There is no shortage of homegrown sports to follow, but if you’re looking to liven things up a little, why not look at sports that are big across the world but pretty small in the United States? Soccer is slowly growing in popularity in the States, but it’s still pretty small potatoes compared to basketball, football, and baseball. Not that it should be! It’s no accident that soccer is the biggest sport in the world. After all, this is a game in which anything can happen, where underdogs can beat the sport’s powerhouses. Of course, unlike America’s leading sports, you’ll need to make an effort if you’re going to begin following soccer. It won’t happen automatically, on the basis that, in America, soccer is a sport that you have to seek out, rather than something that’ll come to you naturally.
In this blog, we’ll run through some of the best tips for getting into — and enjoying — the world’s most popular sport.
Tune In
The easiest way to get into any sport is to simply begin watching. Some of the world’s biggest leagues (including the English Premier League) are shown on US television — the only issue is that matches tend to kick off early in the morning due to the time difference. But what else will you be doing on a Saturday morning anyway? Get up early, make yourself a cup of coffee, and tune into a Premier League match. Many people consider England’s top division to be the most competitive league in the world, so you’ll be watching the best of the best.
Understand the Game
The more you understand about soccer, the more you’ll enjoy watching games. While in the early days of following the sport, you may be happy to just understand the basics, at some point, you’ll want to step up. You’ll find that watching games is more fun after reading expert football tips, listening to tactically-insightful podcasts, and all-around deepening your soccer knowledge. Once you have, you’ll understand who the key players are, why some teams are better than others, and the history of the sport, which makes following the action all the more fun!
Find a Team
You can enjoy soccer as a neutral, but it’s better if you have a team to support. As with most sports, soccer is extremely tribal, and part of the enjoyment of the sport is embracing the rivalry that your side has with other clubs. In any case, watching the game is more interesting when you have a stake in the outcome, even if it’s just your emotional wellbeing! Most soccer fans choose a team based on their location or their family’s historic allegiance, but that’s unlikely to be an option. So you’ll need to decide another way! All clubs have an identity, so look at picking one that’s in line with your personality. But remember to choose wisely — once you pick your team, you have to stick with them for life!
Local Fans
Most things are more enjoyable with other people by your side. No matter where you live, there’ll surely be other fans with whom you can connect and watch matches with. If you support one of the world’s biggest clubs and live in a reasonably big city, then check to see if there’s a supporter’s club in town. If there’s not, then locate a bar that shows soccer matches. After a few trips, you’ll likely recognize other fans of your team, so say hello — you already know that you’ve got something in common!
PHOTO CREDIT | Pexels/Philipp Brügger
Live Games
It’s all well and good watching a match on television, but it doesn’t compare with seeing a game live. Many of the world’s biggest clubs tour the United States before the domestic season gets underway, or you could watch the US men’s or women’s national team. Look out for when they’re coming to town (or at least a town not a million miles away), book your tickets, and enjoy seeing the world’s best players do their thing in the flesh.
