Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
The 2026 World Cup is set to give soccer another chance to win over American sports fans as the tournament returns to North America with the United States, Mexico and Canada sharing hosting duties.
For a generation raised on baseball, American football, basketball and hockey, the next five weeks could change how many fans view the world’s most followed sport.
For more tournament coverage, read FIFA World Cup 2026: Schedule, Socceroos fixtures, favourites and tournament format explained.
Soccer’s American Rise
The shift has been decades in the making, with the 1994 World Cup, Major League Soccer and the United States women’s national team all helping the sport gain firmer ground.
Soccer was available at 18 percent of American high schools with athletic programs in 1982, but that figure has since climbed to 72 percent.
Major League Soccer has also grown since launching in 1996, filling the gap left after the North American Soccer League folded in 1984.
Official tournament fixtures and ticket information can be followed through the FIFA World Cup website.
Stars Set To Draw New Viewers
The tournament will feature Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, two names already placed alongside Pele and Diego Maradona in football’s all-time conversation.
Kylian Mbappe will also be central to the story, with the France forward chasing a chance to appear in a third straight World Cup final.
England captain Harry Kane adds another familiar name for new viewers, having scored more international goals than any other player to represent England.
The World Cup’s pull comes from more than its biggest stars, with national pride, late drama and global attention giving each match a different edge.
When Argentina met France in the 2022 final, around 1.5 billion people shared the occasion as Messi finally lifted the trophy.
A Busy Sports Market Faces A Big Test
The United States sports calendar remains crowded, which is one reason some fans have still not given soccer a serious look.
But a home World Cup can cut through that noise in a way club competitions often cannot.
For those who have stayed away, this tournament may be the clearest invitation yet to understand why the game carries so much weight across the world.