US Soccer Fans’ Growing Affair with the EPL Continues
23/08/2024; 1:55 PM
By :
Steven D. Thompson
With Lionel Messi, Lorenzo Insigne and Sergio Busquets setting the MLS alight, it is not surprising that soccer is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports in the US. However, as popular as Major League Soccer is, the top five European soccer competitions continue to dominate demand.
According to Betpack data on Google search interest from August 2023 to August 2024, the five major soccer leagues in Europe have a dedicated following in the US, with the English Premier League garnering the most interest from US soccer fans.
Interestingly, the Betpack data also revealed that particular regions in the US tend to have a more passionate following for specific European soccer leagues. For instance, while the English Premier League was the undisputed top pick in the Northeast, La Liga was a very close second in the South and Southwest.
But that wasn’t the only interesting trend Betpack recorded. US soccer enthusiasts seem to love the English and Spanish top flight. However, there's a lot to unpack in Betpack's data about the Italian Serie A, the French Ligue 1, and the German Bundesliga too.
English Dominance Strongest in the Northeast
With as many as six teams competing for the top spot year in and year out, the English Premier League is hands down the most interesting soccer league for American soccer enthusiasts. US fans relish the dynamic nature of English football, box-to-box action, and the relentless tempo of EPL games. Age-old rivalries between Manchester City and Manchester United, as well as the North London derby between Tottenham and Arsenal fuel that fire even stronger, while the Liverpool-Manchester United duel regularly breaks viewership records.
So, it is not surprising that US soccer fans can’t wait for the weekend to come to watch the EPL team they love, even if that means waking up early for those English afternoon kick-offs.
The English Premier League is the most popular European soccer league in every single US state and by quite a wide margin. That margin becomes significantly bigger in the Northeast and states such as Vermont (77%), Maine (76%), New Hampshire (76%), and Minnesota (75%). Interestingly, even in states with large Hispanic populations like Louisiana (54%), Florida (53%), California (60%) and Texas (60%) the English Premier League reigns supreme.
| State | Premier League | La Liga | Serie A | Bundesliga | Ligue 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Vermont |
77% |
9% |
6% |
6% |
2% |
|
Maine |
76% |
11% |
6% |
5% |
2% |
|
New Hampshire |
76% |
10% |
6% |
6% |
2% |
|
Minnesota |
75% |
15% |
4% |
5% |
1% |
|
Washington |
71% |
16% |
5% |
6% |
2% |
Can the Arrival of Mbappe Boost La Liga’s Stature in the US Even Further
The English Premier League may be the most popular European soccer competition in the US, but La Liga is not far behind. The Spanish top tier is doing particularly well in Southern states such as Louisiana where the search interest is 31%, Nebraska (28%), Arkansas (29%), and Texas (26%). Similarly, the large Hispanic community in Florida loves watching the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona regularly, and the search interest of 30% is a testament to La Liga’s broad appeal in the retirement state.
| State | Premier League | La Liga | Serie A | Bundesliga | Ligue 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Louisiana |
54% |
31% |
6% |
6% |
3% |
|
Florida |
53% |
30% |
9% |
6% |
2% |
|
Arkansas |
56% |
29% |
6% |
7% |
2% |
|
Nebraska |
59% |
28% |
5% |
6% |
2% |
|
Texas |
60% |
26% |
6% |
6% |
2% |
However, one problem that has always plagued La Liga is the lack of competition outside the top two or three sides. The last teams that won La Liga and were not called Real Madrid, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid were Valencia back in 2003/2004 and Athletic Club in 1983/1984. So, as enticing as Spanish football is, the lack of competition seems to hurt its US following.
The arrival of arguably the biggest star in modern soccer, Kylian Mbappe, may change that. The French forward joined Real Madrid from PSG this summer and big things are expected of him. Moreover, he joins a Real Madrid team overflowing with talent, and US fans who enjoy the beautiful game are bubbling with excitement at the prospect of watching Mbappe and Vinicius Junior taking on defenders. Chances are that the search interest in La Liga will continue to grow in the following seasons and Real Madrid's new Galacticos may be the reason.
Serie A Has Some Catching Up to Do
Even though the Italian Serie A is a fiercely competitive league, US fans seem to prefer the energy of English matches and the passion of Spanish soccer. However, Serie A has a lot to offer too. With AC Milan, Juventus, Napoli, AS Roma, and Inter all vying for the Scudetto, fans not watching the Italian top tier are missing out on a lot of intense soccer action and tactical battles.
Some US states that won’t miss out have always been considered Italian soccer strongholds. New York (9%), Florida (9%) and Nevada (8%) all have solid Serie A search interest, and so do Alaska (9%) and Connecticut (8%). These US fans boost the overall numbers for Serie A and enjoy every minute of it.
Bundesliga: The Soccer League with a Steady Following
The German Bundesliga may not be the most popular soccer league in the US, but it boasts an impressively steady following of 5% to 8% in all US states. That solid presence is most evident in Montana (8%), Nevada (8%), Mississippi (7%), and Arkansas (7%).
| State | Premier League | La Liga | Serie A | Bundesliga | Ligue 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Montana |
71% |
13% |
6% |
8% |
2% |
|
Alaska |
68% |
15% |
9% |
7% |
1% |
|
Hawaii |
70% |
13% |
8% |
7% |
2% |
|
Arkansas |
56% |
29% |
6% |
7% |
2% |
|
Mississippi |
60% |
25% |
6% |
7% |
2% |
As steady as those numbers are, the Bundesliga is anything but. One of the fastest and most dynamic soccer leagues in Europe, the German top flight is an excellent competition to watch if you are looking for end-to-end action and roaring home supporters with endless energy and vigor. The goal fests when the likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Bayer Leverkusen play are an added bonus.
