Americans don’t get kick from soccer

If it's not broken, don't fix it. But can we tweak the nature of soccer in America slightly so it can be marketed better in a country that may not want it?

In 1863, the Football Association in England codified the rules of soccer. Almost a century later, the United States decided to change them.

The North American Soccer League (NASL) adjusted a few rules in the new league to make soccer more appealing and comprehensible to Americans. Rule changes included: two 35-yard lines for offsides instead of a midfield line; a clock that counted down instead of up; and matches that ended in a draw took penalty shots to find a winner.

The league ended up overmatching itself by expanding too quickly. New franchises were being formed, and there wasn't enough interest to provide enough money. The NASL didn't have television contracts to broadcast games, and average attendance averaged from 5,000 to 15,000 people. Even with the rule changes, Americans didn't buy into a revamped "beautiful game."

The NASL folded in 1984.

So what else can be done to the game of soccer so it will increase in popularity? Nothing.
In most countries, soccer is a religion. The World Cup, which is played every four years, is the Holy Grail. According to MSNBC, countries such as Germany and Italy actually lose around $2.3 million of their gross domestic product during the tournament due to employees not working. That's dedication.

I have come to a conclusion as to why soccer is not as popular here as it is in the rest of the world: It's not the game that needs to change; it's the level at which it's played.
Passion for soccer in the U.S. is obviously not here, but it is coming. ESPN, along with its affiliated stations, broadcast live every single World Cup 2010 game, recapped during SportsCenter and created "World Cup Live" (Alexi Lalas should not have been an analyst).

Major League Soccer (MLS), for now, only gets minor coverage by ESPN, however. Even though the MLS is growing, the quality of play isn't quite up to the level of other international leagues. Just as the NASL brought Brazilian star Pele and German star Franz Beckenbaur into the league at the end of their careers to create more interest, the MLS is doing the same with David Beckham.

Yes, he has been injured quite a bit. Yes, he has been loaned to European teams (AC Milan, Arsenal) for short periods of time. But when he does play for the LA Galaxy, he shows that he is still more than capable of competing with America's professionals. European players at the end of their careers should not be able to come and start for MLS clubs. It proves that the level to draw viewers and fans still isn't there.

The U.S. Men's National Team receives a bit more attention from domestic fans, especially during the World Cup. Because of recent success against European and South American sides, the Yanks are starting to show the world that they can consistently play on an international level.

So where's the gap from the MLS to the MNT?

On each team, 17 players of the 23-man squad play for clubs in Europe. U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard was quoted in an interview on ESPN saying "it was a dream come true" when he signed with English powerhouse Manchester United. And why? Because of the level of play. Howard signed with one of the top clubs in the world.

American players are still looking to be challenged and prove themselves as big-time players, so they go overseas for that confirmation. In order to increase the popularity of soccer in the U.S., the MLS has to find a way to keep its domestic players and draw foreign stars in their prime.

Unfortunately, building a successful league is a slow-growing process. The NFL and MLB weren't built in a day either. The full-fledged fanatic support will come.

My final note on the subject matter is to casual fans: Hopefully, you cheered for the U.S. in the World Cup! It takes almost three years of matches just to qualify for the tournament, and only 32 countries do so. Getting into the World Cup is a feat in and of itself.
And now, keep watching now that it's over.

Right now, America is bidding for the 2018 or 2022 World Cups. I think we as fans will be again ready to host (last time was 1994), and this time there will be even more home-team support. The U.S. will win the World Cup some day ... just maybe not in the immediate future.