​For the first time since 1994, the FIFA World Cup returned to North America, with the majority of matches staged in 11 of the United States’ largest stadiums, alongside five venues in Mexico and Canada. Appreciation for the United States Men’s National Team, which advanced from the group stage but then were eliminated by Belgium, was widespread—yet not universal. A poll conducted by Freebets.com, a London-based sports wagering platform, found that nearly one-third of Americans prefer cheering for foreign teams over the United States. Several factors may explain this trend, including the sizeable immigrant population in the U.S. and the fact that the United States has never won the World Cup. The most sobering takeaway is that on America’s 250th birthday, many younger Americans do not feel a strong pull toward the red, white, and blue. About half of those under 30, predominantly Gen Z, supported a foreign team.
The survey gathered responses from 1,800 World Cup-following Americans, of whom 66% were men. Gen Z respondents were the most likely to back another country’s team, at 49%, followed by millennials at 42% and Gen X at 31%. Even among flag-waving baby boomers, 26% expressed a preference for a foreign team. Various factors shape these preferences, though heritage remains the most influential. Across 16 states, Mexico topped the favorite team list, especially in California, Texas, Florida, and New York. Among Hispanic respondents, 43% favored Mexico, signaling a strong connection rooted in ancestry.
Among Gen Z supporters of a foreign team, three-quarters said their allegiance stems from a celebrity, influencer, or athlete from that country, such as Lionel Messi. Gen Z also showed a higher likelihood of rooting for a specific player over a country’s overall team—21% compared with 18%. In contrast, baby boomers were more inclined to cite heritage (28%) than a particular player (20%). Among the 36% of respondents backing an international team, liberals were considerably more likely than conservatives to support a non-U.S. team—45% to 19%.
The political climate appears to affect support for the U.S. team as well: 25% of respondents indicated that politics makes them less supportive, while 18% said it has increased their support. There is a notable generational divide in how people feel about being American. Gen Z reports the weakest sense of national identity, and their allegiance to Team USA mirrors this trend. The findings reveal a split between politics and patriotism, with 15% saying politics has diminished their support for the U.S. team and 12% admitting they do not currently feel patriotic about the country.
A more straightforward form of partisanship could also be at play—one that Freebets.com did not address—perhaps influenced by search optimization considerations. In short, the landscape suggests that younger generations, particularly Gen Z, are less tethered to national sports loyalty than older cohorts, while heritage and personal admiration for global stars significantly shape their choices.