Low Ligue 1 Search Interest May Drop Even More
Trailing behind all other leagues in Betpack’s analysis, the French Ligue 1 has a quite modest following in the US. The search interest for Ligue 1 ranges from 1% to 3%. It is strongest in South Dakota (3%), Louisiana (3%), Iowa (3%), and Nevada (3%), while Florida (2%) and California (2%) have small but loyal Ligue 1 soccer fan bases too.
With those numbers, French soccer has a lot of room for growth in the US. However, with more and more stars departing the league and migrating to La Liga and the English Premier League, it remains to be seen if it will get more attention in the following seasons.
Check out the popularity of the top five European soccer leagues in each US state in our table below.
In the Northeast states like Connecticut, Maine, and New York, the Premier League dominates with high percentages, consistently above 60%, while LaLiga follows with percentages in the teens or low twenties. Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 trail behind with single-digit percentages.
| State | Premier League | La Liga | Serie A | Bundesliga | Ligue 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Connecticut |
66% |
19% |
8% |
5% |
2% |
|
Delaware |
65% |
21% |
7% |
5% |
2% |
|
Maine |
76% |
11% |
6% |
5% |
2% |
|
Massachusetts |
67% |
19% |
7% |
5% |
2% |
|
New Hampshire |
76% |
10% |
6% |
6% |
2% |
|
New Jersey |
62% |
23% |
8% |
5% |
2% |
|
New York |
63% |
20% |
9% |
6% |
2% |
|
Pennsylvania |
69% |
16% |
7% |
6% |
2% |
|
Rhode Island |
62% |
25% |
6% |
5% |
2% |
|
Vermont |
77% |
9% |
6% |
6% |
2% |
Moving to the Midwest, states such as Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio show similar trends, with the Premier League leading by a large margin, followed by LaLiga and the other leagues having lower popularity.
| State | Premier League | La Liga | Serie A | Bundesliga | Ligue 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Illinois |
65% |
20% |
7% |
6% |
2% |
|
Indiana |
63% |
24% |
6% |
5% |
2% |
|
Iowa |
63% |
22% |
6% |
6% |
3% |
|
Kansas |
64% |
21% |
6% |
7% |
2% |
|
Michigan |
69% |
16% |
6% |
7% |
2% |
|
Minnesota |
75% |
15% |
4% |
5% |
1% |
|
Missouri |
70% |
16% |
6% |
6% |
2% |
|
Nebraska |
59% |
28% |
5% |
6% |
2% |
|
North Dakota |
67% |
18% |
7% |
6% |
2% |
|
Ohio |
68% |
17% |
7% |
6% |
2% |
|
South Dakota |
60% |
23% |
8% |
6% |
3% |
|
Wisconsin |
71% |
16% |
5% |
6% |
2% |
In the Southern states like Alabama, Florida, and Texas, the Premier League also remains the most popular, though LaLiga gains a bit more ground compared to other states. Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 still have less influence but vary slightly more in popularity.
| State | Premier League | La Liga | Serie A | Bundesliga | Ligue 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Alabama |
62% |
25% |
5% |
6% |
2% |
|
Arkansas |
56% |
29% |
6% |
7% |
2% |
|
District of Columbia |
69% |
17% |
6% |
6% |
2% |
|
Florida |
53% |
30% |
9% |
6% |
2% |
|
Georgia |
66% |
22% |
5% |
5% |
2% |
|
Kentucky |
63% |
22% |
6% |
7% |
2% |
|
Louisiana |
54% |
31% |
6% |
6% |
3% |
|
Maryland |
64% |
24% |
5% |
5% |
2% |
|
Mississippi |
60% |
25% |
6% |
7% |
2% |
|
North Carolina |
64% |
23% |
6% |
5% |
2% |
|
Oklahoma |
64% |
23% |
5% |
6% |
2% |
|
South Carolina |
66% |
21% |
5% |
6% |
2% |
|
Tennessee |
63% |
25% |
5% |
5% |
2% |
|
Texas |
60% |
26% |
6% |
6% |
2% |
|
Virginia |
64% |
24% |
5% |
5% |
2% |
|
West Virginia |
69% |
17% |
6% |
7% |
1% |
Lastly, in the Western states including California, Colorado, and Washington, the Premier League's dominance continues, with LaLiga maintaining its second-place position. The remaining leagues have minimal impact, with Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 showing consistent but lower levels of support across the region.
| State | Premier League | La Liga | Serie A | Bundesliga | Ligue 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Alaska |
68% |
15% |
9% |
7% |
1% |
|
Arizona |
63% |
22% |
7% |
6% |
2% |
|
California |
60% |
25% |
7% |
6% |
2% |
|
Colorado |
69% |
17% |
5% |
7% |
2% |
|
Hawaii |
70% |
13% |
8% |
7% |
2% |
|
Idaho |
66% |
19% |
6% |
7% |
2% |
|
Montana |
71% |
13% |
6% |
8% |
2% |
|
Nevada |
58% |
25% |
8% |
6% |
3% |
|
New Mexico |
69% |
18% |
5% |
6% |
2% |
|
Oregon |
69% |
17% |
6% |
6% |
2% |
|
Utah |
65% |
23% |
5% |
5% |
2% |
|
Washington |
71% |
16% |
5% |
6% |
2% |
|
Wyoming |
67% |
18% |
7% |
6% |
2% |
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