How Football has grown in popularity in the US Over the last 5 years

While there is no doubt that it is yet to reach the same heights as sports such as American football, baseball, basketball, and even ice hockey, there has clearly been an increase in its appeal and popularity.

But, why is this the case? What has happened to facilitate the growth of football in a country in which it is notoriously enjoyed by more females than male athletes? There are a number of factors that can be considered…

World Cup 2026 Set To Be Held Across North America

With the 2022 FIFA World Cup providing American fans with the opportunity to cheer on the USMNT once again and giving them something to be proud of as they reached the Round of 16 after missing out in 2018, the love for the game has started to come back and also grow.

However, there is a lot of love for football at the moment as the country will also be one of the host nations for the next edition of the FIFA World Cup. The 2026 edition will be held across various cities, while also being played in locations across Canada and Mexico, too.

Many will remember and note that the last World Cup to be held in the US – back in 1994 – was a huge success and arguably changed many aspects of the tournament. Americans fell in love with the sport back then and embraced it, and with the upcoming competition set to introduce newer changes including the number of teams, fans have already been embracing the sport further as they prepare to welcome the world’s biggest sporting competition to their shores once again.

Sports Betting Is On The Rise

Far from a coincidence, but the rise of sports betting and its continued evolution as a legal activity across the country has undoubtedly played a role in helping the sport of football to grow in popularity over the last five years.

The Supreme Court abolished an old federal law that had placed a blanket ban on sports betting back in 2018, and since then, a number of states have decided to permit the activity and give residents of those permitted states to have the opportunity of enjoying sports wagering, with many able to use their favorite mobile devices to access a legal sportsbook of their choosing.

How has the change in laws helped with the growth of football? Well, football is known to be one of the easiest sports to wager on, while it also offers bettors with a variety of different betting markets that are not always available on other sports. Additionally, football is played almost everywhere in the world and is seemingly played 24/7, therefore giving punters the chance to wager whenever they want.

Big Names Continue To Arrive In The MLS

Major League Soccer (MLS) continues to enjoy a period of growth as new expansion franchises join the league, with St. Louis City FC having been the most recent to enter the fold. However, while the growing number of teams has helped, it is impossible to deny that big-name acquisitions have helped with the popularity experienced, too.

Superstar talent has arrived over the years in the league, with individuals like Gareth Bale, Giorgio Chiellini, and Xherdan Shaqiri among a few of the latest batch of global names to play their football stateside. Players with big names and reputations have helped to capture the imagination of fans in the US, thus enhancing the appeal of the game.

Recently, there have been murmurs that a world-renowned football player may soon be headed to the US. Lionel Messi’s name has been buzzing in association with the MLS, and Inter Miami – David Beckham’s team – is viewed as one of his possible destinations.

If the league can attract the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner and the superstar that the Argentine is, then it would not be a surprise if the popularity of football was to explode across the US – perhaps just in time for the 2026 edition of the global competition if he were to sign beforehand.