Forty percent of the U.S. general population plans to watch World Cup matches which begin this weekend in Qatar. The number who will watch rises to 57 percent among sports fans and 73 percent among self-described avid fans.
Only 11, 16 and 24 percent, respectively, plan on watching just the U.S. Men’s National Team games.
With regards to the FIFA World Cup, which of the following best describes you?
- I will watch only for the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT)
- I will watch for mainly the other teams around the world and not the USMNT
- I will watch the U.S. Men’s National Team and some of what I can featuring other nations
- I will not watch
| N=1,533
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| USMNT only | 11% | 16% | 3% | 24% | 12% |
| Other teams | 11% | 17% | 3% | 21% | 15% |
| Both | 18% | 24% | 8% | 28% | 23% |
| I will not watch | 60% | 43% | 86% | 27% | 50% |
*Sports Fan = Avid + Casual fans
These were among the findings of a Seton Hall Sports Poll conducted this week among 1,533 adults across the country. The poll featured a national representative sample weighted on U.S. Census Bureau figures for gender, age, ethnicity, education, income and geography and has a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percent.
What Else Is On?
However, when asked by the Poll if they would choose to watch a World Cup game over their favorite sport (NFL, NBA, NHL, etc.), 56 percent of sports fans and 48 percent of avid fans indicated they would not watch the World Cup game if that were the case.
If an important World Cup match is being held during the same time as your favorite sport (NFL, NBA, NHL, etc.), would you choose to watch the World Cup game?
| N=1,533
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Yes | 18% | 25% | 7% | 36% | 21% |
| No | 55% | 56% | 53% | 48% | 59% |
| Don’t know/No opinion | 27% | 19% | 40% | 16% | 20% |
*Sports Fan = Avid + Casual fans
“As popular as soccer is globally, there is still much room for growth in America,” said Professor Charles Grantham, Director of the Center for Sport Management within Seton Hall’s Stillman School of Business, which sponsors the Poll. “The World Cup is exciting for American sports fans, but ‘U.S. sports’ are still more popular.”
How Popular is Pro Soccer in America?
While soccer is not the most popular sport in America, it has clearly been gaining in popularity with a number of young U.S. players playing in the top leagues overseas and the growing Major League Soccer domestically. When asked by the Poll to describe their level of interest in soccer (both worldwide and any professional league in the U.S.), 34 percent of avid fans called it one of their top interests, with 18 percent of sports fans citing it as such, and 12 percent of the general population.
Respondents with “some interest” was professed by 29 percent (avid fans), 28 percent (sports fans) and 20 percent (general population). For those choosing not very interested or not interested at all, 37 percent selected those choices among avid, 54 percent among sports fans and 68 percent among the general population.
What is your level of interest in soccer? (i.e. any of the professional leagues in the U.S. or around the world)
| N=1,533
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| This is one of my TOP interests | 12% | 18% | 2% | 34% | 11% |
| Somewhat interested | 20% | 28% | 9% | 29% | 28% |
| Not very interested | 19% | 20% | 17% | 14% | 23% |
| Not interested at all | 49% | 34% | 72% | 23% | 38% |
*Sports Fan = Avid + Casual fans
How Far will the U.S. Team Go?
When the question was asked of self-described soccer fans, confidence in the U.S. team getting far in the tournament was slim, with only 28 percent of avid fans, 22 percent of sports fans and 18 percent of the general population saying they would reach the quarter finals. Only six percent – across the board – saw them winning the Cup (something the U.S. has never done). Still, nearly a quarter of avid fans saw them getting to the knockout round of 16. (There are 32 nations competing at the 2022 World Cup).
How far do you think the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) will advance in the 2022 World Cup?
| N=775
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Group stage | 8% | 10% | 3% | 15% | 7% |
| Round of 16 | 16% | 18% | 9% | 22% | 16% |
| Quarter finals | 18% | 22% | 6% | 28% | 18% |
| Semi finals | 11% | 13% | 6% | 11% | 13% |
| Final | 10% | 10% | 8% | 8% | 11% |
| Champion | 6% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 6% |
| Don’t know/No opinion | 31% | 21% | 63% | 10% | 29% |
*Sports Fan = Avid + Casual fans
“While the USMNT fan base is super excited about the upcoming competition, the Team has never advanced beyond the quarter finals,” said Daniel M. Ladik, the chief methodologist for the Poll. “This is the youngest team in the tournament, yet the numbers show that fans have high hopes for this team to advance past the Group Stage.”
Betting on the World Cup
Asked whether they plan on betting or wagering on the 2022 World Cup (outcome of games or winning team, etc.), 38 percent of avid fans, along with 24 percent of sports fans, and 16 percent of the general population said yes.
Thinking about your plans for the 2022 World Cup… Will you be placing a bet or wager (e.g., betting on the outcome of the game, on the winning team, etc.)?
| N=1,533
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Yes | 16% | 24% | 3% | 38% | 18% |
| No | 76% | 69% | 88% | 52% | 76% |
| Don’t know/No opinion | 8% | 7% | 9% | 10% | 6% |
*Sports Fan = Avid + Casual fans
# # #
More questions and charts below.
