You don’t have to look too far back into the future to find a time when soccer was practically non-existent in the United States. Sure, Americans had heard of soccer, but there was no real clamor for the sport in a nation that was already replete with so many other competitive endeavors.
But it probably hasn’t escaped your attention that soccer is becoming more and more popular in the United States, with an ever-expanding national league and a national team that Americans are firmly behind.
Here, we look at why soccer is becoming more popular in the US and explain some of the reasons behind the incredible rise of the beautiful game. But first – some statistics that show how far soccer in America has come in recent years.
The recent rise of soccer in the United States
The rise in popularity of soccer in the United States is clear for all to see, and it’s not something that has come as a surprise to people of nations where soccer is already popular. After all, it’s widely known as the people’s game, and the inclusive nature of soccer is one of its strongest assets.
Here are some statistics that show just how far soccer has come in a relatively short space of time:
- Approximately 17 million play soccer in the United States every year. In comparison, around 15 million people play baseball, while 26 million Americans play basketball, highlighting that the participation numbers for soccer are impressive when compared to some of America’s best-loved team sports.
- There are currently 28 teams competing in the MLS. When the league started in 1996, there were just ten teams competing nationally, which illustrates the incredible growth of the professional game in the United States in the past few decades.
- More than 18 million people watched the USMNT draw with Portugal in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which was higher than the average rating for regular season NFL games, as well as more than any game of the NBA Finals that year.
There’s no doubt about it; soccer is becoming more and more popular in the United States. It’s the reason why Apple launched a $2.5 billion, 10-year deal to show every live match in the MLS and is behind the eager preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.
But what exactly is fuelling the popularity of soccer in the United States? Here are some potential reasons for the incredible growth of the beautiful game stateside.
Why is soccer becoming more popular in the US?
Increased profile of the game
The growth of soccer in the United States certainly didn’t happen overnight, and the game has come a long way since the days of Pele and the New York Cosmos. But what we’ve seen over the course of the past thirty years since the launch of the MLS is an increased profile of domestic soccer in America.
Eighteen new franchises have since joined the founders of the league to create a competitive MLS with 28 teams featuring in states and cities throughout the country.
Players like David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Thierry Henry, and David Villa have all moved to the MLS and enjoyed successful spells with their respective clubs. As legends of the European game, they have all contributed to the incredible growth of the MLS.
Easy to learn
Another thing that works in favor of soccer is the fact that it’s relatively easy to learn. While there are certain rules that take a little bit of getting used to, the premise of the game is super simple, and you can easily tune in and enjoy the flow and pace of the game.
If you’ve never watched or played a game of soccer in your life, you can easily tune into a game on the TV and have a basic understanding of what’s taking place, which isn’t something that can be said about every sport!
This makes soccer a great game for beginners, and the fact that it’s so widely covered and available on different channels means that it’s really easy to learn and get into.
National team achievements
It always helps when the men and women chosen to represent the country do such a great job, and the US national teams have achieved great things in recent years.
The women’s team is widely regarded as the best soccer team on the planet and has won title after title in the international game. They have won four World Cups and four Olympic gold medals, highlighting their dominance of soccer around the world.
Stars like Megan Rapinoe and Abby Wambach have transported women’s soccer to the forefront of American sports, and their achievements bring great pride to everyone associated with the game in the country.
While the men’s team hasn’t quite matched the achievements of their female counterparts, there’s no doubt that they’re becoming more of a force in world soccer, regularly making a name for themselves at the World Cup.
And with players like Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams playing starring roles for their EFL sides, there’s genuine excitement about the USMNT’s prospects at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
Truly global coverage
Before the mid-1990s, you would be lucky to find a game of soccer on ESPN. Today, it’s not only the MLS that is available to US audiences, but you can easily tune into the latest games from the EPL, Serie A, and La Liga, as well as other major leagues and competitions from around the world.
With so much coverage of soccer on various channels, it’s not surprising that so many people now tune into the beautiful game and enjoy watching different teams from all around the world.
As soccer is the most popular game on the planet, it seems that Americans are finally catching up with the trend, and the immediate future of the game is extremely exciting in the United States.
Recap: Why is soccer becoming more popular in the US?
It wasn’t so long ago that soccer was an afterthought in the US – a game that few people played and watched. But today, it’s one of the most popular sports in the nation, with a competitive national league and a national team that is capable of great things at the international level.
With the World Cup returning to the United States in 2026, the profile of soccer is only likely to grow in the coming years as more people fall in love with the beautiful game.
Keen to learn more about why soccer is so popular elsewhere? Check out our recent article explaining why soccer is so popular in Europe.