The FIFA World Cup trophy will be awarded the country that wins the 2026 tournament. Photo source: OpenVerse.
The cheering. The sadness. The nerve-wracking moments.
There’s no tournament quite like the FIFA World Cup, and it’s coming to North America this summer.
The tournament is finally returning to the US for the first time since 1994. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in Canada and Mexico as well.
It’s been 32 years ever since Americans have been able to experience the World Cup to its full extent, and for those who aren’t into the world of soccer, these are things you can look forward to as it comes here this summer.
1. A chance to fall in love with the sport. The World Cup can be a great introduction to the sport. We saw a 30% viewership increase of Americans during the 2022 World Cup compared to 2018, according to forsoccer.com.
The World Cup increases the amount of people who play the sport. From the 2018 World Cup to 2023, just a few months after the 2022 World Cup in December, there was 23% increase in the amount of participants in American soccer leagues, according to research by Samford University and forsoccer.com.
Ever since the 2022 World Cup, more soccer fields and facilities have been built all across the country to allow the new crowds of people to enjoy the sport in the US.
2. A cultural melting pot. Fans from all over the world will visit the US to support their teams, and Americans can experience new cultures during the tournament. 48 different countries will participate in the newly-expanded pools, and their fans will bring their languages, music, dances and more for us to enjoy.
3. Economic impact. The World Cup’s return to America will most likely make a positive impact on the economy. The World Cup generated around $50 million in 1994. The tournament will also open up new jobs, and will drive tourism from different countries all around the world to American cities.
This World Cup will be huge for the country. If you haven’t given the sport a fair try, this summer is the great chance to open up to the wide world of soccer.
