USA: a soccer nation
The Atlanta-United match broke attendance record
Historically, United States is considered a football, baseball, and basketball nation. However, the growing Hispanic population, the improvement of the US National Team, the international tournaments held within the country, and the tours of the most important European clubs are making soccer the most important sport for Americans.
In recent years, the MLS teams are becoming stronger and are increasing their fan base; Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bull were the most important clubs. Both had a significant number of fans because of their cities’ population and the migrant base.
Then, the northwest cities of Portland and Seattle raised their soccer passion. Both teams’ towns became the most important fans cities in the USA. The enthusiasm of both metropolises towards the sport showed the world the beginning of the American Soccer passion.
The rivalry between Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers can be compared with any other rivalry in South America, Mexico, or Europe. The Sounders, whom are the current champions, had an average of 38.500 people with in a stadium built to hold about 60.000.
The MLS has switched its focus from the northwest to the southeast. Atlanta United, which was created in 2014 and admitted IGNORE INTO the MLS in 2017, broke assistance records. In their match against Orlando City, 70.425 fans watched the game in the Mercedes Benz stadium. This is the game with the biggest attendance in the MLS history.
Last year, MLS revealed an average attendance of 21.692 fans per match making it the sixth-best attendance league in the world just after the German, English, Spanish, Mexican, and Chinese. According to Statista.com, MLS is now the 3rd best major sport league, when it comes to attendance, in the country.
The soccer world should be prepared for the USA fans and clubs. In some years, the Atlanta United may be playing the FIFA Club World Club against Boca, River, Real Madrid, or Barcelona.
Latin American Post | Santiago Gómez Hernández
Copy edited by Susana Cicchetto
