Myths of US indifference to football are waning

Global perceptions that the World Cup means little Stateside are being broken by their continued showing around South Africa's stadiums.

PRETORIA // During yesterday's match between the United States and Algeria, a quick glance around the Loftus Versfeld Stadium and there was little doubt as to whom the neutrals were following. Flags from Finland, Ireland, Scotland, Belgium and a host of other nations that failed to qualify for this summer's World Cup hung proudly, much like they did five days earlier when the Americans played Slovenia. While such adopted support could help explain why the US had one of the highest ticket sales of all the nations here, the throngs of fans painted in the distinctive stars and stripes or carrying cardboard cut-outs of Abraham Lincoln, show that if, like one young fan's T-shirt read, 'America Needs You', then the nation's patriotic people will respond. Despite newspaper headlines such as the New York Post's famous "USA wins 1-1", the days of football being solely a sport played with an oval-shaped pigskin are dying. Soccer, and the number of supporters following it, is growing. "That's a bad rumour; it's a myth," said Felipe Maldonado from Newport Beach, California, when asked about the global perception that Americans don't like football. "Why would we fly 23 hours to see a little bit of soccer? I think we have probably flown the furthest out of anybody here and who has the most volume of fans?" Fifa estimated the US purchased 132,000 tickets before the tournament kicked off ? more than any other country outside South Africa and yesterday, the prominent star-spangled banners in the stands were joined by a relaxed-looking Bill Clinton. Such is the Americans' appetite for football, the former president is the honorary chairman of the country's bid to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022. Football's growing reputation Statestide could be epitomised earlier this month when Sports Illustrated, America's weekly sporting Bible that has a tendency to focus on the big three of basketball, baseball and American football, decided to carry Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan and Tim Howard - the USA's football team's three most high-profile players - on its cover. Like many fans, Bryan Purdy, from Tucson, Arizona, believes his country's performance at the Confederations Cup last summer, where they reached the final only to lose to Brazil, was key to attracting football's new fanbase, as well as tempting him to travel to South Africa. "A few of my friends came out last summer for the Confederations Cup," said Purdy, who is in the country for two and a half weeks. "I spoke to them afterwards and realised that this is a country that is a pretty safe place to be and no big deal. "Since we've arrived we've had a very good reception from the South Africans and a great experience with fans from all the different teams. We obviously had a great campaign last summer and are all hoping for more of the same now." [e-mail]