World Cup is on the upswing in the US

One in Five Americans Believe They Could Score for the USMNT

The headline number is striking: 20.20 percent of respondents, or roughly one in five Americans, believe they could score a World Cup goal for the USMNT. The confidence is even higher in major sports markets. Los Angeles leads all cities, with 30 percent of residents backing themselves to find the net on soccer’s biggest stage. Miami follows at 29 percent, while Dallas ranks third at 27.1 percent.

Even beyond the top cities, belief remains high. With the exception of Columbus, every city in the top ten recorded at least 17 percent of respondents who think they could score for the national team.

California Tops the State Rankings

At the state level, California stands alone as the most confident sporting state in America. Nearly 30 percent of Californians believe they could score for the USMNT during the World Cup. The state also posted the highest combined sporting confidence score at 32.8 percent. Georgia, Illinois, and Virginia also produced strong numbers, each with more than a quarter of respondents believing they could score a World Cup goal.

The results reflect how quickly soccer has grown in the United States, especially with the World Cup being played on home soil. Fans are not only watching the tournament—they are imagining themselves in it.

Confidence Extends Beyond Soccer

The survey also explored confidence across other major sports. Nearly one in three Miami residents believe they could score at least one point against LeBron James in a one‑on‑one game. In California, that number rises to 37.5 percent. Meanwhile, 32.5 percent of Los Angeles residents believe they could kick a field goal to win the Super Bowl. Virginia ranks highest under pressure, with 36.7 percent believing they could convert a game‑winning kick on the NFL’s biggest stage.