Swamp soccer is a real thing and may actually be more entertaining than the World Cup

Soccer is growing in the United States, but there’s no question that it lags far behind the “big four” of football, basketball, baseball and hockey.

Around the world, of course, there’s no bigger sport than soccer, and there’s no larger stage than the World Cup.

But with the United States failing to qualify for this year’s event in Russia, Americans may be looking for something different.

We present swamp soccer.

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While the World Cup is taking center stage in cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, nine teams have converged in the Russian village of Pogi, Reuters reports.

Their goal Saturday? To take home the title of the best swamp soccer team in the world.

Swamp soccer is basically soccer in extreme mud conditions.

The sport began in Finland as a way for cross country skiers to train.

But competitors discovered that getting dirty playing “the beautiful game” is a whole lot of fun.

As you can imagine, kicking a ball while knee-deep in mud is a challenge.

But as the Finnish can attest, it’s a great workout.

And one enthusiastic player, Sergei “The Beard” Strikha, says, there’s a lesser-known health benefit.

“This is the best exfoliation, this swamp,” Strikha told Reuters. It is even better than exfoliation procedures done in Thailand with fish, it is the best exfoliation. After this [playing in swamp] the heels become as pink as a piglet’s bottom.”

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Um, OK.

The sport is growing, with tournaments being held in locales like Brazil and China.

So if the World Cup doesn’t catch your fancy, maybe it’s worth tearing up the backyard, hosing it down and kicking around the ol’ soccer ball.

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