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...
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days- Olympics•Jun 19, 2026, 4:18 AMTHN Archive: Untapped Potential
- Olympics•Jun 19, 2026, 4:06 AMCould FOX Sports Radio Be Headed For a Post-Colin Cowherd Era As Early As 2028?
- Olympics•Jun 19, 2026, 3:01 AMMike Tirico called the biggest games, and soaked them in, for a change
OlympicsOlympics•Jun 19, 2026, 2:36 AMBemidji students to partake in ESPN Sports Challenge- Olympics•Jun 18, 2026, 10:59 PMHere’s how Utah develops Olympic athletes
- Olympics•Jun 18, 2026, 10:54 PMLA28’s Rose Bowl Aquatics Center Fits The Bill For Olympic Diving
