Nearly half of Americans have no interest in World Cup 2026, poll finds

12 Jun 2026 • 3:00 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Nearly half of Americans have no interest in World Cup 2026, poll finds

  • A new Emerson College poll indicates that many Americans have little interest in the World Cup 2026, which commenced today.
  • The survey, conducted on June 7-8 among 1,200 respondents, found that 45 percent had no interest in the tournament, 33 percent had some interest, and 22 percent were very interested.
  • Interest levels varied significantly by age, with over 70 percent of 18-29-year-olds expressing interest, while only 11 percent of those aged 60-69 were very interested.
  • Racial demographics also showed differing interest, with 63 percent of Black respondents and 60 percent of Hispanic respondents planning to watch closely, compared to 35 percent of White respondents.
  • Anecdotal evidence from Scottish fans visiting Boston suggests that some Americans are unaware that the World Cup is currently underway.

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