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Pro sports name change debate
Tony Henson, President of Save our Native Souls, joins LiveNOW from FOX to talk about the pro sports name change debate.
For more than five decades, one sport has held an undisputed grip on American sports fans. But a new Gallup poll suggests that grip may be loosening.
The survey was conducted Aug. 3-24, shortly after the United States, Canada and Mexico hosted the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Football remains America’s favorite sport to watch
Big picture view:
According to the poll, football remains the nation’s favorite sport to watch, with 31% of Americans naming it their top choice. But that is its lowest showing since 2001 and well below its peak of 43% in 2006 and 2007.
Despite this, since 1972, football has ranked No. 1 in all 23 measurements taken by Gallup over the past 54 years.
Football remains No. 1, with 31% of Americans naming it their favorite sport to watch. (Credit: Getty Images)
Gallup's historical data also revealed that an average of 38% of Americans have named football their favorite when the survey was conducted during football season, compared with 32% when it was conducted outside the season. Even accounting for that seasonal effect, this year's 31% figure is relatively low, according to Gallup.
Soccer makes gains among viewers
Dig deeper:
Meanwhile, soccer reached a record 9%, nearly matching basketball at 11% and baseball at 10%.
Soccer's rise is part of a broader shift. Before 2005, it never topped 2% in Gallup's polling. It has reached at least 5% in each of the past three surveys.
Meanwhile, baseball has continued to slip. It averaged 18% in Gallup's polling through the mid-1990s but has averaged 12% since then.
The next tier of sports, chosen by between 2% and 4% of Americans, includes ice hockey, volleyball, auto racing and mixed martial arts (MMA).
The survey also found 20% of Americans saying they do not have a favorite sport, the highest in Gallup’s trend.
Football less popular among young adults
While football remains the most popular choice among every major demographic group, just 20% of adults ages 18 to 34 identify it as their favorite sport. That compares with 30% among adults ages 35 to 54 and 38% among those 55 and older.
Young adults are also much more likely to say they have no favorite sport. Nearly one in four – 23% – give that response.
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Among young adults, basketball, baseball and soccer each attracted roughly 10% of the group, suggesting that younger Americans' sports preferences are more evenly distributed than those of older generations.
Race and ethnicity also influenced the results. White Americans were more likely to choose football, while people of color were more likely to select basketball or soccer. The latter differences were driven in part by stronger preferences for basketball among Black Americans and soccer among Hispanic Americans.
Income differences also appeared in the poll. Thirty-seven percent of upper-income Americans name football as their favorite, compared with 32% of middle-income and 25% of lower-income Americans. Lower-income Americans were more likely to select soccer, at 13%.