Is it as big as percentage who discuss football, basketball and baseball...no, but "pretty small" (yeah TWSS) is relative and that percentage is growing - no, not going to overtake football in my lifetime, but will gain on it.

Maybe if you add in your demographic old "get off my lawn" guys you might be right, but the younger, US born, white male generations (of which I am not part of) definitely discuss soccer - see it all the time in my 20 something offspring and their friends - yes a lot of them played it, and yes that is why I initially started learning/following soccer, but I continue to do so even with them out of the house.

Will I watch as much of the world cup without the USA? No, but I'll still watch some, and discuss it with friends who follow it. Much like CAPS fans watched a lot more hockey this year than previous years, it is common sense when your team is involved you watch more, not a blemish on the sport as a whole.