The 2026 World Cup won over America and proved the planet wrong
The 2026 World Cup successfully captured the attention of the American public, evidenced by fans following matches during travel and engaging in communal viewing experiences. The tournament challenged previous perceptions about soccer's popularity in the United States.
Why it matters
The event marks a significant cultural shift in American sports consumption and the global reach of the World Cup.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — When you're inside the World Cup bubble, covering one particular team, monitoring hamstring strains and learning "Country Roads" lyrics , you miss out on what is happening over the tournament at large.
You watch other matches when possible, but much of your time is consumed with commuting to training sessions and games, organizing notes and compiling quotes. (And stealing power naps.)
You see the fans, the merchandise, the TV ads starring the ubiquitous Timothée Chalamet, but you don't necessarily feel soccer's quadrennial jamboree.
Somewhere out there, a whole big festival is taking place.
The World Cup hit me a week after the USA's abysmal elimination . After covering the Spain-France semifinal in Greater Dallas , I waited to board a flight home to Washington. As travelers began lining up, some approached the gate agent to ask if the plane was equipped with live TV.
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