To answer the question you posed above, the Confederations Cup DID actually wake the sporting media up from its slumber, but only just a little bit. Early on, the competition was ignored of course but people starting noticing after the Spain victory. In the run-up to the Brazil game there was lots of talk on ESPN and even on some radio shows about how the U.S. might fare. And after the defeat, there was even more conversations and lots of articles in the press about "how this game bodes for 2010, etc."

One thing to remember though, this is a slow time of the year for the American sports calendar. Basketball is done, football training camps have yet to start and baseball is in the middle of its long boring trudge to October. American football (college and professional) is the 500-pound gorilla of the American sports scene. I would almost guarantee that if the Confederations Cup had taken place in September or October, there would have been no interest–as usual

It's interesting to hear you say mainstream American culture is more blase about football than hostile though – did USA's run in the Confederations Cup wake North America up from it's indifferent slumber at all? And long term will it have any impact?

@ johnv – You've explained yourself perfectly – I really like your point of view on the subject actually. On a personal note I'd probably equate your feelings towards football to mine and basketball, a sport that is not universally popular over here but is enjoyed in some circles.

One thing I've realised since beginning this site is the sheer depth of interest in football from people in the States. It appears to me that though the game might not be mainstream or universally popular over there, those who do choose to discover the 'secret' as you put it, have a knowledge and an enthusiasm for football that almost rivals anything you might find even in parts of England. Perhaps we should simply celebrate the ones across the pond who do love the game rather than questions those who don't.

Either way, it makes for an interesting debate

I am soccer fan–that's why I'm on this site and reading these articles. Would it be nice if more Americans shared my passion? Sure. But the bottom line is, I don't really care. I like to think of soccer as my own little secret. When I meet other fans, it's really fun to talk with them. It's like being part of a private club, where everyone knows all the codes and rituals. But for me, if soccer was discussed incessantly on TV and radio in the same way that baseball, football and basketball are, I think some of my enthusiasm would dull. I don't know why that is and I feel like I'm not doing a good job of explaining myself! I just look at soccer as "mine, all mine" and if it never gets into the mainstream that's fine with me.

Keep up the great work.

This doesn't have much to do with mainstream American culture (which is more indifferent than hostile to soccer, I think), but it's interesting that on the fringes the debate over soccer mirrors a deeper political argument about the extent to which we should embrace/be influenced by the outside world.

Those grains of truth, that football somehow represents to a section of Americans something to hate/fear, were again highlighted by certain parts of the media etc in reaction to the USMNT's run in the Confederations Cup.

What I'd like to establish is to what extent is this perception of football in America changing?

Also, Stephen Webb's piece was an attempt at satire; you can read an interview with him about it at my site here: http://www.matchfitusa.com/2009/03/stephen-webb-speaks-to-match-fit-usa.html or read what happened with the guys at Avoiding the Drop asked him to watch a full match and reports his thoughts: http://avoidingthedrop.wordpress.com/2009/03/27/first-timers-stephen-h-webb/