World Football Thread XVI - The demise of one Ronaldo and the rise of another

[MikeH]

The North America.

[Drake Tungsten]

Thats wrong that MOST of the world's population prefers something else.

No, it isn't. You yourself gave evidence right after this statement...

Volleyball is the most played sport from what I can gather.

Even in rugy countries like New Zealand soccer is played by heaps of kids and adults.

So what? Most Kiwis prefer rugby to soccer, just as most Asians prefer other sports to soccer.

it's huge in Japan, China, South Korea, the Middle East, former Russian Republics.

It's less popular than baseball in Japan. Doesn't seem that huge in China; probably doesn't beat basketball in popularity there, and certainly not table tennis. Soccer is the top sport in South Korea, as far as I know. Don't really know about the Middle East and former Soviet Union, but they don't add much population to the soccer-loving world. Add in the fact that neither India or Pakistan seems very keen on soccer and it's pretty clear that most Asians prefer sports other than soccer...

in North America it is THE sport in Mexico.

And South America, obviously

So it's only the biggest sport in Europe, Latin America, South America, Africa and Asia.

Given that you lot don't even know what "Latin America" is, it's no surprise you can't understand my simple argument...

[reds4ever]

So which sport is more popular globally?

[Drake Tungsten]

Volleyball, apparently. My argument isn't that one sport is more popular globally than soccer, though. My argument is that most of the world's population prefers some other sport to soccer. As such, calling soccer the "world's game" is both arrogant and counterfactual.

[Cort Haus]

You're piddling with semantics, Drake. It's like saying 'most of the electorate prefered the party that didn't win' in a multi-party election - which is almost always the case.

[Maquiladora]

Indeed.

Anyway, soccer is equally as popular as basketball in China now. The countries where it isnt currently #1, participation goes up every year, including places like Oz and India.

Bet you dont see many kids throwing a melon in those places.

[Drake Tungsten]

Basketball and baseball are America's biggest sports exports.

[Maquiladora]

Who cares about baseball besides Japan? I read somewhere viewing figures were declining there too.

[Drake Tungsten]

Who cares about baseball besides Japan?

America, Japan, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, various other Caribbean countries.

I read somewhere viewing figures were declining there too.

There's really nowhere for the ratings to go but down.

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

Who cares about baseball besides Japan?

America, Japan, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, various other Caribbean countries.

A fair way to go then?

I read somewhere viewing figures were declining there too.

There's really nowhere for the ratings to go but down.

Didnt some of the clubs there declare bankruptcy? Its a long time since i read about it but its sounds familiar. Cant find the story now...

Anyway, this is another country thats being overrun by soccer kids whove given up baseball. Once they start producing real International talent to take interest in, i expect soccer to take over fully.

[Drake Tungsten]

A fair way to go then?

Go where? Americans don't care if baseball becomes a "global sport". We already dominate the world; we don't need our sports to do it for us.

Didnt some of the clubs there declare bankruptcy?

Some clubs merged. So what?

Anyway, this is another country thats being overrun by soccer kids whove given up baseball. Once they start producing real International talent to take interest in, i expect soccer to take over fully.

You don't really know much about Japan. They've recently hosted the World Cup. They have players in the European leagues. Yet baseball is still the biggest sport amongst youth and the populace at large. Soccer isn't "taking over" anytime soon...

[Imran Siddiqui]

Soccer taking over

Best thing the illegals ever gave America (yes, that includes cheap ass labor)

[Drake Tungsten]

The illegals support Mexico, you ****ing traitor...

[Imran Siddiqui]

No problems. Bitter rivalry in the US .

It makes it even sweeter when we beat their ass so you can drive by your local Home Depot and yell at the Mexicans standing outside .

[Drake Tungsten]

Mexico might switch to baseball soon due to the way we've been humiliating them in soccer.