugby where the majority of the population could never play professionally because they are too small. Goalkeepers in soccer need to be tall, but outfield players can be any size really. The best player in the world, Lionel Messi, is 5’7. But his skill is pretty much unparalleled. Zinedine Zidane was probably the best player of the 2000-2005 period, he had very little pace but was incredibly skillful. [Garrincha](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrincha), who played on the Brazil team back in Pele’s time, was both an alcoholic and technically a cripple: > [@](#): > > He had several birth defects: his spine was deformed, his right leg bent inwards and his left leg six centimeters shorter and curved outwards, none of which impeded his ability to play football at the top level > [@](#): > > The success Garrincha enjoyed on the football pitch had great contrast with his personal life. He drank heavily throughout his adult life, and was involved in several serious road accidents, notably a crash into a lorry in April 1969 which killed his mother-in-law [Matt Le Tissier](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB9HjYmYwpk) was famed for his lack of fitness or speed (he didn’t even bother training most of the time), yet he was one of the greatest players the English Premier League has ever seen. On the other hand, you could put a world class sprinter into a mid-standard amateur soccer match, and they would be hopeless. The ball moves faster then anyone is an old soccer cliche, and without good ball control, good passing and some tactical knowledge, even Chuck Norris would be useless. Bottom line: physicality is not very important in soccer. Skill and technique are far, far more important, unlike other sports where you need both technique, and to be significantly bigger/stronger/faster than the average person. ---
**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:** [May 2, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/175 "2011-05-02T19:26:37Z")
> [@carm](#): > > Bottom line: physicality is not very important in soccer. Skill and technique are far, far more important, unlike other sports where you need both technique, and to be significantly bigger/stronger/faster than the average person. A really good summary. And the one thing that marks out the best players? the one thing that enables the less physical to be elevated to ranks of the brilliant? Vision. The ability to read runs and space. combined with the ability to place a pass that makes your winger run or play a dinked 30 yarder over the top. Played with backspin and side curve that takes it away from the chasing defender and holds it up for the man you saw make a run a second or two before. A great midfielder with vision very much fulfills the quarterback role. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/176 "2011-05-03T21:34:03Z")
Soccer…? _Soccer?_😕 I don’t…isn’t that the “kicking the ball” thingee? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111/177 "2011-05-03T22:32:20Z")
> [@carm](#): > > On the other hand, you could put a world class sprinter into a mid-standard amateur soccer match, and they would be hopeless. The ball moves faster then anyone is an old soccer cliche, and without good ball control, good passing and some tactical knowledge, even Chuck Norris would be useless. Just emphasise this Darren Campbell was a very promising young sprinter and soccer player. After intially being one of the best junior sprinters in the World, he opted for a career in soccer,but only played at a low level in England and Wales mainly at a level equivalent to English non-league (the 96 teams in the top 4 leagues in the UK are described as league teams, the clubs in the leagues below them are ‘non-league’). He did not have a particualrly successful soccer career and returned to atheletics where he had a pretty successful career as a sprinter taking Olympic silver in the 200m in 2000 and Olympic gold in the 4x100m in 2004. Darren Campbell was no novice to soccer when he took it up, he had grown up playing it and had shown promise as a young player. In soccer the main element is skill. Physical attributes are the be-all and end-all in some sports, but in soccer they’re used to give the edge ratehr than as the main component. Of course that’s not to say there aren’t great atheltes in soccer, with young players all-round the World competing to get in the top leagues having the physical attributes is a distinct advantage. For example Cristianio Ronaldo is fantasically skilled and a fantasic athelete. Shame he’s also hugely egotistical. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-americans-dont-like-soccer/580111.md?page=8)