The most popular sport in the United States by a wide margin is American football. It is a sport played by two teams composed of athletes in helmets and pads. Many Americans enjoy the dynamic game filled with strategy and quick action.

On February 11th, the U.S. city of Las Vegas hosted the Super Bowl, the championship game of the National Football League.* This year, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers* in a suspenseful game that went into overtime.

With the dramatic victory, the Chiefs have won the Super Bowl in back-to-back seasons. They also proved their elite status by becoming the seventh team in NFL history to win at least four championships.

However, the Super Bowl is not only popular for the actual game. Many casual football fans tune in to watch because it is considered a cultural phenomenon.

One of the highlights is the halftime* show, which takes place in the stadium with a top musician or musical group staging an elaborate performance. This year, R&B star Usher and a swarm of backup dancers entertained the crowd with a medley of hit songs.

The televised event is also famous for its TV commercials. Over 123 million people watched the game on television and online, and because of this, companies paid millions of dollars to air their 30-second ads. They made the most of their time by producing memorable commercials that are often filled with celebrities.

For example, Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer, two stars from the 1990s sitcom “Friends,” surprised viewers by appearing in a comical advertisement for Uber Eats. Meanwhile, Korean car company Kia did not hire any celebrities, but it tugged at people’s heartstrings with a sentimental ad for its EV9 electric cars.

* Kansas City Chiefs 캔자스시티 치프스 (미국의 프로미식축구팀)

* Super Bowl 슈퍼볼 (미국 프로미식축구 NFC 우승팀과 AFC 우승팀이 겨루는 챔피언 결정전)

* National Football League 미국의 프로미식축구리그 (NFL)

* San Francisco 49ers 샌프란시스코 포티나이너스 (미국의 프로미식축구팀)

* halftime 하프 타임 (경기의 전반전이 끝난 뒤의 중간 휴식 시간)