The contrast between 1994 and 2026 is visible in the structure around the game.
That progression matters. A tournament can create interest, but a sustainable football culture requires clubs, stadiums, youth programmes and regular coverage. Those foundations are now more prominent than they were three decades ago.
The United States also enters 2026 with a stronger connection to elite football. American players are more visible in major European leagues, while established international stars have helped raise the profile of the domestic game.
The report says football has reached a point where it can be discussed alongside traditional American sports rather than treated as an outsider. That claim should not be measured only by comparisons with baseball or American football. The more important change is practical: supporters have more access to matches, teams and players than they did in 1994.
The World Cup will test whether that interest can become lasting loyalty. Packed venues and high television audiences would confirm the scale of the moment, but the legacy will depend on what follows after the final.
For the United States, 2026 is both a celebration and an examination. The country will showcase a sport that has grown from a long-term investment into a central part of its sporting calendar.
The next storyline is clear: whether the World Cup turns elevated attention into sustained support for MLS, the national teams and the wider football economy beyond the tournament.