The United States’ 2026 World Cup journey ended on the field with a round of 16 exit, but off the field, the tournament was an unparalleled triumph for both the U.S. and FIFA.

Domestic viewership has shattered records, led by a historic 27.5 million for the knockout round opener against Paraguay. Even matches not involving the U.S. have drawn impressive views, with an average of 5.5 million per match. This staggering interest proves that American fans are now invested in the global game, regardless of who is playing.

Financially, the 2026 World Cup has been the most lucrative sporting event ever. It has generated $13 billion in income — more than double the revenue of the 2018 tournament in Russia. A key innovation contributing to this prosperity has been the shared host status between the U.S., Mexico and Canada. By utilizing existing infrastructure across three nations, FIFA avoided the multibillion-dollar venue investments required for Qatar in 2022.

The legacy of hosting is well-documented. The 1994 World Cup was the catalyst for the sport’s modern era in the U.S., leading to the creation of Major League Soccer and a professional environment for domestic talent. The financial surplus from that era funded youth development and coaching systems that dragged American soccer out of the wilderness. Prior to 1994, simply qualifying for the World Cup was a major achievement. The success of the 1994 Cup gave the U.S. greater ambitions and legitimacy on the world stage. The team transitioned from an eccentric underdog to a legitimate, consistent top 20 soccer nation.

The 2026 tournament represents the next leap forward. The U.S. Soccer Federation expects a $300 million windfall, with $100 million earmarked for the Soccer Forward foundation. This initiative aims to dismantle pay-to-play barriers by funding scholarships and subsidizing travel for lower-income clubs to address long-standing structural inequities. With youth sports transitioning to more pay-to-play travel teams, millions of kids are left on the sidelines. That’s something soccer can exploit. The ultimate goal is targeting grassroots growth to make soccer the most widely played sport in America.

Even the unparalleled upswing of the 2026 World Cup won’t immediately catapult the U.S. men’s program to elite status. Closing the talent gap with nations for whom soccer is a cultural cornerstone will be an incremental process likely to take decades, as the U.S. still trails in academy training depth and coaching infrastructure.

With the popularity of football, baseball and basketball being what they are, soccer isn’t likely to become the dominant sport here. According to World Population Review, soccer is the clear No. 1 sport in at least 95 countries, including France, Italy and England. Improvement on the world stage relies on soccer becoming the choice of young elite athletes; however, the sport faces intense friction as it competes for the same physical talent that currently gravitates toward the NBA, NFL and MLB.

The 1994 World Cup put the U.S. on the map; 2026 will be the engine for its ascendancy. With vast financial resources, an expanding scouting footprint and a massive population, progress is inevitable — but reaching the pinnacle remains a long climb.

France plays Morocco today at 3 p.m. in the quarter finals. Kylian Mbappé is one of the world’s top players and is captain of France’s national team. He currently has one fewer goal this World Cup than Argentina’s Lionel Messi – the greatest to ever play the sport. Can Mbappé catch up with Messi and help power France to the semi-finals? Tune in and give soccer a shot. You’ll be in the company of billions of others from around the world.

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.