Column: Wild and Wylie

Until recently, American interest in soccer was reserved for only every fourth year, when people tuned into the World Cup in the same way they watch the Olympics. While soccer is heavily entrenched across Europe and South America year-round, the beautiful game has struggled to find its footing in American culture.

But that narrative is changing. While baseball, basketball and football rank higher as a favorite sport among U.S. fans, according to a 2017 Gallup poll, soccer is the only one of the major four sports that has increased in interest since 2004.

When the Huffington Post broke down the demographics of football, baseball and soccer fans, they found that soccer fans are younger, more urban centered and have less of a gender disparity among fans. The average age of a soccer viewer is 40-years-old, according to SportsBusiness Journal. For football and baseball, the age is 50 and 57, respectively.

For the casual sports fan, soccer brings appeal that other traditional American sports do not, while still giving the quality and personality that resonates with American fans. For fans who can’t designate three hours minimum to watch football or baseball, soccer guarantees to be over in two hours. For fans who hate constant commercial breaks, soccer provides two 45-minute halves of continuous action with no commercial interruptions. 

The biggest disadvantage of soccer in America, especially with the MLS, is the perceived disparity of talent between American teams and other leagues. While the National Football League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball attract the world’s best talent, quality soccer players play in England, Spain, Italy and France. But that only elevates the ability of soccer clubs and players to build a global brand. 

According to Forbes Magazine, three of the top five highest paid athletes of 2018 are soccer players. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar have built brands and starred in advertisement campaigns worldwide.

The beauty of the world’s game is the ability for fans to support teams and players thousands of miles away. American fans of La Liga in Spain or the English Premier League have completely adopted their international teams. Take it from a serious Manchester United fan who looks forward to waking up at 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday for Premier League soccer. 

But don’t let soccer haters trick you into believing that American soccer doesn’t compare internationally. The MLS has continued to grow and elevate its status among the top leagues worldwide.

This season, 72,243 fans will pack into a football stadium in Atlanta to watch two of the most dynamic soccer players in the world play for Atlanta United. Josef Martinez, the reigning MLS MVP, will be paired alongside recent acquisition Gonzalo Martinez, voted last year as the South American Footballer of the Year. 

Both young superstars are 25-years-old, entering the prime of their careers, and signed long-term contracts with their MLS club, despite interest from multiple European clubs.

Other global superstars have shown interest in the MLS, dedicating the waning years of their careers to American clubs. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney, two European legends, brought their talents to the MLS last season, improving the total quality of the league.

For any casual sports fan with limited exposure to soccer, take two hours, invest in a game, and get a feel for the quality and atmosphere that encompasses soccer in America and throughout the world.

This Saturday, Ibrahimovic will lead his LA Galaxy in their home opening game against the Chicago Fire on FS1 at 8. Tune in, give it a try, and see American soccer fans sell out a stadium that the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers have never been able to fill.