US Ambivalence Toward the World Cup and American Nationalism
Soccer has popularly been heralded as the world’s favorite sport. However, that iconic phrase ought to be amended to to exempt the United States. Football enraptures the hearts and zeals of the most of the world, yet that same passion has not taken root in America. This phenomenon is not unexplainable; explanations can be reasoned.
Firstly, one must point to the fact that the US and the rest of the world differ in more than one way than in the world’s countries’ preferences for sports. The United States has a unique system for spelling certain English words. The language written in United Kingdom, as well as in Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa, adhere to the British spelling. Additionally, the US has a distinct system of weights and measures. I believe I am correct in saying that we solely use miles over kilometers and Fahrenheit over Celsius. It is unsurprising that Americans’ athletic appetites differ from that of Europeans, Africans, and South Americans.
Of course, this is very general. One must acknowledge the steps soccer has taken towards popularity in the US. The sport is becoming more watched, particularly by young people in the young adult and adolescent age group. Many individuals in this bracket follow soccer more closely than they do any other sport. This rise is partly due to easier access through widespread television usage. More importantly, the smartphone and internet craze accelerates football’s ascension into sports pandemonium. The iPhone allows for connections to sports non-stop. Worthy of note, this germinal craze is among young adults. As this generation matures, soccer will be carried through to older age groups; the probability of its adoption among another generation of Americans is high with this discussed trend. I predict that this phenomenon will occur.
Sports are emotionally riveting for their tendency to arouse two human attributes: solidarity and attachment. The enormous level of expressionism in sports in public spaces leads many to form collectivist associations. These associations are based on shared feelings and common zeals. Media plays a role in forming these bonds of “interpersonal interaction.” This sociological observation is keen. Within human nature, there is an inherent instinct to cluster. I argue that this drive is rooted in a need to be secure and a desire for affirmation of one’s convictions. The desire for affirmation builds confidence in oneself and one’s judgment.
