World Cup reflects growing US appetite for soccer, 'Ted Lasso' creators say

The idea that soccer is not popular in the U.S. is "a little bit overstated," according to "Ted Lasso" co-creator and star Brendan Hunt. He spoke to reporters in Kansas City ahead of the Argentina-Switzerland World Cup quarter-final.

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The idea that soccer is not popular in the U.S. is a little bit overstated

Hunt acknowledged that the Emmy-winning comedy, which aired from 2020 to 2023, may have helped draw new fans to the sport. He said he had heard anecdotal evidence of viewers becoming interested in soccer through the Apple TV series.

Co-creator and star Jason Sudeikis joked about the show's impact within his own home, but deferred to Hunt on its broader influence. Hunt quipped that the creators had "tricked" some viewers into embracing soccer.

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I do within my own home.

However, Hunt argued that soccer's growth in the U.S. predates the series and is often underestimated. He noted that U.S. fans are far more prepared for this World Cup than in 1994, when the tournament was last staged there. "The stuff about soccer being not popular here is a little bit overstated ... It's getting there," he said.

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It's made it more popular

The U.S. is co-hosting the World Cup with Mexico and Canada. While the 1994 tournament helped boost the sport's popularity and led to the launch of Major League Soccer, soccer remains far from dominant in the country. Hunt suggested that the current World Cup has demonstrated a growing U.S. fan base, though he acknowledged that it remains to be seen if bandwagon fans will stick around.

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tricked