US soccer: Will Americans ever care about football? - BBC News

BBC News

12 Nov 201704:16

Summary

TLDRMariana explores the enduring popularity of American football over soccer in the United States. Despite soccer's global appeal, American football has dominated due to its early introduction, commercial opportunities, and dramatic gameplay. The script highlights the financial and cultural impact of American football, the contrast with soccer's slower growth, and the potential for soccer to gain traction, especially with the U.S., Mexico, and Canada's joint bid to host the 2026 World Cup.

Takeaways

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮 Soccer, known as football in most of the world, has a rich history that began in England in 1863 with the establishment of the laws of association football.
🌍 The sport spread globally due to European colonialism, gaining popularity in South America, Africa, and Asia, but not in the United States where rugby and later American football became dominant.
🇺🇸 American football, which evolved from rugby, is more lucrative and culturally ingrained in the U.S., generating an estimated thirteen billion dollars a year compared to soccer's six hundred million.
📺 American football's commercial appeal is bolstered by frequent breaks for commercials, timeouts, and halftime shows, which provide advertisers with ample opportunities.
🏈 The physicality and spectacle of American football, including dramatic plays, tight pants, lights, and halftime shows, contribute to its popularity and distinguish it from soccer.
⚽️ Despite soccer's global success, it has struggled to break into the American mainstream, with the U.S. men's team's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup being a significant setback.
👶 Youth soccer is massive in the United States, with over 3 million children participating, indicating a potential future growth in the sport's popularity.
🏆 The U.S. women's soccer team has been extremely successful, winning the World Cup three times, and some of their top players have been signed by European clubs.
🤕 A recent study showing a high prevalence of a brain disease among NFL players due to head injuries might make soccer a more attractive option for American audiences.
🎉 The joint bid by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada to host the 2026 World Cup presents a golden opportunity to boost soccer's profile and popularity in the United States.

Q & A

What is the origin of association football as mentioned in the script?
-The origin of association football is attributed to a group of men who formalized the laws of the game over a drink in England in 1863.
How did football spread from England to other parts of the world?
-Football spread across the English Channel to the Netherlands, France, and beyond, evolving as it traveled, largely due to European colonialism.
Why did soccer not gain popularity in the United States as it did in other countries?
-Soccer did not gain popularity in the United States because it was overshadowed by rugby, which was introduced to the US in 1857 and quickly adopted by colleges.
How has rugby football evolved in the United States over time?
-Rugby football evolved into American football, which has become a sport distinct from its English origins, with modifications to the rules and a significant cultural impact.
What is the economic impact of American football compared to soccer in the United States?
-American football generates an estimated thirteen billion dollars a year, while soccer generates around six hundred million dollars.
Why is American football more advertiser-friendly according to the script?
-American football is more advertiser-friendly due to its numerous breaks and timeouts which provide commercial opportunities.
What was the significance of the US men's team's performance in the 2014 World Cup?
-The US men's team's performance in the 2014 World Cup sparked a wave of soccer fever in the US, suggesting a potential breakthrough for the sport's mainstream popularity.
What was the setback for soccer's growth in the United States as mentioned in the script?
-The US men's team's failure to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 32 years was a significant setback for soccer's growth in the country.
What is the current state of youth soccer in the United States?
-Youth soccer is massive in the United States, with over 3 million children participating in teams.
How has the US women's soccer team contributed to the sport's popularity?
-The US women's soccer team has been extremely successful, winning the World Cup three times, and some of their top players have been signed by European clubs.
What is a potential factor that could help soccer gain more popularity in the United States?
-A potential factor that could help soccer gain more popularity is the growing concern over the long-term health effects of American football, such as the discovery of a disease in the brains of many NFL players due to head injuries.
What opportunity does the 2026 World Cup present for soccer in the United States?
-The 2026 World Cup presents a golden opportunity for soccer in the US, as the country, along with Mexico and Canada, has entered a joint bid to host the event.

