Football is the world’s most popular sport, particularly, in Europe and South America. It has a worldwide presence, especially since you can find a pitch almost anywhere. Despite this popularity, Asia is not the most powerful football region in the world even though its population is sizably bigger than the rest of the world.
Thankfully, recent signs have shown that Asia has taken a liking to football. Countries like South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and many more have shown that they are big fans of the sport and are doing their best to become competitive against the toughest teams.
Asian countries are bolstering their youth systems and football leagues to keep up with the rest of the world. Their own leagues have become top-tier markets for BTC gambling in online sportsbooks. Let’s take a look at what Asian countries are doing to cement their status as a football-loving continent just like South America and Europe.
Asian footballers are inspiring the youth
Despite the lack of popularity of football in Asia in the past, there are a few standouts that have bucked the trend. Asian footballers like Son Heung-min and Takumi Minamino have become worldwide stars and have left an indelible mark. The youth hold them in high esteem which has left these kids to follow their dreams.
Football was mostly seen as a sport for the people in the West but it has already taken over many Asian countries. Son has had a cultural impact on South Korea as he is seen as a hero by their citizens.
Son is not the only star from his country because before he even played for any senior squad, Park Ji-sung was the icon for his generation. There were only a few players in the past but nowadays, there is a plethora of Asians in football.
Football continues to get media attention in Asia
While certain Asian players will be important when it comes to proving that the continent can produce talented players, the overall coverage of football makes the youth want to play. Watching leagues like the Premier League or La Liga is a strong reason why the sport has become so popular.
Superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have transcended borders and have become two of the most popular football players in the world. They are primarily known as footballers and with the ‘cool aura’ that they give off, more people become interested in what they do. This has led to Asian countries having their own leagues like the Chinese Super League or the J1 League in Japan.
The youth are more aware of different sports now
The youth has the internet to use for entertainment and to follow their interests. In the past, the youth was only restricted to what they could see on television. Now, they have the internet as a wider lens to look into which has led to them seeing how football is played and what leagues they can watch through the internet.
It has unlocked a new facet of the sports world as they can regularly watch football matches through live streaming sites. They can watch a highlight reel from a footballer like Son or Messi through video-sharing sites like YouTube or social media platforms like Facebook. This kind of variety has widened people’s eyes towards sports, especially in Asia with football.
Asian football will get its own spotlight in the future
Park, Son, Minamino, and the current crop of Asian footballers are just the beginning because Asian football is primed to become the biggest football region worldwide. They are ready to take over the competitive aspect soon but in the meantime, you should do BTC gambling for yourself with these Asian leagues and other competitions like the Premier League.
