Soccer, known as football outside North America, is not just a game-it’s a global language spoken by billions. With over 4 billion people follow the sport, making it the most popular on Earth. After playing competitively for 12 years, coaching youth teams, and traveling to watch matches across Europe and South America, I’m convinced it stands alone at the top of the sports world. Here are the 10 biggest reasons why.
1. Universal Accessibility – Anyone Can Play Anywhere
You don’t need expensive equipment or a fancy facility to play soccer. A ball and an open space are enough. In the favelas of Rio, kids play with taped-up socks. In rural Kenya, they use bundled plastic bags. This low barrier to entry is unmatched.
When I coached in rural Virginia in 2019, we trained on a cow pasture with improvised goals made from PVC pipe. Every kid showed up-no one was excluded because their parents couldn’t afford $300 cleats or $800 travel fees. Compare that to American football or ice hockey, where equipment costs often exceed $1,000 before a child ever steps on the field.
According to a 2023 FIFA Big Count, 265 million people play organized soccer worldwide-more than the populations of Brazil, Russia, and Japan combined.
2. Unparalleled Global Reach and Passion
No sport unites (and occasionally divides) the planet like soccer. The 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France was watched by an estimated 1.5 billion people-nearly one in five humans alive.
Table 1: Most-Watched Sporting Events in History
| 1 | 2022 World Cup Final | 2022 | 1.5 billion |
| 2 | 2018 World Cup Final | 2018 | 1.12 billion |
| 3 | 2016 UEFA Euro Final | 2016 | 600 million |
| 4 | 2024 Super Bowl LVIII | 2024 | 123 million |
Source: FIFA & Nielsen
I’ve stood in pubs in Dublin, street parties in Buenos Aires, and cafes in Cairo during World Cup matches. The energy is electric and universal.
3. 90 Minutes of Non-Stop Action (Almost)
Unlike American football with its 11 minutes of actual action in a 3+ hour broadcast, soccer keeps moving. Substitutions are limited, the clock never stops for commercials, and momentum can swing in an instant.
Yes, low-scoring games happen, but that tension is part of the drama. As Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp famously said:
“Football is not about one or two moments. It is about 95 minutes of hope.”
4. Tactical Depth That Rewards Intelligence
Modern soccer is chess at 20 mph. Formations (4-3-3 vs 3-5-2), pressing triggers, build-up patterns, and set-piece routines require extraordinary tactical understanding.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side in 2022-23 completed 72.5% of their passes in the final third-the highest ever recorded in the Premier League (source: Opta). That level of precision comes from years of coaching philosophy, not just raw athleticism.
My Experience Coaching a Struggling U14 Team
In 2021, I took over a winless under-14 team in Richmond, Virginia. We switched from a kick-and-run style to a possession-based 4-3-3 with a high defensive line. By the end of the season, we went 11-2-1 and won the state cup. The kids learned patience, spacing, and decision-making-skills that translate far beyond sport.
5. Physical Demands Are Insane
Elite soccer players cover 7-9 miles per game, with midfielders often hitting 11+ km. According to a 2023 study in the Journal Strength and Conditioning Research, Premier League players perform 700-1200 individual movements per match, including 200+ at high intensity.
Compare that to NBA players who jog for large portions of games or NFL players who play only 15-20 snaps per game on average.
6. Greatest Athletes on Earth
Don’t let anyone tell you soccer players aren’t elite athletes. Cristiano Ronaldo at age 38 recorded a vertical jump of 28.7 inches during a header goal in 2023. Kylian Mbappé has been clocked at 38 km/h (23.6 mph)-faster than most NFL wide receivers over 40 yards.
Erling Haaland’s 36 goals in 35 Premier League games in 2022-23 came with a goals-per-shot rate that shattered previous records. These aren’t just skilled technicians-they are freaks of nature.
7. The Drama Is Unscripted and Unmatched
Extra-time winners. Penalty shootouts. Last-minute own goals. Soccer serves heartbreak and ecstasy in equal measure.
I was Maracanã in 2019 when Flamengo scored twice in stoppage time to win the Copa Libertadores. 80,000 Brazilians lost their minds. You can’t manufacture that.
Bill Shankly, legendary Liverpool manager, once said:
“Some people believe football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.”
8. Club Loyalty and Identity Run Deep
In Europe and South America, your club is part of your identity. I’ve seen grown men in Naples cry when Maradona passed. In Glasgow, Celtic vs Rangers isn’t just a game-it’s tribal.
That lifelong bond doesn’t really exist to the same extent in most American pro sports, where free agency and trades are constant.
9. Youth Development Actually Works
Countries like Brazil, Spain, and Germany produce world-class talent year after year because of structured academies and playing time. In the U.S., we’re finally catching on-Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Yunus Musah all emerged from European academies, but now MLS Next and Generation Adidas are paying dividends.
10. It’s Still Growing-Even in the United States
The 2026 World Cup co-hosted by USA, Canada, and Mexico will be the biggest ever (48 teams). MLS average attendance in 2024 surpassed the NBA and NHL. Inter Miami tickets with Messi regularly sell for $500-$2000 on the secondary market.
America is finally falling in love with the sport, and it’s about time.
About the Author
Jake Harrison is a USSF “B” licensed coach with 15 years of playing experience, including college soccer at James Madison University (2016 CAA Champions) and NCAA Tournament appearance). He has coached at the youth, high school, and college levels in Virginia and spent two summers working with academies in Spain and Brazil. His youth teams have won three state championships and produced five Division I college players.
Follow Jake on X: @JakePlaysSoccer Read his tactical breakdowns at HarrisonTactics.com
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Is soccer really more popular than American football globally? A1: Yes-by a massive margin. The Super Bowl gets ~120 million viewers. The World Cup final gets over 1 billion.
Q2: Why do some people call soccer “boring”? A2: Usually because they’re used to constant scoring. Once you understand tactics and buildup play, the tension becomes addictive.
Q3: What’s the best league in the world right now? A3: The English Premier League leads in competitiveness, revenue, and global viewership, but La Liga and Serie A remain elite for technical quality.
Q4: Can the U.S. men ever win a World Cup? A4: With the talent pipeline improving and the 2026 home World Cup coming, a semifinal or better is realistic within the next 12 years.
Q5: How can I start watching soccer if I’m new? A5: Start with the Premier League on Saturday mornings (NBC/Peacock). Pick a team with a playing style you like-Manchester City for possession, Liverpool for intensity, Arsenal for youth-and just watch. You’ll be hooked within a season.
Meta Description (157 characters): Discover why soccer (football) is the world’s best sport: universal access, non-stop action, tactical brilliance, insane athleticism, and unmatched global passion. 10 undeniable reasons.