American football holds a unique and efficacious place in the United States. From Super Bowl Sundays to the Friday night lights culture, football is seen as more of a national holiday than a regular sport. However, when visiting other countries, the sport that Americans view as superior is often seen as useless and impractical by the citizens of those countries. So, the question that is finally being answered is, why is football only considered important in America?
American football came about in the late 1800s, around 1892. This sport stemmed from two older sports, rugby and soccer. Over time, football has played a big role in American culture— often being linked to Thanksgiving, small-town games, and the annual display known as the Super Bowl. Today, the Super Bowl remains one of the most-watched televised events in America, combining sports, music, commercials, and special guests. However, despite all the popularity football has in the U.S., it does not compare to the many that watch international soccer and rugby games like the FIFA World Cup.
A part of football’s significance in America has a lot to do with how frequently it is seen around the country. For example, football is a common sport in U.S. schools. High schools compete against each other, allowing students, parents, and even alumni to participate and enjoy an entertaining game. Colleges go a step further, making football into a major sport that requires a lot of discipline and practice. They fund things such as stadiums that accommodate thousands of fans. Take the NFL, for example; they built their foundation on college football and turned it into a multibillion-dollar industry. For many individuals, football is more than just a sport; it provides a sense of community pride.
On the other hand, it makes perfect sense why American football is not accepted internationally. For one, American football requires a substantial amount of funds and space. With other countries being smaller than America in size, soccer just makes the most sense, as it only requires a ball and a space to play. All the gear associated with football, such as helmets, pads, and even certain “straps,” makes it harder to adopt in countries with limited resources.
Franz Beckenbauer, a German football player, differed between soccer and American football, stating, “There is an interruption every two minutes in American football. Our soccer is a moving game: play, play, play, move, move – you don’t interrupt.”
Another reason countries view American football as a waste is due to the number of injuries one acquires when playing that sport. Most residents outside of the United States and Canada do not have unlimited access to hospitals. The reason for this is that not many countries have legitimate hospitals with certified doctors. Therefore, the citizens of these countries cannot afford to get injured. They also feel that they should not have to get injured to play a sport. Jim McKenna, a physical activity/health professor at Leeds Metropolitan University, explains that American football players “but the opposition and their head is the tip of the missile, with an enormous body of weight behind them.”
