A recent poll commissioned by 247Bet in July 2026 sheds light on how the 2026 World Cup reshaped American attitudes toward soccer, a sport long overshadowed by the NFL and college football.
World Cup impact on viewership
The tournament, staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico, culminated with Spain securing the championship for the second time in 16 years, a result that resonated far beyond the final whistle.
According to the survey, 26 percent of the 2,000 U.S. respondents reported watching soccer for the first time during the event, while more than half said they would now be more inclined to follow an MLS side.
Nearly the same proportion indicated a preference for soccer over traditional American sports such as the NFL and college football, a shift that was especially pronounced among Millennial men, 34 percent of whom began watching the game during the tournament.
Jersey preferences
When asked which national team jerseys they coveted most, fans named Lionel Messi’s Argentina shirt at the top of the list, followed closely by Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal jersey and Erling Haaland’s Norway kit.
The enthusiasm extended to travel plans, with more than half of respondents expressing a desire to journey to Europe to experience elite matches in person, underscoring a growing appetite for the global game.