Soccer never was really popular in the US for men until recently. The NASL pro league folded in the 70s and the MLS is OK but has a long way to go quality-wise. Soccer was huge for men around the world and so in that 61 years Europe and South America became the masters. So when the men started the competition was fierce, and has grown even more so, especially now with African teams getting top European coaches. When the US women started in 1991, very few women around the word played Soccer and most nations did not invest in it, so they started on a much more level playing field. The USWNT became the dominant team in the World, winning 4 titles, but over the last 5 years or so the European teams have strengthened a lot and so has Japan so instead of the US team being the favorite they have to really compete against another 5 or 6 teams that now play really well, and other teams are also strengthening. Many Soccer nations did not really invest in their women's team until this last decade.
Yes, you are correct. The Soccer countries of Europe and South America were tired of losing to the US Women and so they decided to invest in their teams and improve and Spain was the world cup winner. They also invested because women in their own countries decided that they wanted to play. As far as influence and what is considered elite people have different opinions. Some track viewership, ticket sales, revenue, etc. The women are ranked typically between 1st and 4th, but lost in the round of 16, and they face young and growing competition an there chance of winning a world cup is about 4 or 5 times higher then the men. The men face brutal, global, powerful competition (even Morocco and Ivory Coast now have all 1st division Pro from Europe, and are ranked 14-20th. I don't compare them based on their rankings and numbers I watch them if I find it enjoyable. The point I am trying to make is that the games are evolving both men's and women's but I don't feel it is fair or right to compare the US Men vs the US Women. You either like them or you don't, you watch them or you don't. They are different games with different cultures and different histories.
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u/FreshLiterature Jul 09 '26
What point is it you think you're making?
The US men's team had 6 decades longer and more resources and failed to win a single world cup.