'There's a World Cup happening?' Are Americans excited about the tournament?

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. 'There's a World Cup happening? ' Are Americans excited about the tournament? Image source, via Getty ImagesImage caption, Will Americans catch World Cup fever?

ByGary Rose, Sport journalist in Los Angeles and Neil Johnston, Sport journalist in New YorkPublished18 minutes agoThere were wild celebrations throughout New York City, some fans standing on their cars on the streets of Manhattan, while thousands of miles away in Santa Monica roars could be heard from bars that lined the beach. But this wasn't for a World Cup game. This was for the New York Knicks as they staged a stunning comeback on Wednesday - the greatest in NBA Finals history - to beat the San Antonio Spurs.

The Details

It served as a reminder of what global football's most prestigious tournament is up against in the USA as the country's national team prepares to kick off against Paraguay. Football - or soccer - does not hold the same level of love as sports such as basketball and American football in the USA and a recent poll has suggested half of Americans surveyed do not care about the tournament. After a build-up dogged by political issues and expensive tickets, just how excited are people in the country for it?

'I don't care about anything other than the Knicks'Image source, via Getty ImagesImage caption, New York Knicks fans took over New York to celebrate their win against San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday nightThis is the second time the USA has been a World Cup host of the men's tournament, having last done so in 1994. That tournament had a significant and lasting impact on the football culture in the country, boosting its popularity and paving the way for the creation of Major League Soccer. But fast forward more than three decades to the present day and excitement for the return of the World Cup on American soil does not yet appear to have really taken off.

In New York, there is evidence if you look closely that this monster tournament is about to begin. There are subway trains decked out in national team colours. Lionel Messi's face appears on a giant billboard in Times Square and there are fans walking around the Big Apple in the shirts of Morocco and Brazil, who meet on Saturday in the first of eight World Cup matches at the MetLife Stadium - rebranded New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament.

What Experts Say

But it is basketball - not football - that New Yorkers are besotted with right now. The New York Knicks lead in the NBA Finals 3-1 against San Antonio Spurs and will clinch the the national championship for the first time since 1973 if they win on Saturday when the teams next meet. "You've seen Batman, right?

You've seen Gotham, right? Man, Saturday night is probably going to be like that if the Knicks win," one fan told Sport. "To be honest I haven't really kept up with anything about the World Cup.

I don't care about anything other than the Knicks.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.