Not popular. This means public parks and even schools are less likely to have soccer fields or soccer programs. Note how almost every single park has a basketba

Not popular. This means public parks and even schools are less likely to have soccer fields or soccer programs. Note how almost every single park has a basketball court. Although this is changing, soccer is associated with elementary school kids or even as feminine (?). Because soccer is not popular, it doesn't make you as much money or respect as other sports. Strong athletes will overwhelmingly choose sports better for them in the long run. Elitist. For some reason, in the US, soccer is expensive. Leagues are expensive, classes are expensive, etc. It is squarely an middle to upper middle class sport. This cuts off a huge part of the population. I cannot tell you why because everywhere else, soccer is for everyone and a lot of famous players come from poor backgrounds. When the game was invented, it was a working class' game. Soccer starts too late. There is no progression from childhood to pro like there is everywhere. The best clubs and teams of the world (and even the ones that aren't so good) have special programs for K-12 kids (e.g. Barcelona has been training Messi since he was 13). Most soccer players I know didn't start playing seriously until high school or even college.