As the World Cup comes to an end, MLS works to bring in a new generation of fans

NPR | By Becky Sullivan

Published July 17, 2026 at 3:43 AM CDT

The 1994 World Cup is universally credited with sparking a boom of interest in soccer in the U.S., from youth leagues to televised games to the formation of MLS. The league and its teams say 2026 will be another boom -- the only question is, how to harness it?

Becky Sullivan

Becky Sullivan has reported and produced for NPR since 2011 with a focus on hard news and breaking stories. She has been on the ground to cover natural disasters, disease outbreaks, elections and protests, delivering stories to both broadcast and digital platforms.

See stories by Becky Sullivan

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