The U.S. television ratings for the World Cup reportedly have cratered, down more than 40 percent from 2014 according to those who are keeping track of everything you watch, and everything you do.
The Fox Network, as a result, may have to economize. Like start telecasting the games in black and white. Or bring in some cheaper part-time contract help to call the games. Think Tim McCarver doing soccer. Now, I’d watch that.
This downturn is laid at the feet of the U.S. national team’s epic fail to qualify for Russia. The full impact of not making the World Cup is now being felt. Any missed opportunity to sell soccer in a nation that still needs to be sold is a big deal. And, no duh, the World Cup is nothing if not the ultimate marketing vehicle.
The time difference also has been problematic, given the early start of games here in the capitalistic part of the world, where people have to work for living. And face it, once you get past Iceland, the cute factor in this little tournament is not exactly at a cat-video level.
But no United States, that’s obviously a sticking point in say, the United States.
Soccer still seemed quite alive and well in the U.S. village of Atlanta, where Sunday its MLS team played the Portland Timbers to a 1-1 draw. Even if this was a game of squandered chances, Atlanta United left still leading its conference and leading the league in goals.
It was the customary colorful scene at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on a soccer Sunday. The crowd of 45,000 partisans paid full price not to use their seats, standing for the duration.
Portland fans took over a little corner of the place, and made quite a nuisance of themselves with their flags and their singing. All I know is that security went through every nook of my work backpack – even made me turn on my laptop to prove it was legit. And, yet, one Timbers fan got a toy chainsaw into the building.
How cool is soccer in Atlanta? Even the protective gear is stylish. Face masks, the kind used in basketball after an elbow does its work on the human face, are dorky. But United star Josef Martinez debuted a black mask covering his broken nose that had to have been designed by Marvel Comics. Opponents should have fled at his approach. While in frustration he flung it off later in the game, he really needs to keep it on forever. Because this thing is more than equipment. It’s a statement.
Yeah, the game is going great here in Atlanta.
But it could be even better, had only the U.S. not been eliminated from a World Cup spot, losing to Trinidad and Tobago in October in the process. Just ask some of the American players on the United roster.
“Every four years, people get captured up in the World Cup because it’s unlike anything else,” team captain Michael Parkhurst said. “I think we lost the opportunity to bring more fans into the game. Every four years that’s what it does. It brings more people to watch soccer and to realize what the game is about, brings them on board and maybe brings them to a MLS game for the first time and hook them that way.
“The game in the MLS is going in the right direction. For sure, though, we miss that bump this year.”
“When you’re team is in the World Cup you feel you’re a part of the World Cup,” Jeff Larentowicz said. “When they’re not, you’re just watching the World Cup. It’s a different feeling.
“I’m sure the impact will be felt. Since 1994 is has been kind of building and building and building every tournament. So, it’s disappointing to be sure.”
The sagging ratings certainly are not the fault of anyone in Atlanta United’s clubhouse. These guys watch World Cup soccer in the morning before going out to practice, watch it when they come back in from practice and watch it at home as much as the family will allow. The Americans in the room – like a lot of other Americans on the outside – have to invent reasons to root for someone (Parkhurst, for example has played in Denmark, so he’s a great Dane guy).
But they’ll go to the effort. They were won over to soccer long ago, practically from birth. When the U.S. is out of the World Cup, it’s all the fence-sitters who are lost. And the next chance to catch their eye doesn’t come for four more years.
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