It hasn’t always been easy for soccer fans in the U.S. to enjoy the sport. Regular broadcasts have long been difficult to come by, and even when they are, they’re littered with various problems like poor camera angles, sparse technical production, and Marcelo Balboa. (And let’s not even get into Fox Soccer Channel’s HD-less existence. I can whine like this all day.)

But lo! With ESPN’s John Skipper interest in soccer, and the success of its Euro 2008 broadcast this summer, ESPN is dumping more and more resources into its World Cup Qualifying coverage this fall — including HD. Sweet, merciful awesomeness.

Of course, ESPN is also considering acquiring the rights to English Premier League broadcasts, which I have to think would do wonders not only for existing soccer fans in this country but for those who have little incentive to seek out the sport as-is. For all the strides the MLS has made, it’s still the MLS, and a dash of world-class soccer could help the sport’s prospects in the country.

In the meantime, I’ll be playing Fifa ‘09, which comes out today. Every broadcast is in HD, and I get to pretend I’m Cristiano Ronaldo. Spanish models sold separately.