In the U.S., soccer is now more popular than baseball. These are the studies

[ASFN Admin]

In 2024, before World Cup fever took over North America, soccer had already dethroned baseball as the third most popular sport in the U.S.

Using data from Ampere Analysis, a market research firm that focuses on media, entertainment, and sports, The Economist published a list of the most popular sports in the U.S. based on the share of fans.

According to the firm, American football is the most popular sport in the U.S., with a 36% share of fans. The results were as follows:

• American football- 36%
• Basketball- 17%
• Soccer- 10%
• Baseball- 9%
• Ice hockey- 4%
• Tennis- 3%
• Boxing- 3%

And soccer is only going to get more popular, given that American children like soccer even more than adults.

According to a 2024 study by the Aspen Institute, the population ages 6 to 17 prefers soccer over American football. Among the youngest ones, basketball, baseball, and soccer are the most popular sports.

Per the study, the share of children participating in different sports goes as follows:

• Basketball- 13.7%
• Baseball- 11.7%
• Soccer- 7.5%
• Flag and tackle football- 6.7% (between 2019 and 2024, tackle football became 7% less popular, while flag football grew 13.6% more popular)
• Tennis- 6.5% (the fastest-growing sport between 2019 and 2024)

Juan Carlos Castillo is a New Jersey-based trending reporter for the USA Today network. He covers weather, and national events focusing on how they affect New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: In the U.S., soccer is now more popular than baseball. These are the studies

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