It’s generally accepted that when compared with many other countries throughout the world Americans aren’t soccer fans.

Some Americans (and non-Americans) will try and tell you we should be. They’ll talk about how it’s a world sport and the only reason Americans aren’t bigger fans is because, in relative terms, we suck at soccer (which is becoming less and less true).

Some Americans (and maybe non-Americans) will try and defend their lack of interest in soccer. “It’s not a man’s sport”, they’ll say. “There’s no action”, they’ll claim. They don’t like soccer and they don’t think you should either.

I’m beginning to see a difference between a general “sports fans” and a more specific “soccer fan”.

A sports fan, I’ve noticed, is a sports fan. In football season they’re following a team. In basketball season they’re following a team. When nothing’s in season (is that ever?), they’re waiting for the next season.

Soccer fans are different. Soccer fans aren’t necessarily sports fans. They’ll be all into soccer when the big games come around, but otherwise they stay pretty quiet about baseball and football and such.

Yes, there are “football fans” and “baseball fans”, but a much lower percentage of event viewers than those who are purely “soccer fans”.

I’ve also noticed that if a person has traveled outside the United States they suddenly are more likely to be a soccer fan (not a “sports fan”).

I don’t always think it’s because they’ve been “exposed to another culture they enjoy”. I don’t necessarily think it’s because once they see how enjoyable soccer can be they start to enjoy it as well. I think that sometimes it’s got something to do with image.

Think about it:
Having international experience makes a person more cultured.
Being more cultured refines your taste for the exceptional.
Soccer is internationally recognized as a great game.
Liking soccer shows international experience and taste.
Liking soccer shows that you are refined.

There is a part of me that believes that some people like soccer just because it’s cool to like soccer.

“It’s cool to be interested in something that so few people around me are interested in. It sets me apart. It makes me different. It makes me unique. I have international taste. I’m more refined than so many people around me.”

I’m not saying US soccer fans are all trying to stick their noses in the air at everyone else. I know plenty of people that genuinly like soccer. That’s cool. Like soccer. It’s a great game.

But it’s that small percentage of “look at me” soccer fans that bug me. Don’t look down on people cuz they don’t like soccer. Forgive us if our world doesn’t come to a hault during the final game of the World Cup. Go eat your caviar you’ve aquired a taste for a eat your cheeses the your travel guides told you were good and let us live our American lives how we like them.

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