Soccer Now America's 3rd Most Popular Sport After World Cup

The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina drew 52 million viewers this summer, proving soccer has claimed its spot as America's third favorite sport behind football and basketball.

Nearly 7 million people flooded stadiums across North America during the tournament. The energy was electric, the stadiums were packed, and for weeks, everyone was talking about soccer.

Landon Donovan, who analyzed games for FOX throughout the event, said working the World Cup was the time of his life. "The superstars showed up and scored goals. The fan bases were incredible," he told Fox News Digital. "It broke records in every way on TV and social."

The numbers back up what many soccer fans have felt for years. Recent surveys show soccer ranks as America's third most popular sport overall, a massive leap from its fringe status just decades ago.

Donovan points to what he sees every morning as proof the sport has truly arrived. "I drop my kids off at school every day. I don't see NFL jerseys. I don't see baseball jerseys. I see soccer jerseys," he said.

The USMNT's early exit disappointed fans hoping for a deeper run. But the tournament still sparked excitement that will carry forward into Major League Soccer's season and beyond.

AT&T partnered with Donovan for the MLS All-Star Game festivities in Charlotte, helping connect fans to the sport. "When you have companies that want to support in a real way and not just throw money at it, but actually be involved, then it means a lot," Donovan said.

Players returning to MLS after the World Cup will ride a wave of recognition similar to what Donovan experienced in 2002. He literally got off the plane from Korea and went straight to the stadium that same day, playing 10 minutes to thunderous applause from fans who had watched him compete hours earlier halfway around the world.

The Ripple Effect

This summer's World Cup success mirrors the growth that followed the 1994 tournament, which helped launch Major League Soccer two years later. The sport has been building momentum ever since, and this event pushed it over the edge into mainstream consciousness.

Young players across America watched their heroes compete on the world's biggest stage all summer. Youth soccer registrations typically surge after World Cup years, creating a new generation of talent that will shape the sport's future.

Donovan acknowledges soccer still has room to grow compared to sports with century-long head starts, but he's done waiting for soccer's arrival because it's already here.