Understanding the True Football: A Guide for Americans Who Call it Soccer

Let’s get one thing straight: it’s called football, not soccer. Around the world, football is not just a sport—it’s a passion, a culture, a religion. For many Americans, the word “soccer” brings to mind MLS games, youth leagues, or maybe the U.S. National Team every four years. But to truly understand what football is, you have to watch it where it’s played at the highest level: Europe.

You Don’t Understand Football Until You Watch the Best

Football is not a sport you can grasp by reading rules or watching random highlight reels. You need to experience the flow of the game, the tactics, the tension that builds across 90 minutes. That’s why watching top-tier European football is essential. The MLS and other smaller leagues don’t compare in quality, intensity, or global relevance. Europe is where the legends are born and where the world's best players go to prove themselves.

Spain: A Perfect Example of Football Culture

Let’s take Spain’s La Liga as an example. The Primera División (First Division) is the top category in Spanish football. It’s a league where teams accumulate points throughout the season: 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, none for a loss. There are no playoffs. At the end of the season, the team with the most points becomes the champion. Simple, pure, and demanding consistency over 38 weeks.

But football in Spain isn’t only about La Liga. There’s also the Copa del Rey (The King’s Cup), a thrilling knockout tournament where teams from all divisions participate. This is where underdogs from small towns get their shot to face giants like Real Madrid or FC Barcelona. Every year, there’s the possibility of a Cinderella story where a modest second-division team reaches the semifinals or even the final.

The UEFA Champions League: The Supreme Competition

Above all domestic competitions, there’s the UEFA Champions League—the ultimate tournament in world football. The best teams from Europe’s strongest leagues—England, Spain, Italy, Germany, France—face off in a tournament that starts with a group stage (league format) and then progresses to elimination rounds. The Champions League is where legends are made, where the level of play reaches its peak, and where global audiences stop everything to watch.

When you hear about classic matches or epic rivalries, they’re almost always from the Champions League or Europe’s top leagues. MLS is improving, but it’s simply not at this level—not yet.

You Want to Understand Football? Watch the Real Thing

So, if you’re curious about football, stop calling it soccer and start watching the real thing. Tune in to La Liga, the English Premier League, or the UEFA Champions League. Watch how a team like FC Barcelona builds their play, or how a small team battles against the giants. Football is a game of patience, strategy, and passion, and you won’t get it until you see it done by the best.