This is 99% invisible. I'm Roman Mars.

The most popular sport in the world has been relatively slow to catch on here in the United States.

There's this episode of The Simpsons that I think captures

the disdain with which some Americans regard the rest of humanity's

favorite game. It starts with the family watching TV.

Open wide for some soccer!

The cabinet of soccer association is coming to Springfield.

It's all here. Fast kickin, low scoring, and ties. You bet.

Hey dad, how come you never taking us to see a soccer game?

I don't know.

So the Simpsons decide to go to the game, and the stands are packed.

But the fans enthusiasm quickly evaporates as the game gets going.

Halfback passes to the center,

back to the wing, back to the center.

Center holds it, holds it, holds it, holds it.

Holds it.

Boring.

Come on, you snorers, do something.

I think it's fair to say that Homer and Krusty the Clown are echoing a common complaint about soccer that you hear in the United States a lot.

That it's not exciting enough.

That's producer Emmit Fitzgerald.

They don't score enough points, lament these narrow-minded touchdown lovers.

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