World Cup- Are Americans Excited?

[Buzz Rules]

I am in no way defending FIFA, which is probably the second most corrupt sports organization behind the IOC.

That being said, I’m curious on how many of the people “boycotting” the World Cup watched any of the Beijing Olympics?

This. 7 billion will still watch period. Companies will never stop sponsoring either tournament. Period.

 

[DCLMP]

Not trying to be argumentative, but have you watched a complete game (may take more than one) where you actually cared what team won? It's possible having a "rooting interest" may help make the game more interesting.

My family (myself, DW, mom and dad before he passed away) came to realize how exciting soccer is by watching the kids play. My mom even told me today she watched the first half of the Qatar game today. Before our kids started playing, I couldn't watch 5 minutes of a match.

For me, baseball is an EXTREMELY boring game to watch. But talk to a fan who just watched a 1-0 game through 9 innings... same thing.

Yes I've watched a complete game and I've had kids that have played. It's boring as heck. Different strokes for different folks. The point is I don't think it will ever take off in the US despite the fact that all our kids played the sport. Maybe the problem is we think of it as a kids sport.

 

[SirDuff]

This. 7 billion will still watch period. Companies will never stop sponsoring either tournament. Period.

And, of course, since you never say anything as fact that you cannot provide evidence for, you have something to prove that 87.5% of the population will watch the World Cup?

 

[Buzz Rules]

And, of course, since you never say anything as fact that you cannot provide evidence for, you have something to prove that 87.5% of the population will watch the World Cup?

It’s what’s constantly said on US media platforms. Stop always assuming everything has to be an exact number. It’s called a general estimate.

 

[Buzz Rules]

And, of course, since you never say anything as fact that you cannot provide evidence for, you have something to prove that 87.5% of the population will watch the World Cup?

Sorry I should have said around 5 billion.
https://frontofficesports.com/fifa-expects-5b-viewers-for-qatar-world-cup/

 

[Buzz Rules]

And, of course, since you never say anything as fact that you cannot provide evidence for, you have something to prove that 87.5% of the population will watch the World Cup?

Subtract parts of the world population that has no internet, tv, radio, or electricity. That’s probably around 2 billion (also including those that probably can’t watch due to work or just no interest). So parts of Asia and Africa probably hold the most influence. The majority of the world will still watch WC is probably the most accurate statement I could say. I’m not trying to be argumentative and you would know best about world populations. I go by what is said in media or advertisements to be honest when it comes to viewership.

 

[Buzz Rules]

And, of course, since you never say anything as fact that you cannot provide evidence for, you have something to prove that 87.5% of the population will watch the World Cup?

Also, I didn’t know the world now has 8 billion people. I thought it was still around 6-7 billion.

 

[SirDuff]

Subtract parts of the world population that has no internet, tv, radio, or electricity. That’s probably around 2 billion (also including those that probably can’t watch due to work or just no interest). So parts of Asia and Africa probably hold the most influence. The majority of the world will still watch WC is probably the most accurate statement I could say. I’m not trying to be argumentative and you would know best about world populations. I go by what is said in media or advertisements to be honest when it comes to viewership.

Than say that instead of the entirely incorrect “fact” (yiou called it a fact) that 7 billion people will watch. Out of a population of something just over 8 billion (we hit 8 billion last week).

 

[SirDuff]

Also, I didn’t know the world now has 8 billion people. I thought it was still around 6-7 billion.

So, wait, you thought the population is 6-7 billion bit also thought that 7 billion people would watch the World Cup? How does that even compute in your head?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Than day that instead of the entirely incorrect “fact” (yiou called it a fact) that 7 billion people will watch. Out of a population of something just over 8 billion (we hit 8 billion last week).

The fact I meant to say was that the majority of more than half the world will be watching.

 

[Buzz Rules]

So, wait, you thought the population is 6-7 billion bit also thought that 7 billion people would watch the World Cup? How does that even compute in your head?

I thought 7 billion was the world population. I constantly hear the entire world watches tournament. I just said 7 billion to represent the world’s population. I’m not a math guy to be honest. It’s was meant a general statement. Not as a literal fact as to the number itself. The majority of the world’s population will watch the tournament (I think I can state that as a fact).

 

[Buzz Rules]

So, wait, you thought the population is 6-7 billion bit also thought that 7 billion people would watch the World Cup? How does that even compute in your head?

