All Podcasts / Planet Money / Can World Cup mania grow MLS in the U.S.?
Planet Money
Planet Money

Can World Cup mania grow MLS in the U.S.?

July 17, 2026 • 26m

Summary

⏱️ 7 min read

Overview

This Planet Money episode explores how Major League Soccer (MLS) teams are attempting to capitalize on the 2026 World Cup being hosted in the United States. The episode examines different strategies MLS clubs are deploying to convert World Cup excitement into long-term interest in their domestic league, from hosting watch parties to attracting star players, all while facing the challenge that American soccer still lacks the prestige of European leagues.

The MLS Problem-tunity: Soccer's Big Moment in America

Major League Soccer faces a unique challenge as the 2026 World Cup comes to the United States. While soccer dominates in most countries, it struggles for attention in the U.S. market against established sports leagues. However, with the World Cup being hosted domestically for the first time since 1994, MLS teams see a once-in-a-generation opportunity to capture new fans and elevate their standing in American sports culture.

  • Planet Money accidentally records world history while covering a World Cup watch party on a commercial shipping barge in Seattle
  • Major League Soccer faces what Planet Money calls a 'real big problem-tunity' - soccer is the number one sport in most countries but far from it in the U.S.
  • The U.S. is one of the hosts for the 2026 World Cup, creating a rare chance for MLS teams to capture World Cup attention for their local clubs
" Major League Soccer, MLS, is facing what we here at Planet Money have come to call a real big problem-tunity. "

The 1994 Legacy: How the Last World Cup Launched MLS

The 1994 World Cup in the United States was credited with giving soccer a huge bump and directly led to the creation of Major League Soccer. One of the conditions for the U.S. hosting that World Cup was launching a top-tier men's professional outdoor soccer league. Two years later, MLS began with dramatic proclamations, though the actual soccer was slow-paced with the first match taking 88 minutes before anyone scored.

  • The U.S. last hosted a men's World Cup in 1994, which gave soccer in the United States a huge bump
  • A condition of the U.S. being awarded the 1994 World Cup was that it had to launch a top-tier men's professional outdoor soccer league
  • Major League Soccer launched in 1996 with 10 teams and has since grown to 30 teams, matching baseball and basketball
" There are very few times where you feel the chill go up your spine. This is perhaps the biggest day in the history of U.S. soccer. "

📚 5 more sections below

Sign up to unlock the complete summary with all insights, key points, and quotes

Listen on Apple Podcasts More Episodes from Planet Money