What’s happening? Alarming poll finds that half of Americans do not care about the World Cup

[Votto]

The World Cup 2026 begins today and, according to a new poll, many Americans don't really care.

More than 4 in 10 American respondents to a new poll from Emerson College said they weren't interested in this year's tournament.

One American interviewed said, "Soccer? World Cup? Isn't that, that obscure game that involves adults aimlessly kicking a ball back and forth to each other for 90 minutes, but if someone actually scores a goal or two while you sit and watch the grass on the field as they play, that announcer yells and goes nuts screaming, "Goal"!!! a few times during the game that something actually happens of interest?

Another interviewed said, "I don't watch, not because I'm homophobic, it's just that I don't like the sport is all, so please don't judge me."

Then another person interviewed chimed in saying, "The reason America never has a good team in the past at these World Cup events is probably because none of the players have actually played before and therefore don't even know what the rules of the sport are when they arrive at the World Cup to play."

No word yet on whether the officials of the World Cup can find another country that could care less about soccer than in the US, but they are trying. Currently a stadium is being built in Antarctica for a possible destination for the future World Cup. However, it is rumored that penguins are crazy about the sport just like the rest of the world is crazy about the sport. If so, the even may have to be moved back to the United States as a result.

 

[Eman623]

I would pay cash on the barrelhead to watch penguins play soccer.

 

[JGalt]

What is this cup of the world?

Is that something everyone their nasty lips on and drinks out of?

That just sounds nasty.

 

[MarathonMike]

Soccer is field hockey without the sticks.

 

[1srelluc]

Isn't FIFA Paris Hilton's purse dog?

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

Soccer was a great sport to play in college because it gave my fat ass a chance to run and actually do something other than gasp for breath. After a season of running around soccer fields, I passed my Marine Corps physical training test better than I ever had! Yes, Navy guys take the USMC test in college ROTC. I had only failed once due to case of strep throat on the day of the test, but I raised my score significantly because I cut 6 minutes off my time on the 3-mile run.

Soccer was fun as we were mostly college freshman and sophomores and we played club teams from other colleges and held scrimmages against high schools who would play us for practice. After playing the game, I could not watch anyone else play due to a combination of frustration and boredom. When my grandsons played, I tortured myself by watching little kids try to play a game designed for people with limited thinking ability and skill which was even less.

My college club soccer career had one interesting story. We were playing a high school team in Alabama on a Saturday afternoon. I was playing fullback and we lost 1-0, but I was the player who scored the winning goal - for the other team! Despite my best efforts their forward got past me and took a shot on the goal. Our goalie went up and tipped the ball into the crossbar. I was beside and slightly behind the forward and the ball ricocheted off the crossbar, came straight back and hit me in the thigh. The goalie had fallen to the side and the ball slowly trickled into the net.

I also imagined the fans from Iceland that might have made the trek to my alma mater's stadium down there in Alabama the other night to watch their team play Argentina in a "practice" game. The game was popular and the stands were full, mostly of teenagers and little kids wearing Messi jerseys. Not too many Alabama rednecks in the crowd like a football Saturday in the fall! I can call them rednecks because I were one! Imagine traveling halfway across the world to play a soccer game that means nothing in a stadium in a relatively small town in eastern Alabama that Nick Saban called "haunted" in 90-degree heat with about 80,000 fans of Argentina and Messi.

 

[Southern Dad]

Let’s be blunt, most of the United States has never cared about soccer.

 

[Lockback]

Let’s be blunt, most of the United States has never cared about soccer.

It's just true.
I've never cared one whit for it. My grandkids sort of/kind of like it and it's great exercise.
But any sport that can go 90 minutes and end in a 0-0 tie doesn't interest me.

 

[JGalt]

Let’s be blunt, most of the United States has never cared about soccer.

You never realized just how many Mexicans are living in your little town of 5k people until the municipality hosts a weekend soccer game in the park.

I shit you not.

 

[luiza]

A game that is far too skilful for the vast majority of fat Merican Munchers .

The country that plays the UK girl's game of Rounders ( called Baseball in Muncherland ) plus a sport restricted to skinny height freaks which they call Basketcaseball .

