Soccer struggles for footing in USA as baseball reigns supreme
Translated from Swedish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Soccer, known as "football" internationally, faces an uphill battle for popularity in the USA, where baseball remains the dominant national sport.
- Many Americans, like Holly from Texas, grew up with "soccer moms" but no longer follow the sport, preferring baseball.
- Swedish World Cup players visiting the US found baseball difficult to understand, mirroring American indifference to soccer.
As the FIFA World Cup returns to the United States, the sport known internationally as football is playing on unfamiliar ground. Baseball, the established national pastime, continues its extensive season with 2430 regular-season games scheduled, overshadowing the global soccer tournament.
But they have stopped so now I don't follow football anymore. And I never understood the sport.
The term "soccermoms" gained traction in the US as soccer's popularity grew. Holly, a mother from Texas whose children used to play soccer, now finds herself no longer following the sport. "I never understood the sport," she admitted, heading into a baseball game. Her sentiment echoes that of Swedish World Cup players who, during a day off, attended a baseball game and confessed they didn't understand the rules.
It is the American national sport. It is better than football.
Baseball's enduring appeal is evident, with teams like the Texas Rangers playing numerous games throughout the season. While basketball and hockey seasons have concluded and American football is yet to begin its preseason, baseball maintains its steady rhythm. This contrasts sharply with the global attention soccer receives during the World Cup.
We are traditional Americans and have never tried your football.
When asked about baseball's dominance, Holly and her husband Josh, who prefer to go by their first names, cited tradition. "We are traditional Americans and have never tried your football," Josh stated, expressing no interest in following the World Cup. He believes soccer might grow in certain areas but will never challenge baseball's position in the US. This perspective highlights the deep-rooted cultural preferences that continue to shape the American sports landscape.
No, football can probably grow in some places but not so that it can threaten baseball.
Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.