Iceland is a country with a heavy American influence. American pop music, clothing brands, and restaurants line the streets of downtown Reykjavik. Whether I am enjoying a subway sandwich or listening to Justin Timberlake on the radio, at times it feels like I have never left the commercialism and pop culture ever-present in the USA.
A different kind of football In this confusing image, European footballer David Beckham switches kits with American footballer Reggie Bush. While American football still dominates the American landscape, European football has seen a rise in popularity. Photo/ADIDAS
However, one glaring void, noticeably absent from the Icelandic and European culture is the non-existent status of American Football. How can a sport be so universally loved in one country, while barely contain a pulse abroad? Since I have (American) football fever due to the start of college football and the NFL this past weekend, I thought it would be appropriate to look at the two different “football” cultures of The United States and Europe.
With the exception of the occasional Super Bowl viewer, American football hardly exists to a culture largely immersed in soccer (football). Most Icelanders don’t even know the rules of the game. In fact, football is so engrained into American culture I find myself searching for new hobbies to fill my time on the weekends, which I previously spent cheering on Northwestern University on Saturdays, and checking my fantasy scores on Sundays.
So why do Icelanders, and on a larger scale Europeans, not find the passion for American football that stretches across the United States as a second religion?
College Football Atmosphere Saturdays in fall are consumed by College Football in the United States. Here is a picture I took while attending a game at my alma mater Northwestern University last year. Photo/ Matt Eliason
In my opinion, European countries do not have enough people playing the sport to spread the popularity. An individual is much more likely to follow a specific sport if they played that sport. Additionally, the significant investment needed in terms of financial capital as well as human capital, regarding the rules and regulations of American football, does not match well with the European academy system used in soccer.
52 players make the regulation football team, with only 18 needed to make a roster on a soccer team. The mass populous in the United States allows for a sport with larger participation demands. Additionally, football teams need a wide range of gear and safety equipment, while soccer players need a ball and grass field. The start-up costs for getting youth involved in football are much greater than the limited barriers-to-entry seen in soccer.
Furthermore, American football culture is largely built around the social aspect of school spirit and the American educational system. Students pour in to watch their high school or college team play as a representation of school spirit regardless of their love for the game. Football in Europe is built around academy systems that have a completely different affiliation with the team, and does not involve the same participation as the American schools.
Ingrained in the culture The European landscape focuses on soccer from a very early age. Photo/Vilhelm
European academy players are signed as early as 11 years old and are usually told if they are good enough to warrant a professional contract by the time they are 18 years old. In contrast, American football students can play at an amateur level all the way up until they are 25, as is illustrated by the 5th year senior in college football.
Ultimately, it is a matter of tastes and cultural preferences. Americans enjoy immediate gratification, and American football gives them that the high-powered, but erratically in-consistent, action of large men smashing into each other. Plays occur every 30-40 seconds with only 5-6 seconds of intense action, and the gameplay is constantly interrupted for commercials, time outs, and team discussions.
European’s on the other hand, enjoy a less frantic lifestyle that appreciates the slow build-ups and consistent action that European football affords. Soccer involves a lot of “foreplay” before leading to any type of end-goal or justification. Furthermore, the action is consistent and requires the audience’s full attention for the duration of the 45 minutes halves.
Due to the significant resources needed to play the game of football, I don’t see it becoming popular in Europe anytime soon. Now that I have been able to experience both the American style of football and the European style of football, I can appreciate what both sports bring to their respective cultures, and the passion that fans of both games bring have for their chosen teams.
Matt Eliason has just moved to Reykjavík, Iceland from Chicago, Illinois. In his regular column for Iceland Insider he chronicles his first impressions of the country, its people and traditions.
Iceland is a country with a heavy American influence. American pop music, clothing brands, and restaurants line the streets of downtown Reykjavik. Whether I am enjoying a subway sandwich or listening to Justin Timberlake on the radio, at times it feels like I have never left the commercialism and pop culture ever-present in the USA.
A different kind of football In this confusing image, European footballer David Beckham switches kits with American footballer Reggie Bush. While American football still dominates the American landscape, European football has seen a rise in popularity. Photo/ADIDAS
However, one glaring void, noticeably absent from the Icelandic and European culture is the non-existent status of American Football. How can a sport be so universally loved in one country, while barely contain a pulse abroad? Since I have (American) football fever due to the start of college football and the NFL this past weekend, I thought it would be appropriate to look at the two different “football” cultures of The United States and Europe.
With the exception of the occasional Super Bowl viewer, American football hardly exists to a culture largely immersed in soccer (football). Most Icelanders don’t even know the rules of the game. In fact, football is so engrained into American culture I find myself searching for new hobbies to fill my time on the weekends, which I previously spent cheering on Northwestern University on Saturdays, and checking my fantasy scores on Sundays.
So why do Icelanders, and on a larger scale Europeans, not find the passion for American football that stretches across the United States as a second religion?
College Football Atmosphere Saturdays in fall are consumed by College Football in the United States. Here is a picture I took while attending a game at my alma mater Northwestern University last year. Photo/ Matt Eliason
In my opinion, European countries do not have enough people playing the sport to spread the popularity. An individual is much more likely to follow a specific sport if they played that sport. Additionally, the significant investment needed in terms of financial capital as well as human capital, regarding the rules and regulations of American football, does not match well with the European academy system used in soccer.
52 players make the regulation football team, with only 18 needed to make a roster on a soccer team. The mass populous in the United States allows for a sport with larger participation demands. Additionally, football teams need a wide range of gear and safety equipment, while soccer players need a ball and grass field. The start-up costs for getting youth involved in football are much greater than the limited barriers-to-entry seen in soccer.
Furthermore, American football culture is largely built around the social aspect of school spirit and the American educational system. Students pour in to watch their high school or college team play as a representation of school spirit regardless of their love for the game. Football in Europe is built around academy systems that have a completely different affiliation with the team, and does not involve the same participation as the American schools.
Ingrained in the culture The European landscape focuses on soccer from a very early age. Photo/Vilhelm
European academy players are signed as early as 11 years old and are usually told if they are good enough to warrant a professional contract by the time they are 18 years old. In contrast, American football students can play at an amateur level all the way up until they are 25, as is illustrated by the 5th year senior in college football.
Ultimately, it is a matter of tastes and cultural preferences. Americans enjoy immediate gratification, and American football gives them that the high-powered, but erratically in-consistent, action of large men smashing into each other. Plays occur every 30-40 seconds with only 5-6 seconds of intense action, and the gameplay is constantly interrupted for commercials, time outs, and team discussions.
European’s on the other hand, enjoy a less frantic lifestyle that appreciates the slow build-ups and consistent action that European football affords. Soccer involves a lot of “foreplay” before leading to any type of end-goal or justification. Furthermore, the action is consistent and requires the audience’s full attention for the duration of the 45 minutes halves.
Due to the significant resources needed to play the game of football, I don’t see it becoming popular in Europe anytime soon. Now that I have been able to experience both the American style of football and the European style of football, I can appreciate what both sports bring to their respective cultures, and the passion that fans of both games bring have for their chosen teams.
