78% of U.S. Soccer Fans Are Under 45 – Here’s Who’s Driving the Boom

We can all agree that soccer has become much more popular in the USA in the last couple of years. Even though the sport has always been less popular than basketball, baseball and American football, its current state is much better than it was. The sport is slowly expanding its influence, especially among certain age groups.

According to my analysis of YouGov’s report and the findings from Nostrabet.com, close to 38% of people aged 24-34 follow the sport regularly. Those between the ages of 35 and 44 are 22%, whereas 18% of people follow it who are between 18 and 24. A deeper dive shows that only 7% of those between 45 and 54 are interested in it, and 14% of those 55+ fall into the category.

A closer look at these stats shows an important distinction. It’s interesting to dive deep into these stats and see what caused soccer to become more popular over the years. Outside of attracting more fans, soccer’s growing popularity also affects many other industries.

Soccer Interest in the U.S. by Age

As described above, the stats from YouGov show an interesting distinction between the overall U.S. adult population. Those aged 25 to 34 are around 20% of the adult population, and 38% of them follow soccer. On the other hand, those aged 55 and older represent around 38% of the country’s adults, but only 14% of them actually follow sports.

When you look at the data, it becomes clear that American soccer has many more fans among younger people. The percentage of Americans who follow soccer has increased significantly between 2022 and 2026 – from 8% to 12%.

The biggest increase is in the 18-35 age group, which rose from 13% to 22% in 2026. But why is the case? Well, let’s find out.

Why do Those Between the Ages of 25 and 34 Follow Soccer More Than Others?

The easiest way to explain why this particular age group follows soccer more than others is because of the generation differences. These people grew up in a time when American soccer became much more popular.

For starters, all of them have watched the MLS growing up. On top of that, many people follow the big European leagues and international competitions. They were always available in the USA, but most people did not follow them as much as they do now. European soccer has become much more sought-after than before, with many big names coming to the States.

I also have to mention the big soccer stars. There is no arguing that people like Messi and Ronaldo have had a huge role in the sport’s popularity, even in the USA. In the case of Messi, he even decided to move to Miami and play there.

A further study from YouGov shows that only around 12% of Americans describe themselves as soccer fans. For comparison, the percentage among those aged 18-34 is 23%. An interesting fact is that basketball and soccer were the only sports more popular among younger adults than in the overall USA population.

The FIFA World Cup 2026’s Effect on Soccer in the USA

There is absolutely no arguing that the FIFA World Cup 2026 was a huge catalyst for soccer in the USA. The competition took place in Mexico, Canada and the USA, but the majority of matches were in the U.S. In fact, we saw a total of 104 games across 16 host cities in these countries.

Considering this was the largest FIFA World Cup in history, it’s no surprise it has had a huge impact on soccer’s popularity. Many statistics showed that the event affected numerous other businesses and industries in the USA, including prediction markets. Some stats show that Kalsi and Polymarket generated around $50.59B in monthly revenue in July, a record.

What’s interesting is that the numbers I shared earlier represented the situation before the tournament took place. Now that the event is over, there is a good chance that many more people are interested in the sport. After all, it was the biggest sports event of the year.

Aside From Watching Soccer, Many Americans are Also Playing

Aside from watching more soccer than before, it seems like more Americans are also interested in playing. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, around 16.8 million Americans played soccer in 2025. This is about 1M more than in 2024, indicating a clear upward trend.

A deeper dive into the stats shows that kids between 6 and 12 are the largest group who play outdoor soccer. With that said, there is a massive 118% increase in the number of people between the ages of 35 and 44 who play outdoor soccer between 2018 and 2025. The percentage among those aged 45 to 54 increased by even more – 247%.

The stats also reveal an interesting story about Hispanic Americans. Between 2022 and 2025, the number of people who played outdoor soccer in the community increased from 2.6 million to 4.2 million.

Overall, Hispanic Americans are close to 75% more likely to play soccer than average Americans. This is not surprising, considering that the sport is incredibly popular in Mexico and South America.

Soccer is also gaining traction among female fans. Further research shows a 65.5% increase in the sport’s popularity among women and girls between 2018 and 2025. Despite this, men remain more interested in the sport (68% vs 32%).

Keep in mind that the rapid growth in female participation creates another opportunity for future expansion of the fan base. Women’s soccer is growing in popularity worldwide, and it seems the USA will be no exception.

The MLS Growth

Major League Soccer is the most prestigious soccer competition in the USA, and it has become much more popular in the last couple of years. The regular 2025 season attracted 11.2 million spectators, the second-highest in the league’s history.

The trend also continued in early 2026, when the MLS reported around 7.9M live match viewers per week. Many of you won’t be surprised by these stats, considering that the FIFA World Cup 2026 was about to take place in the USA.

Another major reason the MLS became much more popular than before was the arrival of Lionel Messi. Ever since he became a part of the club in 2023, the MLS has gained a lot more popularity. The club has a lot of new fans, and people are much more interested in what’s going on than before.

What U.S. Soccer’s Age Demographic Means for Brands and Media

Advertising agencies and companies closely follow sports-related stats because they need to know how to optimize their campaigns. Soccer is becoming an increasingly more attractive sport because the fan base is concentrated among people under 45.

There was an interesting YouGov study related to the World Cup that found people under 35 were more likely to notice tournament sponsors than others. In fact, 68% of people aged 18 to 34 said they noticed the World Cup sponsors. Only 51% of those aged 35 and above confirmed that.

The combination of a younger audience and digital engagement makes soccer a key sport for advertisers. It will take time for the big matches to become as popular as major baseball or NFL games, but the stats are clear.

Soccer’s Growth is Also Creating More Interest in Betting

Sports betting has been flourishing in the USA because the country has the world’s largest market. Since many more Americans follow the MLS and European soccer, the sport itself is becoming a popular choice among bettors.

Generally speaking, soccer is the sport that offers the most options when it comes to online betting. Even before it was that big in the USA, locals who wagered on it had access to more markets. Since the sport already has a strong following among those under 45, more and more people will choose it when betting. After all, they are more comfortable using digital platforms and following live sports online.

Overall, sports betting is growing in popularity across the USA, and this benefits soccer. Many local bookies are expanding their options and even provide different bonuses. As a result, even people who don’t follow the sport regularly decide to pay more attention to it. Some of them like it and become dedicated fans.

So, is Soccer Becoming a Major American Sport?

Yes, soccer is definitely becoming a major sport in America, but it still has work to do before it reaches the “big names”. Considering the stats I revealed and the fact that soccer is more popular among younger people, it is a matter of time before it catches up.

I expect to see many more big names from European clubs eventually make their way to the USA. The MLS is competing with Saudi Arabia for attracting talent, so we’ll keep an eye on what happens.