Can America Dominate Football One Day?

In the United States, sporting dominance is nothing new.

Basketball? They redefined it. American football? Invented and monopolised. The Olympics? Routinely topped. But for decades, football — the world’s game — remained a curious outlier. It never quite took hold of the nations imagination in the same way.

Now, that’s changing.

As the sport grows at pace across the country, and with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, joint hosted with Canada and Mexico, a once far-fetched question is gaining traction: could the United States not just compete in football, but dominate it?

Top of the table and on to the @GoldCup quarterfinals! pic.twitter.com/sGk3l4IwoZ

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 23, 2025

A Sporting Superpower

When the U.S. commits to sporting excellence, history suggests success tends to follow. Its population exceeds 330 million. The sports infrastructure is vast. Financial backing, elite facilities and collegiate pathways create a conveyor belt of athletes in multiple disciplines.

In basketball and American football, the U.S. doesn't just lead — it sets the standard. The NBA is a global benchmark. The NFL, while largely domestic, remains the most lucrative and commercially successful sports league in the world.

In that context, football represents unfinished business.

A Shift in Talent

American players have long been perceived as athletic, hard-working, but technically limited. That stereotype no longer holds. The last decade has seen a notable change in the calibre of American footballers — both in terms of ability and ambition.

Christian Pulisic became a Champions League winner with Chelsea, having made his name at Borussia Dortmund. Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah are midfield regulars at Juventus and Milan respectively. Tyler Adams, when fit, brings control and aggression to any midfield. Gio Reyna has shown flashes of quality in Germany and England. Malik Tillman of PSV and Joe Scally of Borussia Monchengladbach are part of a growing crop performing in Europe's top leagues.

Crucially, this is not a one-off generation. At youth level, U.S. sides have reached the later stages of World Cups. MLS academies — once an afterthought — are now producing players with the technical foundation and tactical intelligence to make the leap abroad.

🚨🔵 EXCLUSIVE: Napoli are in talks with AC Milan to sign Yunus Musah as new midfielder.

Antonio Conte appreciates the player and club to club discussions are now underway.

Musah, keen on joining Serie A champions with personal terms not an issue. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/MGYikX3RYU

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 10, 2025

Interest Is Driving Infrastructure

The growth in playing talent is matched by a sharp rise in domestic interest.

In 2022, over 26 million Americans watched the World Cup final. That figure would have been unthinkable a decade earlier. Football has become more visible — and more accessible — than ever. Fans are no longer limited to MLS or grainy replays. Premier League, Champions League and European domestic fixtures are broadcast widely, feeding a younger, digitally native audience.

MLS itself continues to evolve. The league may still trail behind Europe's elite, but the arrival of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami has provided a commercial jolt. Apple’s MLS Season Pass, tied to Messi’s arrival, has drawn in both international and domestic viewers, giving the league a platform it has never had before.

At grassroots level, participation is strong. Youth football is widely played, and among many parents, preferred over more physically demanding sports like American football. The pieces — in terms of infrastructure, popularity and financial support — are beginning to fall into place.

David Beckham said that Lionel Messi's Inter Miami presentation had 3.5 billion views 😳📈 pic.twitter.com/GwMRvPQeTp

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 19, 2023

But What Does Dominance Look Like?

To dominate football is not simply to win a tournament. It means regular, sustained success at the very highest level — producing world-class players consistently and building teams capable of winning major honours against historically dominant nations.

That remains a distant goal. Brazil, France, Germany, Argentina, Spain — these are countries with deep-rooted footballing traditions, generational coaching philosophies and relentless competitive cultures. For the U.S., closing that gap will take more than enthusiasm and investment. It will take time.

But what felt implausible 20 years ago now feels possible.

The U.S. men's national team is young. The core group is playing in Europe. The domestic league is developing. Interest is rising, and in a years' time, they will host the world’s biggest sporting event. That tournament could serve as a catalyst — just as 1994 laid the foundations for MLS — to propel the sport to a new level of cultural relevance and mainstream investment.

There is no inevitability to U.S. dominance in football. But for the first time, there is a legitimate pathway. One built not on hopeful projection, but on talent, infrastructure, and growing ambition.

And that alone is enough to make the rest of the world take notice.

"Yes we can win the World Cup, with the help of President Trump and the fans" 🗣️

USA boss Mauricio Pochettino on his side's World Cup hopes 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/kMfQAp9AyJ

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 19, 2025