Tom Brady believes football already runs deep in American culture ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With the tournament set to take place across the United States, Canada , and Mexico , attention is turning to how the sport continues to expand in the American market.
Brady's perspective carries weight given his understanding of how major sporting events can reshape national conversations.
Photo by Emilee Chinn – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
As anticipation builds for the largest World Cup in history, Brady has pointed to something he believes has always existed beneath the surface in the United States.
Speaking in a recent interview , Tom Brady said: "I think there's always been a huge appetite for soccer in America. Every kid in America grows up playing soccer.
"They play it in the school yard. We play it foundationally with some of the leagues that we're a part of," he added.
Brady's argument is simple but deliberate. Long before packed stadiums and global television audiences, football existed in school playgrounds and youth leagues across the country.
That grassroots connection, he suggests, explains why the sport's recent growth feels organic rather than manufactured.
Looking ahead to 2026, Tom Brady continued: "…And I think it just continues to grow through social media, through people experiencing such a great game on a global stage.
"I think the World Cup in America is only going to enhance that for future generations," the NFL legend concluded.
The expanded tournament, featuring 48 teams, will bring an unprecedented number of matches to North America. For Brady, that scale is not just about spectacle but about accessibility, allowing new audiences to engage with elite international competition in person.
Brady's stance reflects confidence rather than hype. Football's foundation in America, he argues, has always been there. The World Cup may simply reveal it to the world.
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