As the World Cup comes to an end, MLS works to bring in a new generation of fans

NPR | By Becky Sullivan

Published July 17, 2026 at 3:43 AM CDT

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The 1994 World Cup is universally credited with sparking a boom of interest in soccer in the U.S., from youth leagues to televised games to the formation of MLS. The league and its teams say 2026 will be another boom -- the only question is, how to harness it?

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Becky Sullivan

Becky Sullivan has reported and produced for NPR since 2011 with a focus on hard news and breaking stories. She has been on the ground to cover natural disasters, disease outbreaks, elections and protests, delivering stories to both broadcast and digital platforms.

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