Soccer viewership in US surging since World Cup

By Field Level Media Oct 14 (Field Level Media) Record ratings for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States have carried over to U.S. viewership of the sport s top leagues since July, according to Nielsen research ​findings announced Tuesday. Nielsen s Fan Insights data showed that the number of U.S. ‌residents identifying as soccer fans increased 13%, from 66.8 million in July 2025 to 75.2 million in July 2026. Over the past five years, soccer fandom in the U.S. has grown 27%, an increase of 16 million fans. Major League Soccer has seen a 28% boost, adding 11.7 million ‌fans. The findings ​were unveiled Tuesday at the Front Office Sports Tuned ⁠In summit. Spain s 1-0 victory over ⁠Argentina in the World Cup final on July 19 averaged 66.4 million viewers in the United States, the largest audience for a soccer match in U.S. history and the most viewers for an American television broadcast since Super Bowl LX ​in February, when the New England Patriots faced the champion Seattle Se