Has football fever taken hold in the US?

As the World Cup unfolds, the focus turns to the United States, one of the co-hosts, as it prepares to face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the last 32. Initially, there were concerns about whether the event would capture the American public’s interest, given the country’s diverse sports landscape and other major events like the NBA finals. Reporters from BBC Sport shared mixed first impressions, noting that in cities like New York and Los Angeles, the World Cup seemed overshadowed by local sports achievements, such as the New York Knicks’ historic title win. However, as the tournament progressed, enthusiasm began to build, with more people engaging with the World Cup. This shift suggests that while initial excitement was muted, the global event gradually gained traction among American audiences, highlighting the potential for soccer to grow in popularity in the U.S. QUESTION: How might hosting international events like the World Cup influence the popularity of soccer in countries where it is not traditionally the most popular sport?