Soccer More Popular Than Ever in the U.S.

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Materials Daily News

Intermediate

Exercise 1

Vocabulary

host

Verb

hoʊst

to organize and hold an event, tournament, party, etc.

Sydney hosted the Olympic Games in 2000.

My wife likes to host dinner parties at our home.

The actress was asked to host the award show.

spokesman

Noun

ˈspoʊksmən

someone whose job is to speak for and represent an organization or person in public

The spokesman came to the press conference to discuss a number of issues.

The spokesman will hold a press conference later today.

turning point

Noun

ˈtɜːrnɪŋ pɔɪnt

the time when an important change takes place

That match marked a turning point for our country's football team.

numerous

Adjective

ˈnuːmərəs

large in number or many

There are numerous books in this library.

You can choose from a numerous selection of seeds.

There will be numerous opportunities to network during the national conference.

A major deep-water port, the city is home to numerous oil refineries.

profile

Noun

ˈproʊfaɪl

the amount of public attention that a person or thing receives

A newspaper article can dramatically increase the profile of a company.

Those who can communicate well are considered more likely to be chosen for high-profile clients.

coverage

Noun

ˈkʌvərɪʤ, ˈkʌvrɪʤ

the reporting of a particular event, issue, etc. by the media

The newspapers are giving the story full coverage.

The opening of the movie received extensive coverage by the media.

Exercise 2

Article

AI Generated Audio––:–– / ––:––

Soccer More Popular Than Ever in the U.S.

Even though their team didn't make it into the World Cup in Russia, U.S. soccer fans have something to celebrate this week. It has been announced that the United States, Mexico, and Canada will host the World Cup in 2026.

“Overall, soccer is stronger than it ever has been,” said Michael Kammarman, a spokesman for the United States Soccer Federation.

A 2018 Gallup poll found that soccer had replaced hockey as the fourth most popular sport in the country, behind American football, basketball and baseball. The survey found that 37 percent of Americans said American football was their favorite sport to watch. That compared to 11 percent for basketball, nine percent for baseball and seven percent for soccer.

Kammarman said the 1994 World Cup, which was hosted by the United States, was the turning point for soccer in the U.S. Just two years after the 1994 World Cup, the professional Major League Soccer (MLS) had its first season. Since then, the number of MLS teams has grown from 12 to 23.

Kammarman also points to the success of women’s soccer as a driver for the sport in the United States. The national team is ranked No.1 in the world and has won numerous Olympic gold medals and World Cups.

Technology is also raising soccer’s profile in the United States.

Kammarman said the FIFA Soccer video games, which have been hugely popular among gamers and soccer fans, have made Americans more and more aware of soccer superstars such as Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.

He added that soccer was also one of the first sports in the country for which fans went to the internet to follow because there was little coverage on television and in the news.

Exercise 3

Questions

Which countries will host the 2026 World Cup?

What was the fourth most popular sport in the U.S. before soccer?

According to Michael Kammarman, what was the turning point for soccer in the U.S.?

Exercise 4

Discussion

What are your thoughts on the growing popularity of soccer in the U.S.?

Do you think soccer will ever be as popular as American football in the U.S.? Why? Why not?

Did your country qualify for the 2018 Football World Cup? If so, how do you rate their chances of winning?

Have you ever attended a professional soccer game? If so, please share your experience. If not, would you like to?

Are you a gamer? If so, have you played any of the FIFA Soccer video games? If not, why not?

Exercise 5

Further Discussion

Do you watch any sports? If so, do you watch them on TV or the internet?

Do you prefer watching American football, basketball, baseball, or soccer? Please explain your answer.

What sports did you play as a child? Which was your favorite?

If you could represent your country in any sport, which would you choose and why?

Sports do not build character. They reveal it. - Heywood Broun. What do you make of this statement?

Exercises for Further Self-Study

These self-study exercises are optional and should be carried out after the lesson has finished.

Exercise 6

Sentence Building

Write at least one sentence for each of the words in Exercise 1: Vocabulary. Begin by making sure you understand the definition of each word. Use the example sentences as a guide if you are unable to think of a sentence. Practice reading your sentences out loud.

Exercise 7

Summary

Make a brief summary of the article. Focus on the main topic and consider which pieces of information are most important. Make sure you include details such as what the article is about, who is mentioned in it, where and when the events took place, and also how and why they happened.

Parts of this lesson are based on:

An article by Voice of America.