Can soccer become the most popular sport in the United States?
At least two sports are ahead of soccer in terms of popularity amongst the US population, but is the job of promoting it easier than ever?
US Soccer chief executive JT Batson‘s job is making both the men’s and women’s teams the most popular sporting groups in the country. In a population of 340 million, that’s a big task. In a population of people who don’t particularly focus on, engage with, or show interest in the sport as their main hobby, it’s near-impossible.
According to a poll cited by The Guardian, the USWNT sit 14th in the rankings when it comes to most-supported teams in the country; the men’s side are 43rd.
Batson spoke to The Guardian about his task in the context of an upcoming World Cup on home soil, where the tournament circus arrives under a cloud of confusion and trepidation. And that’s just the men’s friendly game results.
One Vision 😤 pic.twitter.com/RQexusouLN
— Auston Trusty (@Auston_Trusty) April 4, 2026
"We’re focused on soccer truly being everywhere in the US”
“We want our men’s and women’s national teams to be America’s teams,” Batson said. “We want them to be the most followed, and to be the favorite teams of Americans," he said. “There’s an opportunity for them to be America’s favorite sports teams. From a participation standpoint and a fandom standpoint, we’re focused on soccer truly being everywhere in the US.”
A crowd of 72,297 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta against Portugal is a good start, with excitement certainly building ahead of the tournament’s first return to the country since 1994.
“The legacy of the 1994 World Cup was the creation of Major League Soccer, and we want to use this summer as a catalyst to make soccer the sport for the entire country. Whether you’re a 4-year-old just getting started, whether you’re 14 and have the dreams of playing for a national team, or you’re now 34 and have retired, but want to become a coach or referee. We want to make sure we have world-class pathways for our boys and girls so that they can achieve their soccer dreams.”
“We want soccer to be in every school, to put soccer within reach of every kid in America who wants to go and play."
Tonight's final. #USMNT x @BankofAmerica pic.twitter.com/nwUON8KqUb
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) April 1, 2026
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