I like soccer. Great game. Unfortunately, it is not a great tv sport, with the huge field, and players spread out everywhere. And, due to the talent of the players at the World Cup level, there is often not a lot of offense to appeal to the casual fan. Only true soccer fans can appreciate a 0-0 contest.
Soccer must be experienced live to fully enjoy it ---much like any type of auto or motorcycle racing. Just like you cannot appreciate the speed of the cars in NASCAR until you see it live, you cannot fully appreciate the athletic talent and skills of great soccer players until you have seen them live and up close.
I have never been to a World Cup soccer match. I would like to go someday. I've watched a lot of soccer at much lower levels, watching my son grow up and play from knee high to high school graduate. And, my Dad and I used to drive to Memphis to watch professional soccer being played at Libery Bowl stadium. I cannot remember the name of the Memphis team (Kicks? Hounddogs?). But, we enjoyed going and would go see 5-6 games a season.
The primary thing holding back soccer in the US, and why we don't compete better at the World Cup is Title Nine. Imagine the SEC and the other major conferences having enough scholarships to make men's soccer a full scholarship sport. We already have extensive youth leagues to supply all the players we would ever need to field teams. Such would provide a huge boost to the sport, and get many fans tuned into and interested in the sport. Ole Miss could play MSU in horse shoes, and there would be some interest and a great desire to win.

Just imagine a soccer match between the two schools, with an SEC title on the line, and 15-20k fans in the stands. And if men's soccer at the NCAA Div 1 level were to mushroom, there would be your farm system for developing talent to field great soccer teams for the World Cup.
It is amazing the things we miss out on in life due to political correctness and short-sightedness.
Too bad the US lost. I watched a portion of the replay last night. Barring a miracle, it does not look good for the US to advance.