World Cup 2026: Are Americans excited about the World Cup?

It has been a similar story in Los Angeles – where the host USA will play two of the three group games – in promoting the World Cup.

Banners on the streets from Los Angeles Airport advertise ‘LA26’ and the tournament, electronic billboards rotate various members of the American team and a large mural in downtown LA features Argentina legend Lionel Messi. Some convenience stores also sell World Cup-related merchandise.

However, it can be very easy for non-football fans to forget that the tournament is about to begin.

A taxi driver transporting his colleagues from the BBC World Service expressed surprise at the start of such an event and asked: “The World Cup is taking place? Who is playing?”

But the expectation for the organizers is that the excitement will increase as the tournament continues.

“I think we’ve got a slow build to the frenzy of frustration,” said Larry Friedman, co-chairman of the Los Angeles World Cup Organizing Committee.

“It’s been such a long time coming and so many other sports and activities in LA where people were wondering what they’re going to do tomorrow, not two or three years.

But now we’re on the eve and we’re very, very excited to launch people. We have a very diverse community here and people from all over the world who will have teams participating in this tournament.

For the fans, even if they are not die-hard football fans, there is more joy among them because they are in the city where their country plays its game.

In Santa Monica, Isaias and Husna – both from Sacramento County – were looking forward to practicing the competition.

“I’m very happy,” Isaiah told BBC Sport.

“I’ve never actually watched the World Cup, but I will watch it this year.

“I think it’s going to be fun because now it’s here in LA and it’s where LA is. It’s going to be something different.”

Husna added, “A lot of people don’t know what the World Cup is here, but now it’s in LA and it’s a big hit, so they know it and they watch it.”

But both admit they don’t know who the USA will face in their opening game.

Speaking to BBC Sport, the younger generation of Americans – who missed the tournament when it was last held in the US in 1994 – certainly seem excited about the World Cup.

Mahon, one such fan, said, “Parties are arranged for us and we are very happy.

“We’ve got a few friends who aren’t really into soccer, but we’re trying to instill in them that we’re Team America — the pride of the country.

“I think it’s surpassed baseball in popularity, but I don’t think it’s going to be as big as American football or basketball.

“People come in.”