US soccer faces scrutiny amid World Cup co-hosting duties
The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 19, 2026, 5:58 AM
Last updated Jun 19, 2026
Soccer has seen a rise in participation among youth in the US but struggles for mainstream attention. Longtime sports writer John Shea comments on the current buzz around the World Cup, likening it to the temporary interest generated by the Olympics, as Americans often revert to traditional sports. Bernardo Ramallo of Soccer Without Borders highlights the long-standing perception that soccer is inferior to American football, affecting young players' experiences. As the World Cup progresses, the US and Australia see similarities in their soccer journeys.
- •Soccer is the most played youth sport in the US.
- •John Shea compares World Cup interest to Olympic excitement.
- •Soccer is often seen as less significant than American football.
- •Bernardo Ramallo discusses perceptions impacting young players.
- •The US and Australia share similar challenges in soccer popularity.
- 5:58 AMThe Guardian Sport — As co-host of the World Cup, is the US learning to love soccer? – video
"Soccer – football to many – may be the most played youth sport in the US but it still sits behind the NFL, basketball and baseball in the battle for mainstream attention. Longtime sports writer John Shea of the San Francisco Standard says the current World Cup buzz resembles the fleeting interest generated by the Olympics before Americans return to their sporting staples. That imbalance shapes the experience of players and fans alike. Bernardo Ramallo, who works with non-profit Soccer Without Borders says young soccer players have long endured jibes that the sport is ‘weak’ compared with American football. Forget the confected World Cup hostility, the US and Australia mirror each other Continue reading...
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