How Soccer has evolved in the USA in the last few years
Professional soccer is becoming one of the most popular sports in America, with millions of bettors wagering at online sportsbooks and Play Safe Online Casino offers on the market. If you're interested in discovering more about soccer's evolution in the United States over time or are just curious about how this beautiful game stands out from other sports played here, keep reading!
American Soccer Interest Is Rising
The popularity of soccer is increasing in the US. There are many reasons for this, but one of the most significant is an interest in the sport and culture as a whole. Aside from the growing popularity of men's and women's professional leagues, more people watch hundreds of millions of dollars worth of international tournaments yearly (and then buy merchandise related to those tournaments).
Accordingly, there has been an increase in casual and competitive participation levels across all age groups over recent years, too (especially among youth). Soccer camps have increased significantly since 2010; according to Statista data on camp attendance rates by activity type: "11% more children attended these camps compared to five years ago." Similarly, research from ESPN found that nearly 60% more kids were involved with organized sports programs compared with 2011 levels - which means that now more than ever, Americans are playing soccer!
In the Recent Years
As of late, Americans have become more interested in soccer than ever before. In fact, this sport is now the most popular sport among fans aged 12 to 17 — a demographic that's growing rapidly here in America.
Also on the rise are young people who are playing and watching soccer. In 2017, there were over 3 million registered youth soccer players aged 6 to 12 nationwide; about 2 million of those kids played on a boys' team and 1 million played on girls' teams (the rest were coed or mixed). That’s almost twice as many players as there were in 2014!
And it's not just children who are getting into soccer — adults are enjoying it too: According to recent polls conducted by Harris Interactive for ESPN Sports Polls/Simmons Research Group, 23 percent of Americans say they consider themselves “avid fans” of Major League Soccer (MLS), which was founded 27 years ago but only became fully professionalized in 1996. Another 36% call themselves “casual fans," while 40% say they know little or nothing at all about MLS.
The MLS
All this growth has led to a steady stream of young talent joining the MLS. Even if you’re not a soccer fan, you’ve probably heard of some of their players: Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, and Tim Howard.
The league has also grown in popularity among Americans. In fact, 16 cities will host the next World Cup 2026, and three North American countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
More Soccer Teams in the MLS
The MLS is one of the fastest-growing leagues in the world. In fact, there are now 29 teams in the MLS, up from just 10 in 2005. This has led to more competition and more games for fans—and as a result, there are now more fans than ever before! As a result of this increase in popularity, teams have also seen an increase in revenue (thanks to ticket sales).
With such a high level of competition between teams, it's no wonder why so many people love playing soccer in the US.
The World Cup Qatar 2022
The United States Men's National Team made it to round 16 of the World Cup Qatar 2022 and the first stage knockout, but not without its fair share of controversy. The team lost 3-1 to the Netherlands and packed bags to return to the States. Despite these losses, American fans were still optimistic about their chances of advancing further into the tournament.
Bigger Number of Soccer Specific Stadiums
Soccer-specific stadiums are better than multipurpose stadiums. Soccer-specific stadiums were built for soccer, not adapted from other sports. These stadiums can be located in the right areas, have good facilities for fans, and offer a better experience for everyone attending the games. These stadiums are becoming more common in the US.
Some examples of soccer-specific stadiums are Red Bull Arena, Toyota Park, and BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston Dynamo). All these stadiums have been built in the last ten years and provide great fan experiences because they're explicitly designed to host soccer matches.
Conclusion
We've seen soccer's popularity grow in the US over the last few years, and it's looking like it's here to stay. With more sponsorships, increased viewership and participation levels, and overall interest in the sport at all levels, soccer has become a game that Americans can be proud of. If you've been following soccer here in the USA for the last few years, you know that this is a golden age for the sport.
This feeling is compounded by outstanding individual performances from American talent over the past year. There has been Neymar-Esque flair on the field over the past few years and it looks like soccer is truly going places in America.