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Yet, the US dominates in women’s soccer. Maybe there are fewer options for them to play other sports (football specifically)?

zhdc1 8y ago
The US actually has a fairly good men's national team. As weak as CONCACAF is, there's a reason why they've qualified for seven of the last eight World Cups - and why their tie with Trinidad and Tobago was so surprising.
- moorhosj 8y ago
  Currently 25th in FIFA rankings (3rd in CONCACAF). Is there any other major men's sport where the US ranks outside the top 20 (maybe cricket)? - 15th in rugby https://www.worldrugby.org/rankings/mru?lang=en https://www.worldrugby.org/rankings/mru?lang=en - 6th in tennis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITF_Rankings#Men https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITF_Rankings#Men - 4th in hockey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IIHF_World_Ranking https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IIHF_World_Ranking - 2nd in volleyball https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIVB_World_Rankings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIVB_World_Rankings
  - pbhjpbhj 8y ago
    What we in the UK call hockey (field hockey) - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIH_World_Rankings https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIH_World_Rankings - USA women 7th, USA men not listed.
    - moorhosj 8y ago
      You are correct. I see them at 26th here - http://www.fih.ch/rankings/outdoor/ http://www.fih.ch/rankings/outdoor/ Another one would be handball, ranked 38th - http://www.ihf.info/en-us/thegame/rankingtable.aspx?month=7&year=2010&teamCatID=2 http://www.ihf.info/en-us/thegame/rankingtable.aspx?month=7&...
      - pbhjpbhj 8y ago
        Where is handball a major sport; I don't think I've ever seen it played in a match.
ggg9990 8y ago
The number of women playing sports seriously is much higher in the US than in most other countries due to Title IX and cultural reasons.
dragandj 8y ago
Another reason might be that in Europe soccer is considered a rather masculine sport. Very few girls even consider playing it. Girls usually play volleyball, handball, etc. but a girl that kicks the ball with a foot would be strangely looked at here. In the US, I hear, soccer is reasonably popular as a female sport, so the talenf pool is larger.
- bluedino 8y ago
  Soccer also doesn’t compete with football or basketball for girls like it does with boys

zhdc1 8y ago

The US actually has a fairly good men's national team. As weak as CONCACAF is, there's a reason why they've qualified for seven of the last eight World Cups - and why their tie with Trinidad and Tobago was so surprising.

moorhosj 8y ago
Currently 25th in FIFA rankings (3rd in CONCACAF). Is there any other major men's sport where the US ranks outside the top 20 (maybe cricket)? - 15th in rugby https://www.worldrugby.org/rankings/mru?lang=en https://www.worldrugby.org/rankings/mru?lang=en - 6th in tennis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITF_Rankings#Men https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITF_Rankings#Men - 4th in hockey https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IIHF_World_Ranking https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IIHF_World_Ranking - 2nd in volleyball https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIVB_World_Rankings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIVB_World_Rankings
- pbhjpbhj 8y ago
  What we in the UK call hockey (field hockey) - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIH_World_Rankings https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIH_World_Rankings - USA women 7th, USA men not listed.
  - moorhosj 8y ago
    You are correct. I see them at 26th here - http://www.fih.ch/rankings/outdoor/ http://www.fih.ch/rankings/outdoor/ Another one would be handball, ranked 38th - http://www.ihf.info/en-us/thegame/rankingtable.aspx?month=7&year=2010&teamCatID=2 http://www.ihf.info/en-us/thegame/rankingtable.aspx?month=7&...
    - pbhjpbhj 8y ago
      Where is handball a major sport; I don't think I've ever seen it played in a match.

ggg9990 8y ago

The number of women playing sports seriously is much higher in the US than in most other countries due to Title IX and cultural reasons.

dragandj 8y ago

Another reason might be that in Europe soccer is considered a rather masculine sport. Very few girls even consider playing it. Girls usually play volleyball, handball, etc. but a girl that kicks the ball with a foot would be strangely looked at here. In the US, I hear, soccer is reasonably popular as a female sport, so the talenf pool is larger.

bluedino 8y ago
Soccer also doesn’t compete with football or basketball for girls like it does with boys