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US Finally Buying Soccer's Pitch

Viewership is soaring ahead of all-star game

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 29, 2009 11:58 AM CDT
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(Newser) – After years of intermittent sniffling, Americans may finally be catching soccer fever, the Wall Street Journal reports: Some 4 million watched the US men’s team almost beat Brazil last month; some 2 million are likely to attend games featuring top European teams this summer; Seattle’s Major League Soccer team pulls in more attendees on average than its baseball team.

Still, there’s a long way to go before soccer really kicks off in the US. For one thing, “you must have a league that is credible,” says the president of world soccer’s governing body. “You have good players, but you must keep them here,” rather than having them jump at the chance to play abroad. The US could also use “a Lance Armstrong of soccer to show the American market that they are able to be No. 1,” says the Barcelona team’s CEO.

President Barack Obama, center, greets members of the Columbus Crew Major League Soccer team in the Rose Garden, July 13, 2009.
President Barack Obama, center, greets members of the Columbus Crew Major League Soccer team in the Rose Garden, July 13, 2009.   (AP Photo)
The Los Angeles Galaxy's Edson Buddle, left, and Real Salt Lake's Tony Beltran battle for the ball during the first half of their Major League Soccer match, June 13, 2009, in Carson, Calif.
The Los Angeles Galaxy's Edson Buddle, left, and Real Salt Lake's Tony Beltran battle for the ball during the first half of their Major League Soccer match, June 13, 2009, in Carson, Calif.   (AP Photo)
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham watches play during the first half of an MLS soccer game against the Kansas City Wizards in Kansas City, Kan., July 25, 2009.
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham watches play during the first half of an MLS soccer game against the Kansas City Wizards in Kansas City, Kan., July 25, 2009.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
newsrmandan
Jul 29, 2009 5:07 AM CDT
I could not agree more. We have a lot of great soccer players the only problem is there life's dream is to play in the top leagues overseas. I was hoping that with Beckham coming here we would see more of that trailblazing mindframe. I guess we will have to wait till after we have won the world cup in order to get guys like Labron and Kobe to see that theres more to life than Baseball Football and Basketball.

 
soccer • Major League Soccer • FIFA • Sepp Blatter • US Soccer • sports fans • Jay-ZTV

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