The World Cup officially starts today and if you're not planning on catching that wonderful World Cup fever for a month, the you're missing out. My dislike of professional soccer is well documented, but one thing is for sure: that when World Cup comes around, I catch the fever. I'm certainly not the only one either.
While most Americans will be concerning themselves only with the end of the NBA Finals, baseball, and God forbid American football in June (in case you didn't hear the season doesn't start until September), the rest of the world, and I truly mean the rest of the world, will be foaming at the mouth over the biggest tournament that the world's sport has.
The entire world stops for this month-long emotional roller coaster that is called the World Cup. Nations bond together, from Spain to New Zealand to Argentina to wherever Cameroon is, gathering in front of television sets waiting for the worst, but hoping for the best.
And they would be willing to sacrifice about almost anything short of death for their country to be guaranteed victory. In a survey done by VIP Communications, Inc., it was found that 51% of North Americans supporting their other native countries in the World Cup wouldn't eat for a week, and 7% would give up their job. But some of those numbers only pale in comparison to each specific country's responses. In England, neither food nor love life are necessary; 93% of them would starve themselves for a week, and 12% would sacrifice their love life for a year, to bring home the cup. When the Italians were asked, 70% of respondents, many of whom probably still live with their mother anyway, would quit their jobs for victory.
Yet, while the rest of the world is gearing up for the event, only 1 in 4 adult Americans say they'll tune in for some of the World Cup, although higher numbers among those 30 years and younger are certainly promising for the sport's future in the U.S.A.
But why are older people not interested? I mean, if everyone loves the Olympics, and the added bonus that comes with your own country being represented, then what's wrong with the World Cup? Well, the answer to that question is very simple: Soccer. Older people, as well as many young Americans dislike soccer, because quite frankly, that's one of the only things that the U.S. can't beat the rest of the world at. The U.S. has always needed to have different sports than everyone else; (see baseball, American football) because we have always been different, being the only power in the Western Hemisphere throughout the 20th century. We were different and better than everyone else and our sports needed to be as well (hence American football as opposed to futbol).
When the Cold War hit is when soccer saw its temporary death in the US. Soccer was a Soviet game, and no one wanted to be considered a communist by playing the sport. Therefore, in the country that had come in third place in the 1930 World Cup, soccer's popularity plummeted, explaining the absence of a World Cup appearance from 1954 to 1986.
But now, almost 20 years after the Soviet Union collapsed, a new generation is in place, one that at least appreciates the sport, and will be watching most of this World Cup. And who will be the first opponent they will see the US face? England. The United States, a country with a young fan base, relatively inexperienced in the ways of soccer, but somewhat rabid nonetheless, with a team that are clear underdogs, but might just be ready to make a run, going up against a country with a cocky fan base, who have lived and died with the sport for years, and has a team that has a history of winning. Seems like it will be American Revolution Part II, and if the US wins this match, it could get some people watching the Cup. No one loves anything more than beating down on the Brits, right?
This is why tomorrow's match against England is arguably one of the biggest in US soccer history. This is the opportunity to beat a hated, yet tough opponent, as well as to get some momentum for the rest of the tournament, not to mention earning the respect and support of millions across the States. It could also be the start of something new, a huge boost to the sport of soccer. If the United States went from beating the Brits to eventually becoming the most powerful country in the world, then maybe American soccer can do the same, going from beating the Brits to becoming one of the most popular sports in the United States.
If the US wins this battle against the English, maybe, just maybe, there will only be one type of football being talked about in the month of June, and a lot more Americans sacrificing food for a week in order to bring the cup to the' US of A, the newest revolutionaries in the soccer world. So get out your American flags and soccer balls folks, the British are coming!
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