Project Background

With the objective of examining and understanding the variables that lead to many Americans’ disinterest in soccer, I embarked on a revision of related literature, reports, academic publications and any relevant information that contribute to understanding the phenomena. Hence, this section provides an overview of academic scholarly articles and books that support the arguments and claims that can help understand why many Americans don’t follow a global sport that has attracted so much interest in other countries; furthermore, I seek to contribute a revision of secondary sources that can contribute to examine and understand America’s ever evolving relationship with the sport.  The following sections review the history of soccer in the United States, American exceptionalism; how American media has influenced the way soccer is perceived in the U.S., as well as  the pay-for-play model and its impact on different socio economic classes. Furthermore, this section covers data regarding interest levels amongst various U.S demographic groups, American media coverage of the 1990 FIFA World Cup, the influence of identity politics on soccer in the U.S, the business side of the sport, the impact Messi mania has had on America’s interest level in soccer and how the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended up in North America and what it means long term with America’s relationship to soccer.