Outlines

00:00

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮 Soccer's Struggle in America

Mariana, an American in Britain, discusses the popularity of football (soccer) in the UK and its lack of widespread appeal in the United States. Despite the global success of football, the US has favored rugby and American football, which has a larger economic impact and more advertising opportunities. The script also touches on the historical development of football, its spread through European colonialism, and the rise of American football in the 1850s. The US's struggle to fully embrace soccer is highlighted by the men's national team's failure to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, despite moments of excitement and growth in youth soccer and women's leagues.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Football

In the context of the video, 'football' refers to the sport known as soccer in the United States. The video discusses the sport's global popularity and its struggle to gain a similar foothold in the U.S. compared to American football. The script mentions how 'football' is deeply ingrained in British culture and has spread worldwide, yet it remains less popular in the U.S., where 'American football' dominates.

💡American Football

This term is used to differentiate the sport played in the U.S., which is distinct from the football played globally. The video highlights how American football has a significant cultural and economic impact, with an estimated thirteen billion dollars in annual revenue. It is characterized by its unique rules, such as timeouts and the presence of commercial breaks, which are highlighted as opportunities for advertising.

💡Rugby

Rugby is mentioned as a sport that influenced the development of American football. The video explains that rugby was introduced to the U.S. in 1857 and its rules were adopted by colleges, eventually evolving into the sport known today as American football. Rugby's influence is significant as it set the stage for the divergence of football in the U.S. from its global counterpart.

💡Colonialism

Colonialism is referenced as a factor that contributed to the spread of football (soccer) across various continents. The video suggests that as European powers colonized different regions, they brought their sports, including football, with them, leading to the game's global popularity. This historical context is important for understanding the sport's widespread appeal outside the U.S.

💡World Cup

The World Cup is a major international football tournament that is central to the sport's global appeal. The video discusses how the U.S. men's team's qualification for the 2014 World Cup sparked a temporary surge in soccer's popularity in the country. However, the team's failure to qualify for a subsequent World Cup is noted as a setback for the sport's growth in the U.S.

💡Youth Soccer

Youth soccer is highlighted as a significant area of growth for the sport in the U.S., with over three million children participating in teams. The video suggests that the popularity of youth soccer could be a foundation for increasing the sport's appeal among the broader American audience, indicating a potential pathway for soccer's future growth.

💡Women's Football

The video points out the success of the U.S. women's soccer team, which has won the World Cup three times. It contrasts this with the lack of professional American football leagues for women, except for the Legends Football League, formerly known as the lingerie football league. The success of women's football is presented as a positive aspect that could influence the sport's overall standing in the U.S.

💡Commercial Opportunities

Commercial opportunities are discussed in relation to American football, emphasizing the numerous breaks in the game that provide slots for advertisements. The video suggests that the structure of American football, with its timeouts and other stoppages, is particularly appealing to advertisers, which is a factor that contributes to the sport's financial success and popularity.

💡CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy)

CTE is a brain disease linked to repeated head trauma, which is relevant to the video's discussion about the potential long-term health risks associated with American football. The video mentions a study that found 110 out of 111 NFL players had CTE, suggesting that the physicality of the sport could be a factor that might influence its popularity in the future, especially when compared to soccer.

💡Joint Bid

A joint bid refers to the collaboration between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada to host the 2026 World Cup. The video presents this as a 'golden opportunity' for soccer in the U.S., implying that hosting the event could significantly boost the sport's profile and popularity within the country.

Highlights

Football is deeply ingrained in British culture and is hard to avoid.

The origin of association football's rules was established in England in 1863.

European colonialism helped spread football's popularity globally.

Rugby was more popular in the United States, overshadowing football.

American football has evolved to be distinctly different from its English counterpart.

American football generates significantly more revenue than soccer in the US.

Commercial breaks in American football are frequent, providing ample advertising opportunities.

The US men's soccer team's qualification for the 2014 World Cup sparked a temporary surge in interest.

The US men's team's failure to qualify for the World Cup was a setback for soccer's growth.

Youth soccer is very popular in the United States, with over 3 million children participating.

There is a notable absence of professional American football leagues for women.

The US women's soccer team has been highly successful, winning the World Cup three times.

Some top male footballers move to the US to end their careers.

A recent study showed a high prevalence of a brain disease among NFL players linked to head injuries.

Soccer sees the US as a valuable market with a population of 300 million.

The US, Mexico, and Canada have a joint bid to host the 2026 World Cup, which could boost soccer's popularity.