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US Soccer Fandom Surges Post-World Cup 2026, Overtaking NHL
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Moneycontrol•01-10-2026, 20:07
US Soccer Fandom Surges Post-World Cup 2026, Overtaking NHL
- •US soccer fandom increased by 10 percentage points after the FIFA World Cup 2026, with 46% of respondents identifying as fans in a September Morning Consult poll.
- •The growth in soccer's popularity helped it surpass the NHL in fandom and positioned it just below college basketball, solidifying its potential as America's fourth major team sport.
- •Generation Z showed the biggest surge in interest, with a 16-percentage-point increase in fandom, and 61% of Gen Zers now identifying as avid or casual soccer fans.
- •Major League Soccer (MLS) has seen significant boosts post-World Cup, including increased ticket sales, viewership, nearly 6 million new social media followers, and a 40% jump in youth program participation.
- •Despite the surge, 38% of Americans did not engage with the World Cup at all, and over half of Baby Boomers remained uninterested, with a quarter becoming less interested in soccer.
Key Questions Answered
The number of Americans identifying as soccer fans jumped by 10 percentage points, rising to 46% in a September Morning Consult poll compared to polling conducted just before the tournament.
Generation Z experienced the largest increase with a 16-percentage-point surge, bringing total Gen Z fandom to 61%, which trails only the NBA and NFL.
The post-tournament growth helped soccer surpass the NHL in fandom, placing it just a few notches below college basketball and solidifying its trajectory toward becoming America's fourth major team sport.
