SouthernWorldwide.com – The United States men’s national soccer team kicked off their World Cup campaign with a dominant victory over Paraguay, marking a significant moment for the sport in the U.S.
The match, held in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium, drew an impressive crowd of 70,492 spectators. This was the first time the U.S. men’s national team had played a World Cup match on home soil since 1994.
The performance was described as a “clinic” and a “spectacle,” leaving many American soccer fans with a sense of profound encouragement. Beyond the on-field success, the viewership numbers released by FOX Sports have also proven to be historic.
FOX Sports announced on Saturday that the United States’ 4-1 victory against Paraguay became the “Most-watched USMNT FIFA Men’s World Cup telecast in English-language U.S. history.” The game captivated an astonishing 15.986 million viewers.
This surge in viewership represents a significant increase compared to previous tournaments. The 2022 USMNT group-stage opener against Wales, for instance, averaged approximately 11.7 million viewers in the U.S.
The latest match saw a remarkable 106% increase in viewership. Furthermore, the peak viewership during Friday’s decisive match reached 18.86 million, underscoring the immense interest generated.
The excitement surrounding playing on home soil, coupled with the strength of the current U.S. men’s national team roster, likely contributed to this historic turnout.
To put these figures into perspective, the Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs reportedly garnered just over 16 million viewers. This indicates that the USMNT’s World Cup opener was nearly on par with one of America’s most prominent sporting events.
This achievement is particularly noteworthy for a soccer match, even with the advantage of being played domestically during a World Cup.
Looking ahead, if the U.S. team delivers another strong performance against Australia on Friday, it is expected that more casual American sports fans will tune in, further boosting soccer’s popularity.
This World Cup presents a golden opportunity to foster the growth of soccer within the United States. It can help Major League Soccer attract new fans and elevate the profiles of the current players, turning them into household names.
The National Hockey League (NHL) successfully leveraged the momentum from international competitions like the 4 Nations Face-Off. Major League Soccer would be wise to follow a similar strategy.
The U.S. men’s national team is scheduled to play Australia at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, June 19. The match will take place at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.
