U.S. Soccer Fans Bolstered by World Cup Performance

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. soccer fans find much to celebrate during the World Cup, despite a survey showing most Americans remain indifferent. According to Ipsos Sports, many Americans’ interest is ignited by the World Cup, but soccer still fights for mainstream recognition in the U.S.

Many U.S. adults expressed enthusiasm as the U.S. advanced to the knockout rounds. The performance of the U.S. men’s national team pleased a significant number of fans, with most eagerly anticipating upcoming matches.

The poll was conducted between June 26-28, post the U.S. advancement from the group stages and before their success against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the knockout round. Soccer fans showed excitement for the U.S. team’s progression. Around six out of ten soccer enthusiasts were “extremely” or “very” thrilled by the advancement, starkly higher than the 25% of the general American populace.

Supporters of the U.S. team gathered across the San Francisco Bay Area before their World Cup knockout match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Historically, the U.S. often stumbled in knockout stages, with their last victory recorded in 2002. Despite the poll occurring prior to their win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, fans already lauded the team for solid performances during the group stages. Approximately 55% believed the performance went “extremely well” or “very well,” whereas about one-third believed it went “somewhat well.”

Similar sentiments were observed regarding the U.S. role in co-hosting the World Cup, with half of soccer fans perceiving this duty as going notably well. Conversely, FIFA garnered less approval, with only a third of U.S. soccer fans viewing the organization’s management favorably. Criticism emerged as FIFA enforced hydration breaks which reportedly disrupted game momentum and received backlash over cooperative travel restrictions and visa refusals against Iran. Opinion on FIFA remains divided among Americans and soccer fans alike, with roughly two in ten U.S. adults expressing positive views and 25% holding negative sentiments. Most Americans, about 55%, are ambivalent.

Could this mark a significant shift in American affinity for soccer? Evidence suggests otherwise. Soccer trails significantly behind American football, basketball, and baseball in terms of fan base. Only about two in ten Americans identify as fans of either international or U.S. soccer. About a third of adults reported hearing ample information about the World Cup, with most aware, yet only 17% expressed enthusiasm for the event, slightly higher compared to Ipsos polls from May.

There is optimism among soccer fans that this World Cup will spark greater general interest, with six in ten adults predicting heightened enthusiasm in the future. However, only 24% feel personally impacted. Soccer fans remain hopeful, with three-quarters anticipating increased general interest compared to about half of non-fans. Approximately half claimed an augmented personal interest, against 17% non-fans expressing the same.

American engagement spans beyond watching matches. Roughly four in ten U.S. adults, including half of soccer fans, utilize social media for updates on teams and players. Around one-quarter have visited bars or restaurants for game viewership or plan to, and about two in ten attended watch parties. Furthermore, about 20% of Americans, along with 33% of soccer fans, purchased official merchandise like jerseys, posters, or scarves.

Sports betting surrounding the World Cup exceeded forecasts due to USMNT’s success. Approximately one in ten Americans bet officially on games, with 5% engaging in prediction markets. Amid host city watch parties, 8% viewed games from said locations.

___

The Ipsos Sports poll surveyed 1,027 adults from June 26-28 via Ipsos probability-based KnowledgePanel. The margin of error for adults overall stands at ±3.5 percentage points.