In the Spotlight: Soccer set to grow steadily in U.S.

Every four years, as the global ritual of the World Cup begins, we go through our own national ritual: debating the place of soccer in our culture. More than any other sport, soccer polarizes this country. Many love it, and hope the World Cup will finally persuade others to as well. Others criticize it for being boring, too theatrical, unfair, even un-American.

This year's games have already garnered larger audiences than previous men's World Cups, with audiences treated to all that makes soccer both exhilarating and frustrating.

Watching the U.S. team come back against Slovenia with verve and rage was beautiful. Watching them score a goal disallowed by the referee was devastating. But, as Paul Kennedy noted recently, that referee may have accomplished one amazing thing, making "Americans care passionately about soccer." We joined the global confraternity: complaining about referees is one of the most venerable aspects of soccer fandom.

Every sport is a language. We learn - usually unconsciously - to watch it, to understand and experience its logic and drama.

What makes soccer special? The clock never stops, which makes for an intense and almost hypnotic - and, to advertiser's chagrin, largely commercial-free - watching experience.

In the heat of the game, soccer players get little help from their coach on the sidelines, and have to organize and respond themselves on the pitch. And, of course, in the low-scoring game of soccer a referee's call, or a tiny mistake, can change everything.

Though it garners less attention and money than other sports, millions in the United States already are passionate about, and conversant in, the language of soccer. In fact, it well may be the most widely played sport in the country.

And the United States is the center of global women's soccer. The Women's World Cup win of 1999 garnered a larger audience than any men's soccer game ever has in this country, a