when did soccer become popular in the united states
Soccer in the United States Soccer in the United States is governed by the United States Soccer Federation. The organization governs most levels of soccer in the country, including the national teams, professional leagues, and the amateur game with the exception of colleges and high schools. As of May 2015[update], over 24.4 million people play soccer in the United States.[8] In 2017, Gallup reported that soccer was the third-most played team sport in the U.S., behind only basketball and American football.[9] The popularity of the sport in the U.S. has been growing since the 1960s and 1970s, and received a significant boost when the United States hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup and 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. It is the fourth most popular sport in the United States behind American football, baseball and basketball, and is the second fastest growing sport in America, surpassed only by lacrosse.[10][not in citation given]