We’ve got a theory, and it involves the soccer wars.
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In this episode of Vox Almanac, Vox’s Phil Edwards puts forth a theory about terrible American men’s soccer.
There are a lot of reasons Americans suck at soccer – but if you look at the history, you’ll find a surprisingly compelling explanation for why American soccer never took off. In the 1920s, soccer was a surprisingly successful sport in the US, with massive matches and a robust league. What went wrong?
American soccer and English football first diverged in the 1800s, when American colleges like Harvard and Yale started playing a more rugby-like game. But America quickly caught up with soccer in the 1920s, attracting large crowds and even stealing away European players.
Then the soccer wars happened. Constant battles in the 1920s between the ASL – American Soccer League – and USFA — United States Football Association — carved up American soccer’s cash, fans, and talent. By the time the depression hit, American soccer was so weakened that it couldn’t rebound as well as European and South American soccer culture did. The subsequent half-century of sports build up gave Americans a permanent handicap when it came to building a robust soccer culture.
It’s a theory — but the success of the US Women’s National Team bears out the idea that something is specifically wrong for the men. And it just might be the case that 1920s soccer wars are the reason.
Read about the own-goal that made the US Men’s National Team miss the 2018 World Cup:
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Comprar Camisetas de Futbol Cosas del Fútbol que se han perdido. Capítulo I
If you picture a soccer ball looking like this ⚽, you're not alone. But back in the early days of television they looked very, very different. Watch: http://bit.ly/2tf3RP5
This just proves that soccer is a women's game.
Vox brain cancer as usual
There’s no icons in men’s US football (I refuse to use that travesty of a word soccer). The most famous player is Cristian Pulisic who is memed in the UK for being a poor mans Marcus Rashford.
America is the world’s most dominant sports power. I am going to use the Olympics as the measure here. The U.S. has won the most medals and gold medals all time and won the most in the 2020 Olympics. I don’t use the World Cup because that is 1 sport that is mostly Eurocentric
It’s simple we don’t care about football because it’s boring
Well start by calling the sport its actual name that is "Football", then maybe America will have a chance improving. Maybe.
I would love do soccer, but I can't and look at me now sad american
Ever time you say soccer, a braincell dies.
You kick a ball (if its round then it is a ball), using your foot.
Say football.
STOP WORRIED TO MUCH for small minority in the planet ! ITS FOOTBALL ⚽️ in the World n out of World ?
It’s football
the women too
No wonder they call it "soccer"
The Answer is Americans dont like soccer..
There I saved you 8 minutes.
First of all it's not soccer it's football
Because it called FOOTBALL
its football
how about pay 2 play smh
Stop calling it soccer and you might have a chance
If USA wins the FIFA World Cup in 2026 I’m just going to sit there and laugh my a** off.
We actually don't care at this point. Lol
No they dont
Americans should start calling it football then maybe the would get better
Because they call it soccer
We are talking about a country than took elements of rugby and cricket and turned them into the most cerebral sports worldwide: baseball and football (american).
In hockey, because they can't compete with Canada in terms of quality they counter that disadvantage with tactics and grittiness with some level of success.
It just shows they don't understand how soccer is played even if they have a hugh population advantage even above Brazil.