Soccer is the second most played sport in the world, only falling behind cricket. The World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and it’s no wonder why. Soccer has a huge following, with many people from all over the world enjoying this incredible sport. Soccer has been around for centuries, but why did it become such a popular global game? Here are some reasons why did soccer become so popular.
1. The Rule Changes
Soccer has gone through some rule changes over the centuries. There are two major rule changes helped to boost the popularity of the sport. First, the introduction of a two-goal frame in the early part of the 20th century. It helped the sport become even more popular.
It made the games far more exciting and allowed the possibility of more goals. Secondly, the introduction of the offside rule in the 1930. It helped to make the game more strategic, as players had to be more aware of their position on the field.
The offside rule is still in place today, keeping fans on the edge of their seats because of a more complex game.
2. More Countries Are Playing It
Soccer has been played in most countries around the world for centuries. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that more countries started to play it. The 1970s was a particularly special decade for soccer. Because it was the first time that soccer had been played at the Olympics.
This allowed more countries to get involved with soccer and people started to become more aware of the sport. In addition to the Olympics, FIFA looked to expand the game internationally.
FIFA is the governing body of soccer, and they were responsible for looking after the needs of the players, as well as spreading the word about the sport. FIFA was first established in 1904, but at this point, football was the name of the game.
The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world, and it has been held every four years since the 1930s. The World Cup is a soccer tournament that involves international teams.
The tournament has been played in stadiums all over the world, and it has helped to boost the popularity of the sport, particularly in the host country, as well as the other countries that are watching the game.
3. Improvement in Infrastructure
Soccer requires very little in terms of equipment, making it accessible to many people and communities around the world. This helped it to become popular as more people were able to play it.
Soccer was played outside for most of the history, although some countries had rudimentary pitches, or even fields, that were used for the game. The biggest change in terms of infrastructure came in the last 20 years, with the creation of massive stadiums that could host many people.
Several stadiums can hold up to 90,000 people, allowing huge crowds to watch the game live. The biggest stadium in the world is the Rungrado 1st Stadium in South Korea, with a capacity of 100,000.
The increase in the number of big stadiums has meant that more soccer fans have been able to watch the game live, which is great for the sport as people can get a more authentic experience.
4. Brands Jumped on Board
Football has always been associated with brands, particularly the World Cup. In the last 20 years, brands have jumped on the bandwagon, creating all sorts of merchandise around the sport. This has helped football to become even more popular, as it has introduced many people to the sport.
Many types of merchandise are available for soccer fans, but the most common type is clothing. There are many types of clothing, from t-shirts to long-sleeved shirts, to tracksuits. Many types of brands produce soccer clothing, which has helped to increase the popularity of the sport even more.
People wear their team’s jersey to show their support, while others just purchase the clothing as a fashion item.
5. Young Talent Is Showing Great Progress
Kids all over the world are playing soccer, with many of them showing great progress. This has helped to increase the popularity of the sport, particularly among the younger generation.
This has also been helped by the internet, as kids can watch other people play the game, and they have many resources available to them to improve their game. Many young soccer players have been able to showcase their talent at a young age, playing in major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup, as well as the Euro Cup.
This has given young soccer players a great platform to showcase their skills, which has helped the sport become even more popular.
Conclusion
Soccer has been played for centuries, and it has grown in popularity over time. There are many reasons why soccer became so popular, including rule changes, more countries playing it, improvements in infrastructure, brands jumping on board, and young talent showing great progress. As the years pass, likely, soccer will only continue to grow in popularity.
