Why you aren't watching the world cup

[definiteFreakyFishGuy]

I did not even thought this was a hot take.

We can see from the statistics how much more people watch foorball in such events. And we can see from many statistics that popularity is a big positive feedback loop to popularity.


Also I am pretty sure that I am not really succeptible to pack behaviour, never was. I am too picky and arrogant for it.

I can relate to this. I don't deny the existence of people genuinely love the sport itself. But I have not personally encountered those people in my life.

When I was growing up, my family members and the folks around me suddenly became football fans & experts for the brief window of time between start of World Cup and when their team got eliminated. It was more about national pride than any interest in football. None of these people ever watched a football game outside of the World Cup. My favorite memories of football was the feeling of being part of something greater than myself, but not the game itself.

 

[definiteFreakyFishGuy]

Unfortunately with the corruption in FIFA and the 'host' country Im boycotting it

But good luck

Even putting those aside, the last time I felt enthusiasm for any international sports was when I was in grad school. I think I was a different person back then. Being surrounded by a more international crowd helped too. I'm in a tighter bubble these days, and my bubble is much less enthusiastic about sports in general.

That said, this year I am making a conscious effort to avoid World Cup stuff (outside of this particular thread I guess).

 

[wicked cool]

Wow I’m not a World Cup person but a lot of in this thread is bs. Your country might be boycotting but that’s not the vibe here

Living in Boston- the Scot’s came to town. Don’t even have a big Scottish bar scene (I would say predominantly Irish/Italian bars for the most part) and yet place is buzzing

Hotels/trains/traffic are and expected to be busy. California also a host are seems to be busy

Airports in nearby states expected to be busy

I watched the us the other night and they looked way better than I expected

Big companies like Lowe’s (a big box hardware store) Bank of America etc are all in

I wouldn’t expect this site to be a sports haven but let’s tell some facts here

Didn’t Canada just not make the qualifier? Not hearing much about boycotting

 

[wicked cool]

Wow I’m not a World Cup person but a lot of in this thread is bs. Your country might be boycotting but that’s not the vibe here

Living in Boston- the Scot’s came to town. Don’t even have a big Scottish bar scene (I would say predominantly Irish/Italian bars for the most part) and yet place is buzzing

Hotels/trains/traffic are and expected to be busy. California also a host are seems to be busy

Airports in nearby states expected to be busy

I watched the us the other night and they looked way better than I expected

Big companies like Lowe’s (a big box hardware store) Bank of America etc are all in

I wouldn’t expect this site to be a sports haven but let’s tell some facts here

Didn’t Canada just not make the qualifier? Not hearing much about boycotting

I apologize Canada advanced and just a quick google and there was no country that boycotted

 

[Nikosandros]

I apologize Canada advanced and just a quick google and there was no country that boycotted

I made a joke about Italy boycotting. There was, of course, no boycott. Italy simply got kicked out during qualifications and deservedly so.

 

[briggart]

I bet you also grew up playing tag (ehich does not even need a ball), and still dont watch the tag world championships. World Chase Tag - Wikipedia

Or played puzzles and dont watch the puzzle championship: Home Welcome to the world of speedpuzzling


Football is popular thats why many people watch it. Of course some people have also fond memories of playing it but that does not force you into watching other people play it.

People played tag as kids, or hide-and-seek, or whatever. But, for the most part, they do not grew up with those games. Many more people grow up with football, because they enjoy playing it as kids, teenagers, and adults, and even people who do not play typically have a favorite team they support.

I mean, people have been playing some form of ball kicking/throwing games for over two thousand years, is it really a stretch to think that these kind of activities (football, rugby, American football to name a few) are popular because people enjoy them?

Now, if your point was that people typically tend to prefer the specific variant of these games that is more popular in their area, I'd agree. In this sense, football is popular because is popular, but the underlying reason for the initial popularity is that people enjoy playing it.

 

[MNblockhead]

Moved back to the states and don't have a group of people really into to watch. I don't watch sports on my own, but I like getting together with people who are really into sports. In my last job I worked with people from all over the world and during the last world cup a large screen and speakers were set up outside for everyone to get together to watch. It was awesome. But I have no interest sitting and watching any sport on TV by myself.

 

[Clint_L]

Bandwagon is real effect, but I don't think it applies much to the world's most popular sport. Hundreds of millions of people don't just watch soccer, they play it. All you need is some space and a ball. I think most folks love it because they grew up with it and in it. In other words, it's a personal connection.

That's very different than getting into something because it's a trend.

I think it is very hard for many Canadians and Americans to fully grasp the emotional bond folks have with soccer in so many parts of the world, especially poorer ones. Here, everything is through the lens of marketing so we naturally think in terms of trends, but I think soccer, though also obviously heavily marketed, is at its heart a populist sport in a way that few, if any others, can match. You really feel it when you travel.

 

[Morrus]

Wow I’m not a World Cup person but a lot of in this thread is bs. Your country might be boycotting but that’s not the vibe here

No country is boycotting. That was a joke. Italy didn't qualify.

 

[wicked cool]

My apologies. Skimming through and the talk was little interest, boycotts, cities losing money so I grouped it together