Post#203 » by CatgutStitches » Thu Jun 21, 2018 3:45 pm
The answer to this question depends on some factors. Like if all of a sudden, today, soccer became our favorite sport? We would still be pretty "meh" for at least a decade or 2, eventually we would be elite. Are we assuming that it has already been our favorite sport for a couple decades? Then absolutely we would be elite.
As others have already said, the big thing is the culture. The youth development, familiarity with the sport and tactics, domestic leagues, etc. We have to build that, but if we ever did... As others have said, there is a lot more parity in soccer, so we wouldn't win every world cup or whatever, but we absolutely would be in every conversation as a favorite.
I think foreigners just don't grasp how little we care about soccer here. As a child growing up in the 90's I was very small but quick and had great endurance. In hindsight I think I could have been an excellent soccer player. The thought never entered my mind for a split second to play though....never once. It was not on my radar. I only became a fan a few years ago when Orlando got an MLS team and I actually had a team to give a crap about. Since then, I love watching soccer and its very close to the same tier as football and basketball for me. Kids here grow up shooting hoops in their driveway or playing football with their friends...theres a reason why most of our best young players are of immigrant decent...they are almost the only ones that play it. It is absolutely growing in popularity, but our current infrastructure is garbage.
Also, as some others have said, playing hi level soccer here is absolutely cost prohibitive. Not to mention how people frown on children being pushed too hard to do anything here...We couldn't have 12 and 13 year olds signing contracts in this country. A built in disadvantage for skills.
I disagree with the people saying we would change the type of athlete that plays soccer...it would still be the same type of players, but with our dedication to sports, national pride and our vast population and available funds there is no way we would not become a superpower. I do agree MLS would have to make sweeping changes for that to happen, but I think that's a given. I do look forward to US soccer growing over the next couple decades and hope to at least be competitive soon...heck, maybe we will even make the next world cup! Haha.
I don't think its arrogant of me to make these declarations either...in fact quite a few people from other countries have made the same claims, its just "science". Look at hockey, for example. Only a small portion of our country gives a crap about hockey (it may even be less popular overall than soccer here) but even so we are one of the best teams in the world.
I don't think it will ever reach that level in America, people are just too big on football and basketball, but I think in the next 20 years or so we will gradually become more and more competitive and will at least be in the top 10. We shall see.