World Cup drew voters across party lines, CNBC survey shows

The 2026 World Cup reached nearly half of U.S. registered voters, and its audience split only slightly by party despite President Donald Trump’s high-profile role around the tournament, according to CNBC’s All-America Economic Survey. CNBC said 49% of registered voters watched at least some of the event, including 51% of Democrats, 47% of Republicans and 47% of independents.

The survey, conducted July 8 through July 12 by Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies, covered 1,000 registered voters nationwide and carried a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

CNBC reported that the political divide in World Cup viewing was narrower than voters’ partisan differences over favorite sports. Republicans were 13 percentage points more likely than Democrats to name football as their favorite sport, while Democrats held seven-point leads over Republicans in both soccer overall and basketball.

The tournament also drew viewers beyond soccer’s usual base. CNBC said 8% of voters identified soccer as their favorite sport, while 17% said they watched “a lot” of the World Cup and another 32% said they watched “some.”

Trump’s role did not map onto viewership

Trump chaired the White House task force overseeing the World Cup after returning to office, according to CNBC. FIFA President Gianni Infantino appeared with him repeatedly, FIFA opened offices in Trump Tower, and Trump attended the World Cup draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington.

CNBC also cited Trump’s annual financial disclosure, which said Infantino gave Trump 10 tickets valued at $15,000 to last year’s Club World Cup final. Trump helped present that trophy and was expected to do so again at the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, CNBC reported.

FIFA later awarded Trump its first Peace Prize, a move CNBC said prompted scrutiny from European lawmakers and an ethics complaint alleging that Infantino breached FIFA’s political neutrality rules.

Trump also intervened after U.S. striker Folarin Balogun received a red card that carried an automatic one-match suspension, according to CNBC. Trump called Infantino and asked him to review the decision. FIFA then placed the suspension on probation, allowing Balogun to play against Belgium. The U.S. lost 4-1 and was eliminated.

UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, described FIFA’s reversal as “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable,” CNBC reported. FIFA said its disciplinary committee acted within the organization’s rules.

Income and education showed larger gaps

CNBC said World Cup viewing differed more by income and education than by party. Among voters earning at least $100,000, 59% watched at least some of the tournament, compared with 31% of those earning less than $30,000.

Education showed a similar divide. CNBC reported that 65% of voters with postgraduate degrees watched, compared with 40% of voters with a high school education or less.

The survey also found broad interest in matches beyond the U.S. team. CNBC said 88% of World Cup viewers watched games not involving the United States, including 82% of all Republicans and 86% of MAGA Republicans.

Jay Campbell, a partner at Hart Research, told CNBC the tournament “crosses partisanship.” Micah Roberts, a partner at Public Opinion Strategies, described the World Cup to CNBC as a place “where Democrats and Republicans agree.”

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.