Soccer is one of the most popular sports worldwide, yet it’s not a sport you’d typically associate with the United States. More often than not, you’d associate basketball or football with the US and Soccer with Latin American and European countries.
While US soccer has become more popular in recent years, some aspects still hinder it from being among the top most popular sports in the US, such as baseball, basketball, and football.
One of the most significant issues plaguing US soccer is the “pay-by-play” model. Soccer is no cheap sport; with equipment, travel, and club fees, it costs thousands of dollars to play youth soccer. This means that many talented players from low-income families will be excluded from becoming professional players.
Unlike countries such as Brazil or Germany, the US lacks a comprehensive player development system. While other countries have professional clubs that nurture talent from a young age, there is no set way to become a professional in the US. Usually, hopeful professionals in the US play soccer in college, but they still lack the training that other countries have for their players.
Another factor is that, culturally, the US prefers other sports, as mentioned before. The competition for popularity is tough against sports like basketball, baseball, and American football.
The media coverage for soccer in the US is highly lacking. While other countries enjoy prime-time television slots and extensive media coverage for soccer, the US prefers to spend that coverage on other sports. Because of the lack of media coverage, soccer is hindered from attracting a large enough fan base in the US.
Despite the many challenges, there is still hope for soccer in the US. While regular season games are not as popular, international competitions like the FIFA World Cup continue to increase in popularity. In the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the US will co-host with Mexico and Canada, hopefully growing more traction for the sport.
