I don't think soccer will ever be popular here in the USA. It is just way too boring for us. There is a problem in watching a game that can be played for an hour and a half and end up 1-0, and only then because of a penalty kick. Curling is more exciting!
I don't know why (maybe it is because for soccer, you don't have to buy lots of equipment) but they seem to make our kids do soccer. But, as can be esxpected, most of them lose interest when they hit their teens.
And I will say this, for those suffering from insomnia, watching soccer does provide good sedative effects.
Roone Arledge was an innovative sports television executive. He didn't invent it personally, but he brought us the use of instant replay amongst other things.
Verzem