ABOUT THE POLL
The Seton Hall Sports Poll, conducted regularly since 2006, is performed by the Sharkey Institute within the Stillman School of Business. This poll was conducted online by YouGov Plc. using a national representative sample weighted according to gender, age, ethnicity, education, income and geography, based on U.S. Census Bureau figures. Respondents were selected from YouGov’s opt-in panel to be representative of all U.S residents. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls. The Seton Hall Sports Poll has been chosen for inclusion in iPoll by Cornell’s Roper Center for Public Opinion Research and its findings have been published everywhere from USA Today, ESPN, The New York Times, Washington Post, AP, and Reuters to CNBC, NPR, Yahoo Finance, Fox News and many points in between.
Media: Michael Ricciardelli, Associate Director of Media Relations, Seton Hall University
michael.ricciardelli@shu.edu, 908-447-3034; Marty Appel, AppelPR@gmail.com
November 2022 Seton Hall Sports Poll
This SHSP was conducted November 11th through November 14th and includes responses from 1,533 US adults with a margin of error of 2.5%. The sample mirrors the US Census percentages on age, gender, income, education, ethnicity, and region.
Q1. Which of the following statements best describes you?
- I am an avid sports fan 19%
- I am a sports fan 42%
- I am nota sports fan 39%
Q7. With regards to the FIFA World Cup, which of the following best describes you?
- I will watch only for the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT)
- I will watch for mainly the other teams around the world and not the USMNT
- I will watch the U.S. Men’s National Team and some of what I can featuring other nations
- I will not watch
| N=1,533
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| USMNT only | 11% | 16% | 3% | 24% | 12% |
| Other teams | 11% | 17% | 3% | 21% | 15% |
| Both | 18% | 24% | 8% | 28% | 23% |
| I will not watch | 60% | 43% | 86% | 27% | 50% |
NOTE: these are the stats for US soccer popularity
Q4. What is your level of interest in soccer? (i.e. any of the professional leagues in the U.S. or around the world)
| N=1,533
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| This is one of my TOP interests | 12% | 18% | 2% | 34% | 11% |
| Somewhat interested | 20% | 28% | 9% | 29% | 28% |
| Not very interested | 19% | 20% | 17% | 14% | 23% |
| Not interested at all | 49% | 34% | 72% | 23% | 38% |
NOTE: when asked of the population who are soccer fans – 8% said group stage only – 16% believe the team will get to the knockout round of 16 – 18% believe they will advance to the Quarter finals – 27% believe they will go deeper in the tournament. 31% don’t know
Q8. How far do you think the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) will advance in the 2022 World Cup? [SKIP, only shown to soccer fans – 1,2,3 in Q4]
| N=775
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Group stage | 8% | 10% | 3% | 15% | 7% |
| Round of 16 | 16% | 18% | 9% | 22% | 16% |
| Quarter finals | 18% | 22% | 6% | 28% | 18% |
| Semi finals | 11% | 13% | 6% | 11% | 13% |
| Final | 10% | 10% | 8% | 8% | 11% |
| Champion | 6% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 6% |
| Don’t know/No opinion | 31% | 21% | 63% | 10% | 29% |
*Sports Fan = Avid + Casual fans
Q9a. Thinking about your plans for the 2022 World Cup… Will you be placing a bet or wager (e.g., betting on the outcome of the game, on the winning team, etc.)?
| N=1,533
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Yes | 16% | 24% | 3% | 38% | 18% |
| No | 76% | 69% | 88% | 52% | 76% |
| Don’t know/No opinion | 8% | 7% | 9% | 10% | 6% |
*Sports Fan = Avid + Casual fans
Q16c. If an important World Cup match is being held during the same time as your favorite sport (NFL, NBA, NHL, etc.), would you choose to watch the World Cup game?
| N=1,533
|
General
Population |
Sports
Fan* |
Non Fan | Avid
Fan |
Casual
Fan |
| Yes | 18% | 25% | 7% | 36% | 21% |
| No | 55% | 56% | 53% | 48% | 59% |
| Don’t know/No opinion | 27% | 19% | 40% | 16% | 20% |
*Sports Fan = Avid + Casual fans
ABOUT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY
One of the country’s leading Catholic universities, Seton Hall has been showing the world what great minds can do since 1856. Home to nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offering more than 90 rigorous academic programs, Seton Hall’s academic excellence has been singled out for distinction by The Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report and Bloomberg Businessweek.
Seton Hall embraces students of all religions and prepares them to be exemplary servant leaders and global citizens. In recent years, the University has achieved extraordinary success. Since 2009, it has seen record-breaking undergraduate enrollment growth and an impressive 110-point increase in the average SAT scores of incoming freshmen. In the past decade, Seton Hall students and alumni have received more than 30 Fulbright Scholarships as well as other prestigious academic honors, including Boren Awards, Pickering Fellowships, Udall Scholarships and a Rhodes Scholarship. The University is also proud to be among the most diverse national Catholic universities in the country.
During the past five years, the University has invested more than $165 million in new campus buildings and renovations. And in 2015, Seton Hall launched a School of Medicine as well as a College of Communication and the Arts. The University’s beautiful main campus in suburban South Orange, N.J. is only 14 miles from New York City — offering students a wealth of employment, internship, cultural and entertainment opportunities. Seton Hall’s nationally recognized School of Law is located prominently in downtown Newark. The University’s Interprofessional Health Sciences (IHS) campus in Clifton and Nutley, N.J. opened in the summer of 2018. The IHS campus houses the University’s College of Nursing, School of Health and Medical Sciences and the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University.
For more information, visit www.shu.edu.