The World Cup will start in less than a month, but in the United States, Americans have not completely embraced the event yet. A report from the streets of New York.
A month is still far away, especially in a country where the most popular sports involve an orange ball (basketball), an oval ball (American football), or a tiny ball (baseball). The World Cup of football will begin on June 11, and America has not fully embraced soccer, as it is known in the United States. In major cities across the country, signs of the upcoming global event are still very discreet.
In New York, in the bustling Times Square area, large screens are showing the Knicks’ highlights as they compete for a championship title in the coming weeks. At the Pelé Soccer Store, the hub for soccer-related products in the Big Apple, the excitement is understated.
“I thought there would be more enthusiasm, especially this close to the start of the World Cup,” admitted Bradley, the store manager, wearing a jersey of the French national team. “In the past two or three days, we have seen a bit more interest, but overall, we are still far away. We Americans live in the present and tend to do things at the last minute.”
In this hidden boutique on the ground floor of a historic building in the city, the jerseys of France and Argentina, the last two finalists, are the top sellers. Further down on 7th Avenue is Jabri, who works at Lids, a popular chain specializing in the sale of hats, caps, and sports accessories.
“Soccer is not yet a fully embraced sport here in the United States,” Jabri explained. “People are interested but from a distance. We know the main players, we will watch the games when the time comes, but for now, we prefer to follow the sports and teams we usually support.”
Football is, however, growing rapidly in the United States: it is the most practiced sport among children under ten. Teens and young adults are the most captivated by the World Cup, but ticket prices and controversies about the presence of immigration police around stadiums have deterred many Americans.
“I checked the prices a few days ago, and all tickets were priced in the thousands of dollars,” lamented Aidan, a 16-year-old who plays soccer with friends at a city field in Hudson Square, south of Manhattan. “We will follow the competition when it starts, we will likely organize watch parties at each other’s homes, but only for the big games.”
Most cities hosting matches have planned fan zones. The New York City government announced the installation of 50 mini-soccer fields around the city, to bring the event to the streets of the metropolis.
A study conducted in March stated that 75% of Americans plan to follow the 2026 World Cup in some way. However, only 26% expressed a strong desire to watch “many” matches. The majority expects to follow the tournament through clips, social media, or highlights rather than full matches. Yet, 37% of Americans believe their interest in soccer will increase with the World Cup being held.
