I respect "Soccer" as a sport, but its popular because its cost effective, simple, and fun. Nothing more
Go down to South America and tell the Brazilian and Argentinian kids the game you work so hard to play to feed your families and get them off the streets doesn't hold any value. They would call you crazy, same as any Brit would, any German, Chinese, Japanese. In Italy the game can mean life or death,
literally and you mean to tell me that just because it's cost effective? The things that come with the game mean so much to people, the teams stadiums are footballing meccas. Places like Anfield, the Nou Camp in Barcelona, Santiago Bernabeu.....these places are places soccer fans dream to go to and see their team play in. That in itself creates popularity.
Cultures with traditions passed down though generation after generation after generation. To say that holds no value is an insult. You have so much like local rivalries, the hard work the game takes to play it, even at a reasonable amatuer level and the passion and pride involved in all of that. Fun might be what they teach the kids who play it in the States, I bet some don't even keep score there but it's on a whole different level here.
For pure picking up a football and kicking it round, scoring goals yeah. It unites so many, gives poor kids on the streets enjoyment. Thats why they call it the beautiful game. Even the British and the Germans stopped fighting during christmas in WWI, got out a ball and played soccer. When you progress and get into soccer theres tons more meaning to people though.
