Soccer is viewed as a "safe" sport to get your son or daughter in when they are young, and it progresses up to HS. Much like Lacrosse (which is a far superior sport, IMHO). Except, with lacrosse, if one is good, you can get into an Ivy League school, and then many of those players go onto Fortune 500 businesses.
My brother and sister played soccer as kids. The moms get together---it seemed more about meeting and greeting than the games themselves. And of course, do to not wanting to hurt feelings, and teaching "good sportsmanship" and "camaraderie", everyone gets a trophy.
By HS, many kid's attention tends to dwindle for soccer, unless they are girls...which girl's soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, volley ball, and track tend to be the forerunners depending on your area.
HS boys with any athletic ability and height and weight are pushed towards football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, or track.
Where I come from, the rest did soccer, rowing, sailing, and golf.
I actually like watching soccer, since I am used to watching my brother and sister play...and indoor soccer is far more entertaining, and fast paced.