World Cup Fuels Soccer Growth and Passion in Tampa Bay and Beyond

WHO:

AOL.com - Tampa resident Samuel McAnallen commented on the unity in the city during the World Cup.

AOL.com - Tampa resident Stephen Swanick noted the community's engagement with the event.

AOL.com - Tampa resident Ruben Cornejo discussed the emotional connection fostered by the tournament.

AOL.com - Resident Austin McGinnis expressed pride in the U.S. Men's National Team's performance.

AOL.com - Anthony Harwood, Director of Marketing for Three Oaks Hospitality at Armature Works, shared his thoughts on the communal experience.

WHAT:

AOL.com - The FIFA World Cup hosted 48 teams across 16 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with more than 5 million tickets sold.

AOL.com - An estimated 6.5 million fans from around the world attended the tournament.

AOL.com - The CDC operated a World Cup data dashboard that provided health departments with real-time data on disease trends across multiple cities during the tournament.

AOL.com - The CDC's efforts included around-the-clock health operations at U.S. ports of entry in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Sports Illustrated - Some MLS teams are reporting strong increases in ticket sales since the beginning of the World Cup, with certain sides seeing an increase of more than 150%.

Sports Illustrated - Twenty-two of the league’s 30 clubs have put together variations on a “First Match on Us” program, offering one or two free tickets to a game of their choice for first-time attendees.

AOL.com - The FIFA World Cup has sparked a lasting growth in soccer interest across Tampa Bay, with more people fully embracing the sport.

AOL.com - The increasing prominence of soccer in the U.S. is attributed to more events based in the country, more teams being brought over, and more players with notoriety arriving in the states.

AOL.com - The youth of Tampa Bay are becoming more engaged with soccer, ensuring the sport's future remains bright, as noted by resident Austin McGinnis.

AOL.com - The FIFA World Cup brought people together, transforming strangers into fans and unifying Tampa Bay.

AOL.com - The U.S. Men's National Team lost to Belgium in the Round of 16 on July 6th.

AOL.com - The match on July 6th set a record as the most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. history, with 30 million viewers.

AOL.com - The tournament has fueled long-term growth in soccer interest across Tampa Bay.

WHERE:

AOL.com - The events took place in Tampa Bay, Florida, including Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg and local pubs.

WHEN:

AOL.com - The U.S. Men's National Team was eliminated from the World Cup on July 6th.

WHY:

Sports Illustrated - The heightened demand for tickets seemed to take place throughout the entire tournament, even before the “Thanks World, We’ll Take it From Here” campaign launched ahead of the semifinals.

AOL.com - The excitement surrounding the World Cup is seen as a major driver for the continued growth of soccer in the region.

AOL.com - The growth of soccer in Tampa Bay is driven by increased youth interest and major international events coming to the U.S.

AOL.com - The presence of international stars and tournaments is attracting more attention to soccer in the U.S.

HOW:

AOL.com - The CDC coordinated across a broad network, including multiple CDC divisions, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the White House FIFA World Cup Task Force.

Sports Illustrated - The Seattle Sounders were one of the first teams to launch a “First Match on Us” program in the 2025 season, which has been brought back for the 2026 campaign.

AOL.com - The community engaged in high-energy watch parties and wore jerseys to show support for the U.S. Men's National Team.

The FIFA World Cup brought together 48 teams across 16 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with over 5 million tickets sold and an estimated 6.5 million fans attending the tournament. To ensure public health safety, the CDC implemented a World Cup data dashboard that provided real-time disease trend information to health departments and maintained around-the-clock health operations at U.S. ports of entry in collaboration with Customs and Border Protection. This comprehensive effort involved coordination among various CDC divisions, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the White House FIFA World Cup Task Force.