Soccer Game Transferred from Europe to USA Essay

Soccer Game Transferred from Europe to USA - Essay Example The game stated mainly in England, Germany and Italy and has spread to all the continents where is England is often referred to as the original birthplace for the game (Dobson and Goddard 1). Until late 1950s, most national soccer governing bodies defended the sovereignty of their domestic leagues but at present the leagues are so much interconnected due to development in telecommunication and media interest in the game (King, 8). These developments have opened the game which is now a global game attracting commercial and political interest at the same time. Even in countries like USA where soccer has lagged behind over the years, there is now a lot of developments as witnessed by rising popularity of the Major League Soccer (MLS) specifically driven by business goals and celebrities in the game. How soccer has been received in different cultural contexts Soccer has been warmly received in most of the continents due to its social and emotional connection with the viewers and North Am erica (USA) is no exception. In North America soccer has been improving particularly in USA in the last 20 years. Due to its global spread the game now involves some major tournaments like the World Cup (played every 4 years) both for the senior and junior players where all continents are now represented. Other world majors include World Club Winners Cup that brings together all the continental winners together for a 2 weeks competition. All these developments have helped to popularize the game in the US as it participates in most of these competitions (Darby 94-95). The popularity of the game is so wide spread that even scholars have studied the game. In particular, economics of football has attracted the attention of most scholars in the US with books and academic journals being written (Dobson and Goddard 1-2). However, the reception of the game has not been without drawbacks.. At present, major issues on racism persist where footballers from different races playing in MLS are vi ctimized by fellow players and fans on the basis of skin color. The case is more pronounced between black and white players where the latter tries to justify the supremacy of the white culture. Football governing bodies and coaching positions in the US are dominated by the white. To tame the vice that threatens the development of the game, FIFA and League Associations have put in strong anti-racism rules (Kassimeris 1, 7). In addition, while soccer has been gaining popularity in the US in the recent past, it still lags behind as most residents still rank basketball and American football higher. Analysis on what makes soccer popular Soccer has increased its popularity in the US over the years for various reasons. First, the media has influenced spread of soccer. Television live coverage of matches, magazines, newspapers and internet has influenced the popularity of the game. The fact that the game is a contest appeals to the emotions and feeling of most viewers. Live coverage helps v iewers to connect and identify themselves with the teams and individual players. Through the media, individuals are able to connect with major leagues across the continents. The media has therefore opened US residents to the global game and interest in terms audience and active participation has