It’s also very late where I am, so I’m sorry if I said a slightly incorrect mathematical statement. I hope the general idea of my statement is understood though. I know the World Cup is watched more than the Olympics and Super Bowl.

 

[sam_gordon]

Yes I've watched a complete game and I've had kids that have played. It's boring as heck. Different strokes for different folks. The point is I don't think it will ever take off in the US despite the fact that all our kids played the sport. Maybe the problem is we think of it as a kids sport.

Fair enough. I'm not sure what exactly it took to turn our family into fans of the sport. Seriously, I thought the same as you growing up. It's only within the last 10-15 years that we became fans, and it's definitely because our kids played.

 

[RedAngie]

Sorry, Buzz, but I don’t believe the majority of Americans will be watching/listening/streaming the WC.

Heck, even the Super Bowl “only” attracts fewer than 40% of the US population.

 

[sam_gordon]

I thought 7 billion was the world population. I constantly hear the entire world watches tournament. I just said 7 billion to represent the world’s population. I’m not a math guy to be honest. It’s was meant a general statement. Not as a literal fact as to the number itself. The majority of the world’s population will watch the tournament (I think I can state that as a fact).

I figured the viewership would be available on google, but it took a little bit of hunting. For 2018 in Russia, estimates put total viewing at 3.5B (source).
Just over 1B watched the final world wide (compared to 99M for the Super Bowl). Source

So, just looking at numbers, yes, 3.5B is half of 7B. BUT, I bet 3.5B is combined for all matches and people watch more than one match.

As far as "the entire world watches", yes, I'm sure. As in people in every (or nearly every) country watches. You could say the same of the Olympics.

"7 billion will still watch period." is your quote. That's not a "general statement".

Yea, there will be a slight majority watching this tournament. I'm guessing about 4-4.5B (but again, how many of those numbers are "repeat" viewers?). So barely over half the world's population.

 

[kdonnel]

Watching the Opening Ceremony.

The Theme is Global Unity and understanding our differences if I am following correctly.

Reports are some European Captains will be wearing non FIFA approved "ONELOVE" armbands(at the risk of Pre Game Yellow Cards).

World Cup 2022 is going to be VERY interesting!

The arms bands have been explicitily denied by FIFA.

Teams have been warned to embrace the culture of Qatar, hatred, bigotry, racism, bribery, sexism, ets.

 

[Wakey]

NFL is a minnow compared to football.
Roughly the Super Bowl gets 18% of the viewers of the World Cup Final.
The world plays football (soccer) really only Americans play American football, which in itself has its roots in English Rugby Union.
English Premier League averages 70 million a week vs 17 for NFL.
Football is certainly not boring, I think the problem is the average American is not invested in a team. But it is 100% growing. I’ve been visiting the USA since 1991 and it’s definitely grown a lot in that time.
Its been rumoured a long time NFL will set up a London Franchise and Tottenham’s stadium has been built with this in mind (soccer pitch slides back to have NFL pitch underneath, NFL changing rooms are there, I went to look around).

 

[amylevan]

Fair enough. I'm not sure what exactly it took to turn our family into fans of the sport. Seriously, I thought the same as you growing up. It's only within the last 10-15 years that we became fans, and it's definitely because our kids played.

I grew up in a baseball house, and I love my NY Giants football. DH played soccer and my kids now play, and as DS has gotten older and moved to Club, the games got so much more exciting.

We attended our first MLS game this summer as a birthday present for DS, and are purchasing a ticket pack of 6 games for next season. And yes, we are tuning in to the WC.

I cannot sit through a baseball game anymore (it is soooo darn slow). My heart still belongs to football, but I enjoy soccer, something I never thought I’d say. And everyone else is my house is all soccer.

 

[GreatLakes]

That opening ceremony was straight up propganda but at least we know Morgan Freeman has a price to sell his soul. The paid for Qatar fans were a nice touch but I'm glad they looked terrible. I'm hoping they become only the second host nation to fail to get out of their group.

I'm watching the England v. Iran game now and will be watching most of them but I 100% think this World Cup should not have been there.

There will be very detailed viewing numbers when this is all said and done. Here is FIFAs report on 2018. 3.572 billion watched at least one game and 1.12 billion watched the final.

I think some of the issue in the US is that soccer is low scoring. If all you care about is the scoring and don't understand the game you might not understand why a 0-0 league game is exciting. Nothing wrong with that, but it is something you need to get past if you are a new fan. I think it is the greatest sport on Earth myself.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

That was a nasty collision between the Iranians goal tender and defender