Austin youth soccer eyes World Cup bump
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Photos: Mark Leech/Offside via Getty Images; Tim Warner/FIFA via Getty Images
The FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11, to be played across the United States, Mexico and Canada — the first time in 32 years the U.S. will serve as a host nation.
Why it matters: More Americans are tuning into soccer ahead of the sport's most prestigious tournament, and youth soccer clubs hope the tournament spurs a rise in participation.
State of play: Houston and Dallas are among the 16 North American sites to host World Cup matches this month.
- AT&T Stadium (rebranded Dallas Stadium for the World Cup) will host nine matches — more than any other venue. The first is Netherlands vs. Japan on June 14.
Driving the news: 37% of people anticipate their interest in soccer will increase over the next 18 months, according to Nielsen data.
Context: Austin and many cities nationwide now have professional teams. Some fans have also started watching leagues from other countries.
- Youth participation has also increased alongside the sport's popularity.
By the numbers: As of 2024-25, more than 49,000 Texas high school students played soccer, per data from the National Federation of State High School Associations.
- That's a nearly 31% jump from a decade earlier.
What they're saying: Youth soccer has boomed in popularity at West Austin Youth Association (WAYA), according to Laney Ramirez, the organization's athletic director.
- "Our soccer program is one of our biggest leagues today," Ramirez tells Axios, which she attributes to a growing interest in soccer in the U.S. and the accessibility of the sport for kids.
- Enrollment for their spring and fall soccer leagues increased from 400 kids per season to 700 since she joined the group in 2019.
Zoom in: The city of Austin offers youth soccer leagues for ages 3-12 in the fall and spring, and a number of organizations offer soccer leagues and camps.
What's next: WAYA's soccer summer camps are nearly filled up, which Ramirez attributes to the World Cup and a growing interest in women's sports.
- "It's getting bigger, and a lot of girls are starting to play more soccer," Ramirez adds.