How the World Cup made an 'NFL-obsessed' American a football fan
Summary
Many Americans are becoming soccer fans because of the World Cup, even those who previously only followed American football or other sports. The tournament’s popularity grew thanks to the US co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, leading to large TV audiences and increased interest in local soccer clubs.Key Facts
- Jamie Druley, an NFL fan from Indiana, got interested in soccer after watching the World Cup and is thinking about buying tickets to his local soccer team, Fort Wayne FC.
- Fox reported that 30 million people watched the US game against Belgium, the highest for an English-language soccer broadcast in the US.
- Overall, 5.1 million Americans watched World Cup games on Fox, FS1, and Tubi, a 92% rise from 2022.
- Courtney Silbaugh, a mother from Pennsylvania, said she is now a soccer fan after not enjoying American football or baseball.
- Heather Earhart from Indiana learned about soccer rules and music related to English teams and plans to follow some teams and visit a soccer bar.
- The interest in soccer has grown in many US locations, as shown by fans discussing matches at work and watching games with friends.
- The 2026 World Cup being partly hosted in the US is expected to continue boosting soccer’s popularity in the country.
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