Is Soccer Finally Bigger Than Hockey in North America?

Key Insights

• Hockey currently edges soccer in overall TV viewership in the United States, though both sports sit well behind the NFL, NBA, and MLB in the overall American sports landscape
• Soccer is growing faster than hockey among younger American fans and around major international events like the World Cup, which generates massive viewership spikes that dwarf anything MLS produces
• In Canada, hockey remains the defining domestic sport by a significant margin, with soccer growing mainly among youth and recent immigrant communities

The Current Standings

Let's start with where things actually are rather than where they're trending.

An S&P Global survey found that roughly the same share of American adults watch NHL hockey, with soccer coming in slightly lower in regular viewership. Both sports sit well below the NFL, NBA, and MLB in terms of Americans' consistent engagement. Neither hockey nor soccer has cracked the American mainstream in the way the top three leagues have.

A separate popularity survey found that only a small share of American adults pick soccer as their favorite sport, described as indicating growing but still limited interest in the American sports landscape. Hockey occupies a similar niche, slightly ahead in the preference hierarchy by most measures.

The honest summary: hockey currently leads soccer in North American viewership, but neither sport is dominant in the American market, and the gap between them is smaller than it was a decade ago.

Where Soccer Is Winning the Argument

Here's where soccer fans have the stronger case and it's worth taking seriously.

World Cup viewership is the biggest one. When a men's World Cup is on, soccer generates an audience that makes any regular NHL season look modest. The same S&P data shows the majority of self-identified American soccer fans watch the men's World Cup, with the women's tournament also drawing significant numbers.

That event-driven viewership pattern is different from hockey's more consistent but smaller regular following. Hockey has more dedicated year-round fans. Soccer has bigger spikes around international competitions that introduce the sport to new viewers each cycle.

The youth participation argument matters for long-term trajectory too:

• Soccer is consistently one of the most played youth sports in America
• Kids who grow up playing a sport are more likely to watch it as adults
• The youth pipeline soccer has built over the past two decades is starting to produce adult fans in meaningful numbers

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The Canada Factor

Any honest North American comparison has to address Canada separately because the two countries have genuinely different sports cultures.

In Canada, hockey is still the defining domestic sport by a margin that soccer hasn't approached. The NHL generates audience and cultural conversation that MLS and international soccer simply don't match in Canadian markets. Hockey is embedded in Canadian identity in a way that soccer, despite strong youth participation, hasn't displaced.

This matters for the North America as a whole framing because Canada's hockey dominance offsets some of soccer's American growth when you're looking at the combined picture. Soccer might be gaining in the US faster than hockey. It's not gaining in Canada at the same rate.

The Trajectory Question

Here's where soccer fans have the most legitimate argument.

Soccer is growing faster than hockey among younger Americans. The 2026 World Cup being hosted in the United States will generate another viewership spike and another wave of casual fans being introduced to the sport. The MLS has expanded significantly and its profile has risen with high-profile player acquisitions.

Hockey's growth in the US has been more modest and more concentrated in traditional hockey markets. The sport hasn't cracked the American South or much of the American West in the way soccer has through youth participation and immigration-driven fan bases.

The honest projection: soccer isn't bigger than hockey in North America right now, but if the trajectory of the past decade continues for another decade, that answer might change. The gap is smaller than it was and the direction of travel favors soccer.

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The Verdict

Is soccer finally bigger than hockey in North America? Not yet, but it's closer than it's ever been.

Hockey still edges soccer in overall North American viewership, particularly when Canada is included. Soccer generates bigger spikes around international events and is growing faster among younger demographics. The current answer is hockey, but the trajectory answer is that the gap is closing and the next decade will be the real test.

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FAQ

Does hockey or soccer have more viewers in North America right now?

Hockey currently edges soccer in overall North American viewership, though both sports sit well below the NFL, NBA, and MLB. The gap between hockey and soccer is smaller than it was and continuing to narrow.

Why does soccer have such big viewership spikes around the World Cup?

The World Cup generates national identity-level engagement that club or league soccer doesn't replicate. Many casual fans who don't follow soccer regularly watch international competitions because they represent their country rather than just a team.

Is MLS growing?

Yes, significantly. High-profile player acquisitions, expansion to new markets, and increasing youth soccer participation feeding adult fandom have all contributed to MLS's growing profile. It still doesn't rival the NHL in consistent viewership.

Why does hockey remain so dominant in Canada?

Hockey is embedded in Canadian national identity in a way that soccer hasn't approached. The sport has been central to Canadian culture for over a century and that cultural significance sustains engagement that goes beyond typical sports fandom.

Will soccer overtake hockey in North America within the next decade?

It's plausible. Soccer is growing faster among younger demographics, the 2026 World Cup will introduce another wave of American fans, and youth participation continues to build a long-term fan base. Whether that growth translates to consistent regular viewership that surpasses hockey remains to be seen.

Soccer isn't bigger than hockey in North America yet. But it's closer than ever, it's growing faster, and it has a World Cup coming to American soil in 2026. The gap is real. It's just shrinking.