The United States tops the list in many things. Men’s soccer, the most popular sport in the world, is not one of them.
In the World Cup in Qatar, the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team made it to the Round of 16, where they were eliminated by the Netherlands 3 to 1.
But while the men’s team is not yet ready to join the elite of soccer, the sport is becoming increasingly popular in the country, especially among young people.
An analysis of which sports Americans prefer to watch showed that soccer fans are growing. From 1937 to 1972, Gallup polls consistently showed that less than 0.5% of Americans responded with soccer when asked about their favorite sport to watch. Until December 2004, the percentage never exceeded 2%.
However, earlier this year, 8% of Americans responded that soccer was their favorite sport to watch in a survey conducted by The Washington Post. This may seem like a small percentage, but it is a significant increase compared to the past. No other sport has seen this growth in popularity over the same period analyzed.
In fact, according to The Washington Post survey, the percentage of Americans who prefer to watch basketball (12%) or baseball (11%) is not much higher than those who prefer to watch soccer. In fact, soccer has surpassed motorsports, hockey, and golf.
There is room for more growth, as soccer is more popular among young people under 30. In fact, there are more adults aged 18 to 29 who say soccer is their favorite sport than those who say baseball is their favorite.
The impact of the success of the U.S. Women’s National Team cannot be underestimated either. Women have always performed well in international competitions. They have won four World Cups, while the men have won none.
It is clear that American football – the NFL – is still the most-watched sport overall and across all age groups. More than a third of Americans have indicated for years that this is the sport they enjoy watching the most.New York Will Get Its First Professional Soccer Stadium
Another proof that the popularity of the sport is growing is the recent announcement of the construction of the first professional soccer stadium in New York City, at Willets Point in Queens. The new 25,000-seat venue will not only be the home of New York City Football Club but will also become the first major league soccer venue to be built in the city since 2012.
According to The New York Times, the city owns the land where the project will be built, and the soccer club will lease it for 49 years, also paying for the construction of the stadium itself, which is currently estimated to cost around $780 million.
The city’s soccer team has been looking for a permanent home for over a decade. After considering more than 20 potential sites and even launching official plans at some of them, the officials finally opted for Willets Point, an area where fans will be able to gather in nearby bars and restaurants before and after matches, similar to many stadiums in Europe.
But there is still a long way to go: the stadium is expected to be completed only in 2027. Until then, the New York team will play at Citi Field in the same area.
Source: Time Out, CNN, and The New York Times