Soccer is in a very different place in 2026 than it was in 1994. Thirty-two years ago, the US first hosted the FIFA World Cup, and was criticized by many before the tournament kicked off as being a nation that knew nothing of the game. That tournament changed everything for the sport in this country, and now the 2026 World Cup can have a similarly revolutionary effect.
With the way that the sport has grown since the mid-1990s, there is no need for soccer to explain itself to the US. Even if you would not call yourself a fan, you are probably still aware of the biggest names and best teams these days. Soccer has become one of the “Big Five” in this country, with sports fans reading the latest BetUS review keen to see whether it covers soccer as much as they would for baseball or basketball.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, therefore, will not have the job of converting the US to soccer. But it can act as a very important moment in time to transform soccer in this country, and help it grow to be even more a part of the national fabric. Here’s what soccer can do to keep its popularity boost going after the World Cup ends.
Pressure on USMNT
Although soccer will still be popular and undoubtedly keep growing after the 2026 FIFA World Cup finishes, there is a lot of pressure on the USMNT to keep its status high in the minds of the American public. The USWNT has always been more successful, and an unimpressive men’s campaign could do the game some harm.
As much as there will be fans of just about every nation watching and cheering on their teams this summer, soccer in this country would benefit from the USMNT doing well. Success at this tournament would boost exposure to soccer and make more people aware of the teams representing their country.
Reaching Further
Soccer is called the “world’s game” because it is the most popular sport almost everywhere. It is the national sport of most countries, but that has not traditionally been the case when it comes to the US. We have a number of major leagues vying for attention, and soccer still has some catching up to do.
Soccer might well be growing in popularity in some cities and regions, but there are many places where there is not a major league team or the infrastructure for local people to play or watch the sport. The awareness that the World Cup has brought to these areas is invaluable and must be capitalized on once the tournament is over.
Boost Leagues
Major League Soccer can now justifiably claim to be one of the major leagues in the US. Recent reports have stated that soccer is even more popular than some of the traditional Big Four league sports in this country, but there is more that needs to be done by MLS, off the back of the World Cup, to improve matters.
MLS has sometimes been criticized in the past as being a league for aging European and South American stars looking for a final payday at the end of their careers. That stereotype has been diluted a little in recent years, but MLS should do everything it can to attract some of the younger stars playing at this World Cup to see the league as up there with the very best.
Grassroots Investment
The World Cup is a multi-billion-dollar event. FIFA, as organizer and world governing body for the sport, will take much of the profits, but there will still be millions of dollars coming into the country and into the US game. As much as it will be tempting to pass that money onto the big teams, it is the grassroots of the sport that needs to be invested in.
By investing in youth soccer, the sport will grow in a more organic way. This is what happened in areas of the world where soccer has always been the number one sport, and the US needs to find a way to make soccer just as viable and funded as football, baseball, or basketball is currently.
Make Soccer an Option
If the grassroots US soccer community receives the investment that is needed, it will go a long way in helping to ensure that soccer becomes an option for the youth of this country. Unlike in many other countries around the world, soccer can be a sport only for the rich in the US, and that perception needs to change.
The only way that the US national teams will continue to be competitive in the future is if every child in every city and town is able to play soccer. There are millions of children missing out on discovering if they have the talent needed at the current time, because soccer is not an option for them. A concerted effort needs to be put in place to change that.
Elevate Star Athletes
No one said it was going to be easy to make soccer as popular as other sports in the US. There needs to be investment in grassroots initiatives and teams for soccer to develop, but elevating the American stars of the game is just as important. Children need stars to look up to, so the likes of Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams need to become just as widely known and admired as LeBron James and Patrick Mahomes.
The elite of the US game need to be marketed in the same way as NBA and NFL stars have been for decades. These soccer athletes should be inspired to play in the best leagues in the world, and Major League Soccer to join those ranks. Soccer is the “world’s game”, and this World Cup is the perfect opportunity for the US to really become part of that.
