How Popular is Soccer in the US?

By Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer Updated: 23 July 2024

Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer

Amelia Walker is a Senior Content Writer at Betting.US. She has a law degree and deep knowledge of the gambling laws in the United States. Her mission is to keep players informed about responsible gambling, while her passion for sports helps her create useful guides. Amelia has over a decade of experience in betting, which has positioned her as a trusted voice among our readers.

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Soccer in the US

• Soccer Popularity in the USA
• Soccer Growth in the US
• History of Soccer in the USA
• US Women’s Soccer Dominance
• US Men’s Soccer on the Rise
• How Many People Play Soccer in the USA?
• The Future of American Soccer

Soccer, usually called football outside of the USA, has long been the world’s most popular sport. While, historically, it may have struggled to gain much of a foothold in the US, recent years have seen some pretty significant changes – and we’re now seeing soccer growing exponentially fast in the USA.

With the rise of Major League Soccer (MLS), the continued success of the US Women’s National Team, and a growing passion for the sport among younger generations, soccer is now the fastest-growing sport in the United States. In today’s blog, we look at soccer growth in the US, and examine how and why it’s become so popular – in a relatively short space of time.

Soccer Popularity in the USA

When looking at soccer popularity in the USA, it’s only really in the last ten years or so that it’s begun to get a foothold. For example, according to a 2018 Gallup poll, soccer is now the fourth most popular sport in the US, with 7% of Americans naming it as their favorite sport. To put this into perspective, let’s look at the popularity of other sports in the US:

When asking how popular is soccer in the US, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, one of the most significant reasons behind the increase in popularity is arguably the increasing diversity of the American population. The US is now home to more immigrants than ever – and many of these immigrants come from countries where soccer is the dominant sport.

Additionally, the globalization of media has made it easier for Americans to access and follow international soccer leagues and tournaments, boosting soccer popularity in the USA considerably.

Another important factor is the growing participation in youth soccer programs across the country. According to the US Youth Soccer Association, there are over 3 million registered youth soccer players in the United States, making it one of the most popular youth sports in the nation.

In this blog, we’re going to take a closer look at how popular soccer is in the US. If you’re looking for the best soccer sportsbooks make sure to check out our recommended betting sites, which all offer soccer betting.

Soccer Growth in the US

Soccer growth in the US is quite interesting – and it can be seen in various metrics, from participation numbers to viewership and attendance figures. In terms of the number of Americans actually playing soccer – well, this figure has been steadily increasing across all levels.

According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, the number of people playing outdoor soccer in the US has grown from around 13.5 million in 2011 to over 15.4 million in 2019. It’s expected that the next survey will indicate even higher numbers.

When it comes to attendance figures for professional soccer matches in the US, MLS has seen its average attendance climb from around 14,000 per game in 2000 to over 21,000 per game in 2019. In fact, MLS now ranks among the top 10 most attended professional soccer leagues worldwide!

Television viewership for soccer has also been on the rise in the US. The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, which saw the US Women’s National Team claim its fourth title, was watched by approximately 14.3 million US viewers, making it the most-watched soccer match in the country’s history.

Even the 2018 FIFA World Cup – despite not actually having the men’s team playing – saw an average per-game viewership of around five million! That’s pretty remarkable, considering how low these figures used to be!

History of Soccer in the USA

The history of soccer in the United States dates back to the mid-19th century. The first recorded soccer match in the country took place in 1869 between Princeton University and Rutgers University. However, the sport struggled to gain widespread popularity in its early years, as it was well overshadowed by other sports like baseball and American football.

In the early 20th century, soccer experienced a brief surge in popularity, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest regions of the country. Immigrants from Europe, particularly from England, Scotland, and Germany, brought their love of the sport with them and helped to establish local soccer clubs and leagues.

The American Soccer League, also known as the ASL, was formed in 1921 – and this was the first significant professional soccer league in the United States. However, the league shut down in 1933 due to the Great Depression – although some historians argue that it also shut due to a lack of interest.

In 1967, the popularity of soccer in the US grew significantly, when the United Soccer Association (USA) and the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) were formed. In 1968, these two leagues merged – becoming the North American Soccer League, also known as the NASL.

The NASL saw a significant period of growth in the 1970s, thanks in part to the signings of international stars like Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, and George Best. However, like the league before it, it shut in 1984.

