2026 World Cup to Boost Soccer Popularity in U.S.

The 2026 World Cup is expected to catalyze a soccer boom in the United States, potentially establishing the sport as the second most popular in the country, following the NFL. Alan Rothenberg, former U.S.

Soccer president, stated that the tournament presents an opportunity for the U.S. to solidify its place in American sports culture beyond the event itself. The U.S. team, which reached the knockout stages, set viewership records surpassing those of the Super Bowl, with Fox and Telemundo anticipating 50 million viewers for a Round of 16 match against Belgium.

Even a match between the U.S. and Canada attracted 12.1 million viewers, breaking previous soccer viewership records. MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced the league's initiative titled “Thanks World, We’ll Take It From Here” to engage new fans and convert them into regular viewers.

This comes at a time when major broadcasters and streaming services are likely to pay record amounts for broadcasting rights, further emphasizing the growing importance of soccer in the U.S.