Let’s say the adult population is 250 million. 25% of 250 million is 62.5 million people. That is almost as many people that live in France. And way more people than Norway, Netherlands and Portugal combined. Yet these three countries have a world class national team and produce top players.
It’s not that not enough Americans care it is the sports college system for this sport doesn’t work to create elite players. I bet California has enough people interested in the sport to replicate the European promotion and relegation system for a comprehensive multi level amateur league system to produce top players. Like if a tiny nation as Portugal can do it a rich state as California with more inhabitants can probably do it too.
chatokun@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 days ago
Not all adults are sports fans though, so those numbers are still inflated. Proportions may still work though. While I have no issues with sports, understand people following them and enjoy playing them, I don’t follow any sports myself. There are people like me and people who do the tired scoffing “sportsball” joke all around in the us (not like our interests are any less affordable).