Soccer is perhaps the quintessential global sport. No other sporting activity garners as much coverage, enthusiasm, global presence and acceptance as soccer. Soccer is only second to Olympics in its iconic presence as a sporting event.
Although Soccer with all its rules and regulations originated in North Western Europe, it quickly spread worldwide due to its simplicity, speed, elegance and universal acceptance as a sport throughout the world.
However soccer must win the hearts and minds in two regions, North America and Indian Subcontinent, if it wants to seal its place as the pre-eminent and most followed sport throughout the world. In India, Cricket takes precedence over soccer by a wide margin, just as Baseball takes precedence over soccer and cricket.
Although soccer is gaining mainstream attention in America, cricket has a stranglehold over the hearts and minds of people in Indian Subcontinent and no other sporting event has been able to crack the subcontinent’s cricket fever.
Demography is also a big factor why cricket may actually expand its following compared to soccer. Over the next four decades, Indian Subcontinent will expand from 1.6 Billion people to 2.3-2.4 Billion people, thus expanding Cricket’s following. Large numbers of people from Indian Subcontinent are migrating to North America and British Isles where they keep the passion for cricket alive.
On the other hand, over the next 40 years Europe will loose 100 million people due to extremely low birth rates. Same demographic trends for Japan, where soccer is popular. On the other hand, Latin America will add 200 million more people which will somewhat offset the rapid European decline.
Africa, where soccer seems to be far more popular compared to Cricket might add to soccer’s influence and market penetration, if its economic conditions improve.
However, due to a combination of economic growth and massive demographic boom in Indian Subcontinent, Cricket might gain a market presence and following which might rival soccer in coming decades.