New York City erupted as the Knicks staged a comeback against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday—the greatest in NBA Finals history. Thousands of miles away in Santa Monica, bars erupted with the same celebration. This was not World Cup football.
Football does not hold the cultural position of basketball or American football in the USA. A recent poll revealed that half of Americans surveyed do not care about the tournament. The tournament's launch has faced political controversy and expensive ticket prices.
Signs of the World Cup appear in New York. Subway trains display national colours. Lionel Messi's face dominates a Times Square billboard. Fans in Morocco and Brazil shirts walk the streets. Yet New Yorkers remain focused on basketball.
The 1994 World Cup in the USA boosted football culture and created Major League Soccer. Thirty-two years later, the tournament's return has yet to capture public imagination. The Knicks lead 3-1 in the NBA Finals and can clinch Saturday. Brazil and Morocco meet at MetLife Stadium that same week, but without the attention the basketball championship commands.