Soccer’s Popularity in the United States: A Mixed Bag
Remember when soccer was being touted as the next big sport in the U.S.? Well, it looks like that moment has finally arrived. Or not. It all depends on who you ask and how you interpret what they tell you.
On one hand, there’s the recent Harris Poll that found 72% of Americans profess an interest in soccer, a 17% increase from 2020. A quarter of those are “dedicated” fans and 1 in 5 say they are “obsessed” with the sport. This surge in interest is a promising sign for the sport’s growth in the country.
LAFC fans lift up a banner honoring Carlos Vela during a ceremony to honor him before a match against Real Salt Lake at BMO Stadium on Sept. 21.
(Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
Contrasting Findings
On the other hand, there’s the stark decline in attendance and TV viewership for the country’s top two domestic leagues, MLS and the NWSL, and the underwhelming crowds that showed up last summer for the FIFA Club World Cup and the CONCACAF Gold Cup. These contrary findings come at an important inflection point for soccer in the U.S., with the largest, most ambitious World Cup kicking off at SoFi Stadium in fewer than 200 days.
According to Darin W. White, executive director of the Sports Industry Program and the Center for Sports Analytics at Samford University, the World Cup will bring millions of new Americans into the pipeline, potentially leading to a significant increase in soccer’s popularity. However, he notes that this growth may not immediately translate to increased ticket sales for MLS and NWSL.
Expert Insights
Steven A. Bank, a professor of business law at UCLA, is less optimistic about the World Cup’s impact on domestic leagues. He believes that the tournament’s success will depend on whether it can convince wealthy individuals and companies to invest in the sport, thereby attracting top talent and improving the overall quality of play.
