Former US international Landon Donovan says football has firmly established itself in the United States following a summer in which the country hosted World Cup matches that drew record crowds. He argues that the strong turnout and viewership figures show the sport has moved beyond niche status and is now a mainstream part of American sporting culture, with lasting implications for how the game is invested in and developed domestically.

Nearly seven million spectators attended World Cup fixtures across North American stadiums this summer, despite the US men's national team's campaign not going as hoped. Alan Rothenberg, founder of Major League Soccer, pointed to record viewership figures and a notable economic boost in host cities, and said the tournament's success, combined with emerging young American talent, should help inspire the next generation of players and sustain the sport's growth in the country.