The 2026 FIFA World Cup may end up being a turning point for men’s soccer in the United States. With record crowds, strong television numbers and packed fan zones across the country, the sport is enjoying a level of attention that few expected just a few years ago. As the US Men’s National Team prepares to face Belgium for a place in the quarter-finals, many fans believe this tournament has pushed soccer closer to the center of the American sports conversation. Whether that momentum lasts beyond the World Cup remains the biggest question, but there is little doubt that interest in the game is currently at one of its highest points in the country.
Can Mauricio Pochettino’s United States team turn World Cup excitement into lasting growth?
Across host cities, the World Cup has become impossible to ignore. Fans wearing US jerseys have filled stadiums, restaurants, public parks and viewing parties. According to figures cited by the BBC, an average of 18 million viewers watched the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on Fox platforms, while another seven million tuned in through Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo.The atmosphere has convinced many supporters that soccer is no longer a niche sport in America. Speaking to the BBC in Los Angeles, documentary filmmaker Erik Olsen described the tournament as a unifying experience. He said it had brought together people from different backgrounds, whether they were supporting the United States or teams connected to their family roots.That feeling is also being seen among younger fans. Sixteen-year-old Keenah Pacheco told the BBC that watching the World Cup had inspired her to think about playing soccer again after years away from the sport. Stories like hers help explain why many believe the tournament’s impact could stretch far beyond a single summer.Experts say youth participation has played a major role in soccer’s rise. Steve Bank, a sports law expert at the University of California Los Angeles School of Law, told the BBC that soccer has benefited as some families have moved away from youth American football because of concerns about injuries and concussions.
Lionel Messi, MLS and growing fan interest show soccer’s stronger foothold in America
Soccer’s growth did not begin with this World Cup. The foundations were laid after the United States hosted the tournament in 1994. One result was the creation of Major League Soccer (MLS), which now has 30 clubs across the US and Canada.The arrival of Lionel Messi in MLS has also helped bring more attention to the league. At the same time, American audiences have increasingly followed major European competitions such as the English Premier League and Spain’s La Liga.Research from Ampere Analysis, cited by the BBC, found that soccer has narrowly moved ahead of baseball as America’s third-favourite sport. Around 10% of Americans surveyed said soccer was their favourite sport.Even with those gains, challenges remain. American football and basketball still dominate sports culture, media coverage and sponsorship spending. Jeff Schneider, executive director of the Center for Sports, Entertainment, Media & Technology Law at the University of Southern California, told the BBC that soccer now has a strong and loyal fan base, but it still does not hold the same cultural position as those long-established American sports.Some analysts also point to differences in sporting culture. Soccer’s lower-scoring matches and frequent draws can feel unfamiliar to fans raised on sports where points come quickly and winners are almost always clear.Still, many longtime supporters believe something has changed during this World Cup. Record attendance, growing television audiences and a young US team competing on home soil have created a level of excitement that feels different from previous tournaments. If the national team continues its run, soccer’s place in the American sports landscape could become even stronger.
