World Cup Survey: Fans Will Endure Starvation & Unemployment For Victory (VIDEO)

It's no secret that the World Cup attracts hardcore fans, and a recent survey seems to reinforce that perception.

On Friday, MSNBC's "Morning Joe" reported the findings from a poll that asked fans what they would be willing to surrender in exchange for their favorite team winning the World Cup this summer.

51% of respondents said they would starve themselves for a week, while 40% were willing to give up dating for an entire year if it led to World Cup glory. 7% claim they would forfeit their job, and 4% would sacrifice a limb.

That intense sliver of respondents are not the only ones willing to surrender a body part for a taste of sports championship. In January, a New Orleans man offered his left testicle for Super Bowl tickets. Scroll down to watch the "Morning Joe" segment.

WATCH:

Comments

[concretedonkey]

05:01 PM on 05/06/2010

Soccer fans never cease to amaze! VAmos Spain!

[alistairpolitic]

10:15 AM on 05/06/2010

I hate MSMs take on FOOTBALL in America. There are 26 million supporters here that follow European, MLS and the men's national team and yet we are still considered 'Communist' for being avidly committed to only true global sport.

Even the lefties over at MSM slag us off. Sad but you can have your baseball while the rest of us focus on who will be the next real 'world champion'.

[mom72]

08:55 PM on 05/05/2010

VIVA ITALIA!!

[realist12602]

08:55 AM on 05/05/2010

And it's now official - Soccer fans are the craziest fans in the world.

[anitaj]

01:19 AM on 05/05/2010

As long as people are keeping things in perspective.

[joocee102]

11:08 PM on 05/04/2010

Good lord! Are bragging rights that fricken important, that one would willfully give an appendage. These people are nothing then a bunch of pride whores. Nonetheless I do love soccer, but not that extreme.

Go Team America!

[Rogo99]

10:14 PM on 05/04/2010

I'm already bored and not watching.
The rest of the world can have that game.

[roger37]

06:39 PM on 05/04/2010

I like futbol because there's only 3 rules:

1. Fake injury
2. Kick ball
3. Get check

First team to reach 1-0 wins.

[jrusse10]

06:10 PM on 05/04/2010

If you're from a country that has never won, I think you're totally justified. The estimated average life expectancy on earth is 67.2 years. Let's say the average expectancy for any year's 32 Cup finalist countries is something like 70-74 years (they're proportionately wealthier, richer and much more heavily European than 32 random countries chosen out of a hat). Let's also assume you can't really be a soccer fan until age 10, which would allow, on average, 60-64 years of soccer fandom. That's 15-17 World Cups for the average top-32 fan's lifetime.

There have been 18 Cups held so far. Only 7 countries have won it all over the course of those 80 years (Brazil 5, Italy 4, Germany 3, Argentina/Uruguay 2, England/France 1). We can be sure that some of those 7 winning countries, of which 6 are still international powerhouses, will win some more Cups over the next several decades. Indeed, it is somewhat likely that they will again account for the majority of titles, if not all of them.

Even a fan who is just 10 years old now will likely only see a handful of new champions over the course of his or her life. Using the higher expectancy, it looks bleak. If we look to the world as a whole, we're talking about a couple champs emerging from the 208 FIFA countries (within an even lower life expectancy period).

The week of starvation doesn't sound so bad...

[kctlaw]

08:39 AM on 05/05/2010

Totally justified? ... Please. For the love of the game does not pay the bills. Reality strikes again.

[johnb123]

06:44 PM on 05/05/2010

Good points. Winning the World Cup can be a once in a lifetime event for anyone.

[ribanbel]

05:32 PM on 05/04/2010

it's not bloody "soccer" but FOOTball darnit!

I'd give anything to see Les Bleus win;not gonna happen but I'd love that

[kctlaw]

08:37 AM on 05/05/2010

It will always be soccer to me.

[saafi]

05:14 PM on 05/04/2010

what can i say soccer is the best game and better than the so called football which is correct way should be called handball.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

05:17 PM on 05/04/2010

***what can i say soccer is the best game and better than the so called football which is correct way should be called handball***

Technically they are both forms of "football" which also includes Rugby, Gaelic and Aussie Rules.

But yes, you are correct soccer/football is superior to American Football.

[kctlaw]

08:36 AM on 05/05/2010

Not to most Americans, it's not. I can't stand "soccer" but I looooove football. To each his own.

[Spencaa]

05:14 PM on 05/04/2010

Mind you, they SAY they would