The 2026 World Cup was filled with ups and downs, but despite some controversies, particularly with the Trump administration, it was surprisingly well received. This massive event did well in introducing many Americans to the global soccer culture and fan experience. That said, the event came and went, and now the biggest question for Americans is what they will do in the aftermath.
According to a survey by 247Bet, over 25% of participants said this was the first time they had watched the World Cup, and over 26% said this was their first professional soccer game ever, across all generations. Additionally, support for Major League Soccer teams has been boosted by a wave of new American fans.
At the very least, this event guarantees that more Americans than ever before will tune into soccer games at home. That said, there is still a long way to go for soccer to dominate within the US. Luckily, efforts are being made to build more permanent soccer fields across the country, with New York being one of the few states where soccer development is being pushed the hardest by men’s and women’s professional soccer.
That said, more importantly, this year’s World Cup has helped expose Americans to the soccer accomplishments of American soccer players that have largely been unknown or brushed aside in previous years. While the US men’s soccer team did surprisingly well this time around, many Americans were introduced to the absolute powerhouse that is the US women’s soccer team, a team that has won numerous FIFA Women’s World Cup games since the event’s inception in 1991.
