New poll reveals World Cup success has failed to spark soccer popularity boom in the US | OneFootball

The current World Cup has ignited a spark among American soccer enthusiasts, even as a new survey indicates the sport still faces an uphill battle to capture mainstream attention across the United States.

Fresh polling data from Ipsos Sports, shared exclusively with The Associated Press, reveals that while the tournament has energized existing fans and piqued the interest of many, soccer’s journey to widespread popularity in the US remains challenging.

Despite this hurdle, a significant number of US adults expressed excitement about the national team’s progression to the knockout rounds. The performance of the US men’s national team (USMNT) has largely pleased soccer fans, with an overwhelming majority eagerly anticipating the remainder of the World Cup.

The poll, conducted between June 26-28, captured sentiment after the US advanced from the group stage but prior to their victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the first knockout round.

Approximately six in ten soccer fans reported being "extremely" or "very" excited about the US reaching the knockout stage, a figure considerably higher than the 25 percent of Americans overall who shared this enthusiasm.

Historically, the United States has struggled in the knockout rounds, with their last win in such a match before this tournament dating back to 2002. Even before their recent win, fans were already commending the US men’s team for a strong showing in the group stage, with 55 percent of soccer fans rating their performance as "extremely well" or "very well," and roughly a quarter deeming it "somewhat well."

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USA are through to the last-16 of the World Cup (AP)

Similarly, about half of soccer fans believe the United States’ role in co-hosting the World Cup is progressing "at least very well." However, enthusiasm wanes when it comes to Fifa’s management of the tournament.

Only about one-third of US soccer fans rated Fifa’s performance as "extremely" or "very" well. During the competition, Fifa has drawn criticism for implementing mandatory hydration breaks, which some argue disrupt game momentum, and for its cooperation with travel restrictions and visa denials affecting Iran.

The poll found that Americans and soccer fans are almost evenly divided on their overall opinion of Fifa, with about two in ten US adults holding a positive view, 25 percent a negative one, and a majority of 55 percent expressing no opinion.

The prospect of this World Cup being a turning point for soccer in America appears unlikely. Only about two in ten Americans identify as fans of international or US soccer, a figure significantly trailing those who follow professional football, basketball, or baseball.

While most Americans have heard "at least a little" about the World Cup, only about one-third have heard or read "a lot”. Just 17 percent of US adults expressed being "extremely" or "very" excited about the rest of the tournament, a slight increase from Ipsos polling in May, underscoring the persistent challenge of transforming the US into a soccer-centric nation.

While approximately six in ten US adults anticipate the World Cup will boost other Americans’ interest in soccer, only 24 percent personally report increased interest. Soccer fans, however, are notably more optimistic, with about three-quarters expecting a general rise in interest, compared to roughly half of non-soccer fans. Furthermore, about half of soccer fans say the World Cup has personally heightened their interest, a sentiment shared by only 17 percent of non-fans.

Beyond watching matches, Americans are engaging with the World Cup in various ways. About four in ten US adults, including half of all soccer fans, have utilized social media to follow teams and players.

Roughly a quarter of Americans have either visited or plan to visit a restaurant or bar to watch a game, and about two in ten have attended a World Cup watch party.

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Fans are enjoying USA's run to the knockout stages at the World Cup (Getty)

Approximately two in ten US adults, and 33 percent of soccer fans, have purchased official merchandise such as jerseys, posters, or scarves.

Amid reports of World Cup betting exceeding expectations due to the USMNT’s success, about one in ten Americans in the poll reported placing an official bet, while five percent have traded on game outcomes using a prediction market. Additionally, with official and unofficial watch parties emerging across host cities, eight percent of respondents have watched a game from a host city.

The Ipsos Sports poll surveyed 1,027 adults from June 26-28, using a sample drawn from the Ipsos probability-based KnowledgePanel. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.