No wonder they never win real conflicts .

 

[Lockback]

A game that is far too skilful for the vast majority of fat Merican Munchers .

The country that plays the UK girl's game of Rounders ( called Baseball in Muncherland ) plus a sport restricted to skinny height freaks which they call Basketcaseball .

No wonder they never win real conflicts .

If it weren't for us, you'd be speaking German, idiot.

 

[Zincwarrior]

I doubt half of Americans care about sports at all.

 

[Seymour Flops]

Soccer is a great game for poor people in poor countries. You need no equipment other than one ball. Between six kids living in a slum or a farm, they can usually come up with one ball, improvise goals, and they have a game.

Once it gets up to higher levels, the expense is the land. I question the wisdom of that.

If every soccer "pitch" in every third world shithole was given over to a large garden or a factory, poverty would be reduced - or at least the worst effects. For every Pele that is born dirt poor and through "football" overcomes the odds, there are tens of thousands of kids who would love to make five dollars a day in a factory so they could feed their families and thousands of mothers who could provide fresh vegetables if they had access to two acres of arable land.

 

[Seymour Flops]

A game that is far too skilful for the vast majority of fat Merican Munchers .

The country that plays the UK girl's game of Rounders ( called Baseball in Muncherland ) plus a sport restricted to skinny height freaks which they call Basketcaseball .

No wonder they never win real conflicts .

Skillfull?

Besides remembering which way your team is kicking the ball, very little skill is involved.

 

[Moonglow]

Isn't FIFA Paris Hilton's purse dog?

No, they are the ones who gave Trump his own golden globe for unfettered underachievers.

 

[Mac-7]

View attachment 1268169

The World Cup 2026 begins today and, according to a new poll, many Americans don't really care.

More than 4 in 10 American respondents to a new poll from Emerson College said they weren't interested in this year's tournament.

One American interviewed said, "Soccer? World Cup? Isn't that, that obscure game that involves adults aimlessly kicking a ball back and forth to each other for 90 minutes, but if someone actually scores a goal or two while you sit and watch the grass on the field as they play, that announcer yells and goes nuts screaming, "Goal"!!! a few times during the game that something actually happens of interest?

Another interviewed said, "I don't watch, not because I'm homophobic, it's just that I don't like the sport is all, so please don't judge me."

Then another person interviewed chimed in saying, "The reason America never has a good team in the past at these World Cup events is probably because none of the players have actually played before and therefore don't even know what the rules of the sport are when they arrive at the World Cup to play."

No word yet on whether the officials of the World Cup can find another country that could care less about soccer than in the US, but they are trying. Currently a stadium is being built in Antarctica for a possible destination for the future World Cup. However, it is rumored that penguins are crazy about the sport just like the rest of the world is crazy about the sport. If so, the even may have to be moved back to the United States as a result.

View attachment 1268173

I would guess far more then half of America if you do not foreigners living here, both legal and illegal

 

[luiza]

Skillfull?

Besides remembering which way your team is kicking the ball, very little skill is involved.

Always intriguing to watch and hear Mericans finding ways to avoid complications and complexity .

Baton changing in the relay races is one of your best routines for ruining the solving of simple problems --- it would be far better to find an excuse to avoid those track events .
In fairness you perform better in the swimming events where your people simply headbutt the pool wall on each leg .

 

[Southern Dad]

You never realized just how many Mexicans are living in your little town of 5k people until the municipality hosts a weekend soccer game in the park.

I shit you not.

Well, I live in a city with a population of 240. The only thing exciting we have happening here is a rodeo once a year, and the fireworks on July 4th.

 

[JGalt]

Well, I live in a city with a population of 240. The only thing exciting we have happening here is a rodeo once a year, and the fireworks on July 4th.

Put on a soccer game and see who comes out of the woodwork.

 

[Kruska]

Put on a soccer game and see who comes out of the woodwork.

All those who got sick and tired of watching a rodeo and a fire work once a year.
And believe that only sissies wear padded clothing and a helmet - to carry a football from on line to the next.