The 2026 FIFA World Cup is drawing stronger interest from American viewers than recent tournaments, with four in 10 U.S. adults saying they plan to watch at least some of the competition, according to a new Gallup survey.
Gallup found that 40% of Americans intend to watch at least part of the World Cup, which is being hosted across North America with most matches taking place in the United States. The figure is nearly identical to the 38% measured in 1994, the last time the tournament was held in the U.S., and notably higher than the roughly 30% recorded in surveys conducted in 1990, 2002 and 2006.
Among those surveyed, 8% said they plan to watch as much of the tournament as possible. Interest is significantly higher among self-described soccer fans, with 83% saying they intend to watch at least some matches and 27% planning to watch as much as they can.
The survey found viewing interest varies across demographic groups. Nearly half of Americans living in the Eastern United States, college graduates, men, young adults, people of color and upper-income households said they expect to watch at least some World Cup action.
Gallup also measured broader interest in professional soccer and found 27% of Americans consider themselves soccer fans. That places soccer in the middle tier of major sports in the United States, behind Olympic sports, professional football, baseball and basketball, but ahead of several other professional leagues.
While soccer fandom has grown since Gallup first measured it in 2006, the survey suggests that growth has largely leveled off during the past decade. Even so, soccer has maintained its fan base better than several other major sports, which have experienced declines in fan interest since 2017.
Researchers noted that soccer remains particularly popular among younger Americans and Hispanic adults, a trend that could help the sport continue expanding its audience in the years ahead.
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