American Words: Examining the Impact of Propaganda

The language of American sports has made a steady incursion into English football culture over the past decade, transforming how fans, commentators and players discuss the beautiful game. This linguistic shift reflects broader commercial and cultural changes reshaping the sport on British soil.

“Soccer,” once dismissed as an American abomination by English purists, now appears regularly in mainstream football coverage. Sky Sports presenters casually refer to “assists,” “shutouts” and “MVP performances” during Premier League broadcasts, terminology that would have seemed distinctly foreign to viewers just fifteen years ago.

The influence extends beyond broadcast media. During a recent post-match interview, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola discussed his team’s “offense” rather than attack, while Liverpool’s Jürgen Klopp has repeatedly praised his squad’s “roster depth” when describing his bench options.

This evolution stems largely from the Premier League’s aggressive expansion into the American market, where viewership has grown by over 74% since 2013, according to Nielsen ratings. With NBC Sports paying £2 billion for broadcasting rights and American ownership now present in nearly half of Premier League clubs, the Americanization of football vocabulary appears to be a calculated business strategy rather than random linguistic drift.

“The Premier League is deliberately positioning itself as a global entertainment product,” explains Dr. Sarah Reynolds, sports linguistics researcher at King’s College London. “Adopting American sporting terminology makes the product more accessible to the lucrative US market while creating a sense of modernity that appeals to younger international audiences.”

Social media has accelerated this transformation. Content algorithms favor American terminology due to the larger audience size, subtly pushing UK-based content creators to adopt phrases like “PKs” instead of “penalties” or “cleats” rather than “boots” to maximize engagement and reach.

The trend has not gone unnoticed by traditional football supporters, many of whom view it as cultural erosion. The Football Supporters’ Association conducted a survey last year showing 67% of long-term fans expressed concern about the “Americanization” of football vocabulary, with respondents over 50 particularly resistant to terms like “tied game” replacing “draw.”

“There’s something distinctly uncomfortable about hearing football discussed using baseball or American football terminology,” says Martin Lewis, who has held a season ticket at Leeds United for 32 years. “It’s as if we’re gradually surrendering our football identity to make the sport more marketable.”

The phenomenon extends to tactical analysis, where American basketball and NFL concepts increasingly influence how football performance is measured. Expected goals (xG), possession percentages in specific zones, and progressive passing metrics—all analysis tools with roots in American sports analytics—now dominate punditry and recruitment strategies at top clubs.

This linguistic evolution parallels structural changes in the game itself. The introduction of VAR, increased substitutions, and discussions about eliminating relegation all reflect American sporting models. Some Premier League executives have privately advocated for future innovations like timeout breaks and in-game entertainment, further blurring the lines between traditional football and American sports presentation.

Not all traditionalists oppose the changes, however. Former England international Gary Lineker recently defended the evolution, noting that “football has always borrowed terminology from other countries and cultures. The game’s vocabulary evolves just as tactics and playing styles do.”

Marketing experts suggest this linguistic merger creates a more universal football language that benefits the sport’s global appeal. Premier League broadcasts now reach over 3 billion people worldwide, with American viewership representing the fastest-growing segment.

As investment from American owners continues to reshape club structures and business models, the vocabulary shift appears unlikely to reverse. Todd Boehly’s acquisition of Chelsea, along with American-led consortiums at Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool, ensures American influence will remain embedded in English football’s highest levels.

For younger fans raised on FIFA video games, YouTube highlights and international social media, these linguistic distinctions matter less. A recent YouGov poll found that under-25 supporters showed minimal resistance to American terminology, suggesting that within a generation, the distinction between traditional English football vocabulary and its American counterparts may fade entirely from the sporting conversation.