Suliman 1

Elmuzamil Suliman
Exploratory Paper Rough Draft
02/01/15
UWRT 1102
Exploratory Paper

In the sports world, soccer has the largest fan base. This has sparked a debate about the
popularity of soccer in America vs. Europe. Soccer was developed in Newgate Prison in London
during the early 1800s. Prisoners whose hands were cut off for crimes related to theft came up
with a sport that used only the feet. (Sports Pickle) The game spread from there. .According to
Soccer Culture in the U.S, over thirteen million Americans play soccer in the United States,
making it the third most played team sport in the United States.
European soccer enthusiasts and American soccer fans love to debate this topic. There are
many differences between these two nations in relation to the sport. For instance, the European
world calls the game football, while the American nation calls the game soccer. The lack of
advertising in the United States is a major constraint for American soccer fans. Another
constraint for American soccer fans is that they dont have the cultural ties to the sport that
Europe and the rest of the world has, as opposed to traditionally American sports like baseball,
football, and basketball. What caused the debate of popularity of soccer are the differences
between cultures. The two nations play the sport for two different reasons. This argument is
perceived a problem because it separates those who love soccer and are really fans, and those
who dislike the sport and everything about it. As teams continually win championships, such as

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the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Cup, the fans are constantly following
their favorite teams.
There are usually three perspectives of people who have views about soccer. The first
would have to be the super fanatics. These certain people love everything about the game. They
get emotional and have a deep connection to the sport. To a normal fan the World Cup is just a
large sporting event that was created to select a victor. To a soccer fanatic, the World Cup is
almost a billion people united as they share passion and many other different emotions while
they cheer their favorite teams on. On game day in Europe, people stream in from the streets of
the city to the stadium, rather than tailgating in a huge parking lot. During important
competitions you can hear cheers as you walk by sports bars on the street. (Averbuch, Y.)
The second perspective would be those who just watch soccer. This doesnt have any
particular audience. It could be a young child watching soccer on the television and really
enjoying it; or an older person who is flipping through the channels and needs something to
watch, so they decide to watch a match and show zero emotion. Those who remain neutral in this
debate believe that soccer simply looks more entertaining on television rather than playing the
game. In soccer, you tend to spend most of the game in wide shot; in football, there's all sorts of
little camera angles, and time between plays to get the most out of them. (Quora)
The third perspective is those who simply do not care about the sport at all. Many would
consider the American soccer fans to fall in this category. Although soccer culture has become
more prevalent in the United States recently, there is still a staggering amount of people who
refuse to participate or even be fans. It is all about the foundation. In America many adults
haven't grown up playing soccer so it hasn't impacted their kids as much. This is why the

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tradition soccer culture hasnt been passed down through generations in the United States.
According to Soccer Culture in the US, unlike the traditional American sports, soccer is often
seen as boring because of a lack of appreciation for the beauty of the game when it does not
coincide with scoring.
No matter which perspective you choose to view, you cannot argue against the fact that
because of the increasing competition of soccer matches in the MLS, it has brought the
popularity of soccer to an increase. I have grown up watching soccer my entire life and because
of that I without a doubt believe that soccer is more relevant and popular in the European nation.
When I picture the sport in my head, I do not think about any popular American teams such as
the Los Angeles Galaxy. I think of famous European teams such as Chelsea FC, Arsenal, and
Manchester United. The basis for my opinion is the way soccer impacts European lives more
than it does Americans.

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Works Cited

Averbuch, Y. (2013, September 30). Totally Immersed in European Soccer. Retrieved February
16, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/01/sports/soccer/totally-immersed-in-europeansoccer.html?_r=0#
Quora. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2015, from http://www.quora.com/Why-do-people-in-theUSA-prefer-American-football-over-soccer-Why-do-they-find-soccer-relatively-boring
Silverman, Bryan. U.S. Youth Soccer vs. Soccer Fandom in the U.S.. Soccer Politics/ the
Politics of Football Blog. Oct, 06, 2013. https://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/2013/10/06/u-s-youthsoccer-vs-soccer-fandom-in-the-u-s/
20 Amazing Soccer Facts Most American Sports Fans Don't Know - SportsPickle. (2013,
August 14). Retrieved February 16, 2015, from http://www.sportspickle.com/2013/08/25-soccerfacts-most-american-sports-fans-probably-dont-know