World Cup 2026: How US football has evolved since hosting in 1994

The US has made significant progress in football since hosting the World Cup in 1994. At that time, the country had no professional league and the national team was formed with semi-professionals. Today, the US Soccer Federation sanctions 127 professional teams, with 18 of the top 50 valued teams in the world being part of Major League Soccer. The national team is ranked 16th in the world by FIFA, and commercial interest in soccer is at an all-time high.