The modern era of American soccer began with the establishment of Major League Soccer in 1993. The league’s inaugural season took place in 1996 with just ten teams – but since then, MLS has grown steadily, expanding to 26 teams, of which 23 are from the US, and three are from Canada.

US Women’s Soccer Dominance

The US Women’s National Soccer Team has been one of the world’s top-performing teams for several decades – and their success is often said to be one of the main reasons why soccer in the US has become so popular!

The team has won a record four FIFA Women’s World Cup titles (1991, 1999, 2015, and 2019) and four Olympic gold medals (1996, 2004, 2008, and 2012). This makes them the most successful national team in the history of women’s soccer.

What’s interesting is that the USA hasn’t, historically, done very well in international soccer – in the men’s competitions, at least. So, what drives the success of the women’s team? Well, their success can be attributed to several factors, including a strong domestic league system, a robust youth development program, and a culture that values and supports women’s athletics.

One of the most significant recent milestones was in 2013 when the National Women’s Soccer League was formed. Since its formation, it has provided a platform for many of the country’s top female players to compete at a high level.

The USWNT’s success has also helped to inspire a new generation of female soccer players in the United States. The team’s players, such as Mia Hamm, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe, have become household names and role models for young girls across the country. This, in turn, has contributed to the growing participation of girls in youth soccer programs.

US Men’s Soccer on the Rise

While the US Men’s National Soccer team has historically struggled to achieve the same level of success as the women’s team, recent years have seen a major improvement in the team’s performance and a growing sense of optimism about the future of men’s soccer in the United States.

One of the key factors behind this change has been the emergence of a new generation of talented young players. Many of these players, such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Giovanni Reyna, have made a name for themselves playing in top European leagues. Their success abroad has helped to raise the profile of American soccer and inspire other young players to follow in their footsteps.

The USMNT’s performance in recent international tournaments has also been encouraging. In the 2018 CONCACAF Nations League, the team reached the final, before, unfortunately, losing to Mexico. Still, it showed that the team can perform at the highest levels – and it threw some well-needed optimism into the mix.

The team also reached the final of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, again falling to Mexico. When the team failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, a new coach was brought on – Gregg Berhalter – and this allowed them to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

How Many People Play Soccer in the USA?

So, how many people play soccer in the USA? Well, soccer participation in the United States has been growing steadily over the past few decades. As we pointed out earlier, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association found that approximately 15.4 million people played outdoor soccer in the US in 2019, making it one of the most popular sports in the country.

The majority of soccer participants in the United States are youth players. The US Youth Soccer Association, the largest youth sports organization in the country, has over 3 million registered players between the ages of 5 and 19. This number has been seen as a “win” for those who’ve worked hard to get soccer introduced to schools around the US.

At the high school level, soccer is also a popular sport. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, soccer is the fifth most popular sport for boys and the fourth most popular sport for girls in terms of participation numbers. In the most recent school year, for example, over 450,000 boys and nearly 400,000 girls played high school soccer.

Adult soccer participation in the United States is also significant. The USASA, the governing body for adult soccer in the country, has over 250,000 registered players. This includes players in amateur leagues, semi-professional leagues, and recreational programs. These are pretty promising numbers – especially for a country where soccer hasn’t historically been that popular. It remains to be seen whether these numbers continue to rise – but it certainly looks good.

The Future of American Soccer

The future of soccer in the United States looks pretty promising. With an ever-increasing number of Americans playing soccer, and more people tuning into games than ever before, it looks as though the sport will continue to enjoy increased interest in the coming years.

One of the key factors that will shape the future of American soccer is the continued expansion and development of Major League Soccer. As the league adds more teams and attracts more international talent, it will help to raise the level of play and generate more interest among fans.

Another important factor will be the performance of the US Men’s and Women’s National Teams in international competitions. We’ve already seen how success in the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics can generate huge amounts of interest for the sport across the US – and if both the men’s and women’s teams can reach the later stages of major tournaments in the near future, it will be a major help.

Of course, the United States is also set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico – and this is expected to be a really important milestone for the sport, as it will mark the first time the tournament has been held in the US since 1994, presenting an incredible opportunity to further grow the sport’s popularity.

With matches being played in cities across the country, many Americans will have the chance to experience the excitement of the World Cup firsthand. The exposure and buzz generated by hosting the world’s second biggest sporting event is sure to inspire a new generation of soccer fans and players!