The popularity of football in the United States has been on a steady rise, as evidenced by a recent report from Nielsen. The study, titled "Get Ready with Media Intelligence: 2026 FIFA World Cup Edition," reveals that US football fans spent an astounding 80 billion minutes watching football matches in 2025. This surge in interest comes just ahead of the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026.
Nielsen's comprehensive report examines viewership trends, engagement patterns, and local market impact. It found that US viewers dedicated nearly 79.8 billion minutes to watching football in 2025 alone. Furthermore, it predicts an upward trend with about one-third (33%) of the American population expecting their interest in the sport to increase over the next year and a half.
Interestingly enough, this figure is dwarfed by self-proclaimed football fans' expectations - a whopping 64% anticipate their interest will grow within the same timeframe.
Significant increases for major tournaments
In terms of specific tournaments, there have been significant increases across various competitions. For instance, Copa América's average audience more than doubled from its numbers back in 2021 when compared to those recorded for its edition held three years later.
Similarly impressive growth was observed during UEFA Women’s Euro and CONCACAF Gold Cup events held during this period.
When it comes to league-based viewership statistics for America's soccer enthusiasts:
- Liga MX took first place
- UEFA Champions League came second
- Premier League secured third place
Social superfans phenomenon
Nielsen’s report also sheds light on another interesting aspect - American soccer fans are social superfans! An overwhelming majority (79.5%) use social media platforms as their go-to source for sports news and content.
The report offers a detailed city-by-city breakdown, providing insights into the local football fandom landscape.
New York
- Football fans: 41.0% (7.1 million)
- Total Minutes of Football Viewed in 2025: 2.5 billion
- Most Popular League: La Liga
- Notably, 41.4% of New York soccer fans plan to attend a match in person.
Los Angeles
- Football fans: 42.5% (5.6 million)
- Total Minutes of Football Viewed in 2025: 4 billion
- Most Popular League: La Liga
- A staggering 82.7% of LA soccer fans use Instagram for sports news and content.
Miami - Ft.Lauderdale
- Football fans: 43.3% (1.5 million)
- Total Minutes of Football Viewed in 2025: Nearly a billion
- Most Popular League: La Liga
- Miami boasts the highest percentage (96%) of soccer fans using social media for football content.
Dallas-Ft.Worth
- Football Fans :36 .8%(2 .7 Million)
- Total minutes watched :1 .8 Billion
- Most popular league :La Liga
- Dallas stands out with its intent to buy merchandise at on-site shops during the World Cup(41%).
Seattle-Tacoma
- Football Fans :37 .4%(1 .4 Million)
- Total minutes watched :264 Million
- Most popular league :Premier League
Seattle's unique aspect is that one-fourth residents believe clothing and fashion brands are perfect fits for the World Cup stage. As we approach the FIFA World Cup in 2026, it's clear that America's love affair with football is only set to intensify. The Nielsen report provides valuable insights for stakeholders, from sports marketers to betting companies, as they strategize to capitalize on this growing trend.
