Most Americans are unlikely to closely follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even as the tournament prepares to kick off across the United States, Mexico and Canada later this month, according to a new Pew Research Center survey.
The poll found that 66% of U.S. adults are either not too likely or not at all likely to follow the men’s World Cup. About 28% said they are at least somewhat likely to pay attention to the tournament, including 14% who described themselves as very or extremely likely to follow the competition.
Among those who plan to watch, there is little agreement on who will win. Spain received the largest share of predictions at 9%, while Argentina and Brazil each drew 8%. France and the United States followed at 7% each. A sizable 41% of prospective viewers said they were unsure who would ultimately capture the championship.
The survey found notable differences among demographic groups. Immigrants were more than twice as likely as U.S.-born adults to say they plan to follow the World Cup, with 54% expressing interest compared to 23% of those born in the United States. Hispanic and Asian Americans also reported greater interest in the tournament than White and Black Americans.
Men were somewhat more likely than women to say they will follow the World Cup, while adults ages 18 to 64 expressed more interest than those 65 and older. The tournament begins June 11 and will be played in cities across North America through July.
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