Even before seeing this movie, I've understood that for decades FIFA has been trying to get the USA to be a world football (soccer) powehouse. But what I was wondering is what the rest of the world thinks...would you like to see the USA as a world soccer power, or would you rather the USA not be strong when it comes to football?
There is no right or wrong answer, I would just like to hear the opinions of my fellow fans around the world.
Wow, that's a very interesting question.
On one hand its nice not to have America be dominant in football because it seems like they are the best in almost every other sport.
But on the other hand America is the only major country who isn't a football powerhouse as you say, and if they would become one then football would have truly taken over the entire world.
As a Brit, we have no ill-will towards Americans, but I know alot of other nations do and it would be fantastic to have them settle their differences on the pitch, which would lead to some brilliant rivalries.
America might not be that far off from being a powerhouse though because they faired very well at the 2002 World Cup and they have alot of players playing here and in the rest of Europe. No offense but our leagues our much stronger than your MLS, and to have American players playing over here says alot about their talent level.
I think that has more to do with the fans than with the talent. There are great AMerican players, and I don't mean only latin or european immigrants. There is a true American talent in the country that gets wasted due to lack of support. However, I think that at this point, it will never happen as the USA is overcrowded by the NFL, MLBS (well, th ebaseball league), NHL and NBA; and if the World Cup 94 couldn't turn America into a powerhouse, I doubt something else will.
Well, probably if their team somehow managed to win a World Cup, but then again, without support that is also highly unlikely.
"jluis1984 works in mysterious ways"
If they adapt to the game as it is now, then great.
If they adapt the game, americanise it, then i'd rather they stayed well clear. Unfortunately it looks like its going to be the latter.
"If they adapt to the game as it is now, then great.
If they adapt the game, americanise it, then i'd rather they stayed well clear. Unfortunately it looks like its going to be the latter.}
because of MLS changing all it's rules to align with the normal FIFA standard??
No because as with pretty much everything America touches it will become commercially-orientated and turn to sh it, when non-Americans watch an American game all they see is advertising. During the documentary an American analyst even said that what Americans can't create they consume. When Pele was signed to the Cosmos he became the highest salaried player on earth at that time yet the Cosmos played on a piece of wasteground on a little island with a prison.
If America became a powerhouse in football...
Games would eventually be played in quarters to fit more ads in.
Ads would be dyed onto the grass of the pitch.
Commentators would talk about how amazing 'such and such' beer tasted.
In the past 20 years even Europe has started putting cash before entertainment with the biggest clubs having their own TV channels and a dozen different strips just to fleece people. But atleast just now it's only a handful of clubs and not every single one of them vying for our money.
FIFA is governed by people who put the sport first, the NFL, NBL, etc can't make that same claim.
I think that's a bit unfair. There's plenty true in your argument, but I think people have a tendency to dismiss America in Europe a little too much.
There are certainly people in the States, mostly businessmen, who come up with strange ideas, but if you look at how their sport is run, it has a lot to be envious of. The NFL's draft system ensures that struggling teams get the opportunity to keep up with the best, which many European football leagues would benefit from.
It's like the famous quote from the Cosmos; the businessman who supposedly said (talking about Beckenbauer), "Why is our new star signing at the back? We pay that much money we want him scoring goals." It's an anecdote, and clearly complete b*ll*cks. American sports are unbelievably tactical, and value defence as much as attack.
There are many things wrong with the States, but it's important not to go too far. The Premiership can hardly be absolved of putting cash before entertainment.
> No because as with pretty much everything America touches it will become commercially-orientated
My American wife was a little bit shocked to see all the on shirt adverts on British players chests, I think the US can learn some commercial tricks from the footballing world too
No because as with pretty much everything America touches it will become commercially-orientated and turn to sh it
Agree with Vega. A lot of Euro unis look like NASCAR cars and jumpsuits. Rolling and walking billboards.
Sorry but an American has to chime in on RAF's post.
As far as the Cosmos playing on Randalls Island in 1974 the reason for that is that.............
1- Yankee Stadium was closed for renovations
2- Both the Yankees AND the Mets the Jets AND the Giants all played at Shea Stadium. So there was NOWHERE to fit the Cosmos in!
3- Giants Stadium had not been built.
As far as your other rants
Every non-American "football" team has the name of its major corporate sponsor emblazoned right across thier chests. Along with all of the ad boards around the "pitch". And the CGI ads as well! And how many unis DOES Manchester United have????????
And I doubt "football" would ever be played in quarters if the USA got a strangle hold on it.
And no announcer talks about how such and such a beer tastes while the play is on. During a break in the action sponsors are announced. But no sponsor analysis is done!
And ONLY the major baseball cities teams have thier own networks. The NFL controls all thier broadcasts. And the NBA & NHL are too small to warrant a separate network for a single team. I don't know what the "NBL" is.
And here is a reality check for you. FIFA is out for FIFA just like the NFL and all the rest.
Do we Europeans really think that FIFA put the game first ahead of advertising.
Perhaps in the eighties/early nineties. The Champions League (sponsered by Playstation and the Tyre people) was developed from the old European cup for money reason. As for the American game, I don´t know. Their sporting history is deep-rooted in American football, Baseball, Basketball and Ice Hockey. Do they have room for another sport, regardless of what the rest of the world is doing?
"FIFA is governed by people who put the sport first"
For FIFA, the sport has the same importance as commercial success because the bloated body that FIFA is needs commercial success of its product "football".
If you were right about FIFA, none of the fears you stated is justified - the US industry could not impose their commercial will on FIFA/the rest of the world.
However, where there is money to be made, there are special interests. And where there are special interests, there is corruption. FIFA is no exception.