The 2026 World Cup could supercharge soccer in the U.S. — or slow its rise

With the zeal of an old-fashioned Southern preacher, soccer evangelists have been shouting to the heavens about this summer’s World Cup launching the sport into new horizons in the United States. Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber calls it “rocket fuel for our entire ecosystem. ” There is substance behind that belief.

Starting June 11, the World Cup will descend on North America for more than five weeks, showcasing international soccer and its colorful cast of characters on and off the pitch at a time when the sports landscape is relatively quiet. Indeed, the stage belongs to the beautiful game. There is at least one match — and as many as six — scheduled each of the first 27 days, with just five off-days following the Round of 16.

For Fox Sports and Telemundo, the U. S. TV rights holders, the World Cup is the NCAA basketball tournament fused with the Super Bowl with a generous infusion of culture, politics and patriotism.

Unlike most Olympics and World Cups staged abroad, it will transpire in mostly favorable time slots. From grocery store displays and watch parties to flag-lined streets and team jerseys, soccer will be omnipresent this summer. There should, however, be genuine concern that growing negativity around the World Cup could not only temper the sport’s growth here but cause damage to its broader image.