It’s amazing how the passion for soccer can evoke such extreme emotions. Major League Soccer (MLS) is a constant target of criticism, not only for its on-field performance but also for the behavior of its fans off the field. And without a doubt, Brazilians top the list of the biggest haters of the soccer ecosystem in the United States. It’s almost a mortal sin for Brazilians to admit that Americans might prefer the NBA, MLB, and NFL over soccer, which they consider a religion.
Even though soccer in the United States has evolved considerably over the past three decades, the criticisms have not stopped. For many, MLS will never be good enough. This insistence on underestimating American soccer, at times, seems like an excuse to air old prejudices rather than a fair assessment of the current landscape.
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When talking to friends and colleagues in the press in other countries, the story is the same: MLS is not taken seriously. But is this view justified? Or is there something deeper to this decision?
I think many foreigners, deep inside, root against MLS teams or the US National Team (USMNT) just to justify their prejudice against soccer in the USA. It seems like the failure of Americans in this sport is a reason to celebrate, a chance to vent out all the frustration that has accumulated on social media.
What many people don’t know is that Americans have a very healthy relationship with sports. For them, soccer is just another option on a vast sports menu. In the United States, sports are encouraged from an early age, integrated into education, change lives, and create opportunities. Here, sports and education go hand in hand, which many countries, including Brazil, can learn from.
If there’s one thing I love about Americans, it’s their attitude toward football. Going to the stadium is a family activity, a weekend outing where friends gather for a barbecue in the parking lot before watching the game. And if the team loses? That’s part of the game. There’s no disappointment, no violence. It’s a simple but powerful concept: sports are entertainment, a form of relaxation, not a matter of life or death.
In Brazil, on the other hand, the situation is very different. If a team is going through a bad phase, it causes fans to go on a rampage. Violence, threats against players and excessive demands are considered normal by the press and society. This unbridled passion often crosses the boundaries of common sense. It is often extremely dangerous for families, children and the elderly to go to stadiums due to the rampant violence of fans depending on the outcome of the match.
Imagine if Brazilians demanded accountability from their politicians the way they do from their soccer players! Just think! If they showed the same anger at their leaders’ wrong decisions as they do when their team loses a match, the country would probably be in a much better state.
And this obsession with football is not limited to Brazilians. In many countries, football is given more importance than important issues such as health, safety, education and the economy. Meanwhile, Americans are criticized for focusing on what is really important and seeing football and even other sports as mere entertainment.
The growth of soccer in the United States is undeniable, and MLS has grown significantly. However, the criticism continues. Perhaps it is time for these critics to reconsider their concepts and learn from the balanced way Americans handle sports. After all, sports should be fun, a healthy passion.
So, the next time someone criticizes soccer in the United States, it is worth considering whether his or her opinion is based on outdated prejudices and a distorted view of sports.
