As co-host of the World Cup, is the US learning to love soccer? A new video examines this question, delving into the sport's place in American culture.
Soccer's Position in US Sports
Soccer – football to many – may be the most played youth sport in the US but it still sits behind the NFL, basketball and baseball in the battle for mainstream attention. Longtime sports writer John Shea of the San Francisco Standard says the current World Cup buzz resembles the fleeting interest generated by the Olympics before Americans return to their sporting staples.
Impact on Players and Fans
That imbalance shapes the experience of players and fans alike. Bernardo Ramallo, who works with non-profit Soccer Without Borders, says young soccer players have long endured jibes that the sport is ‘weak’ compared with American football.
Forget the confected World Cup hostility, the US and Australia mirror each other. Explore more on these topics: World Cup, World Cup 2026, US sports.
