Messi, considered by many to be the greatest of all time, starred again at this World Cup<\/a>, and carried his country all the way to the final with eight goals and four assists. Unlike in Qatar four years ago, when there were tears of joy and happiness, it was tears of sadness for Messi and all Argentines present in East Rutherford, N.J.<\/p>\n Off the pitch, meanwhile, many Americans gained a deeper appreciation for the social and communicative significance of the world\u2019s most popular sport. Over the last six weeks, U.S. cities were flooded with the colors and passion of fans from across the globe. It was a display of love that dispelled the skepticism of those who had predicted empty stadiums due to exorbitant prices or a lack of interest among the American public.<\/p>\n The Needless Fears About Empty Seats MetLife Stadium was packed to the rafters for the World Cup final. | Richard Sellers\/Sportsphoto\/Allstar\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Data released by FIFA\u2014via Chief Business Officer Romy Gai to the Italian outlet Il Sole 24 Ore\u2014illustrate the scale of the event: \u201cAcross 104 matches, there were nearly seven million spectators in the stadiums, with an average of 65,000 per match and a stadium occupancy rate of 99.7 percent. <\/p>\n \u201cIn China and the Arab world, working hours and school timetables were adjusted to allow everyone to watch the matches. But I would also highlight a cultural shift: the North American market\u2014the wealthiest\u2014has finally discovered and come to understand football.\u201d<\/p>\n This sentiment was echoed before the final at MetLife Stadium\u2014renamed \u2018New York, New Jersey\u2019 for the tournament\u2014by Sir David Beckham. Now the president and co-owner of Inter Miami, Beckham first arrived in the U.S. as a player back in 2007. His move to the LA Galaxy paved the way for many others, giving a significant boost to MLS<\/a> in terms of both economics and popularity.<\/p>\n Beckham: We Just Want a Seat at the Table David Beckham (right) has overseen great success for Inter Miami, largely thanks to Lionel Messi. | CHANDAN KHANNA\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n At a VIP breakfast hosted by Verizon\u2014an official partner of the 2026 World Cup\u2014and attended by Sports Illustrated, the Manchester United <\/a>and England<\/a> legend reflected on the progress of the U.S. soccer ecosystem over the past two decades: \u201cWhen I arrived here one of my goals was making this game more accessible to the young kids,\u201d Beckham said. \u201cDuring this month people realized that there is nothing bigger than a World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n Beckham, while appreciative of the size and mainstream popularity of other sports in the U.S., is extremely confident about the future of soccer. \u201cIt\u2019s not because of the World Cup, it\u2019s because of the foundation. We want to compete with other sports and of course we know we aren\u2019t as big as them, but we want to be part of the conversation. We just want to sit at the table and soccer has never been stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n Now that the spotlight is set to fade, the most anticipated test lies ahead. Only time will tell if soccer and MLS can capitalize on the World Cup\u2019s momentum and continue their growth, securing an increasingly significant place in the American sports landscape.<\/p>\n Beckham is convinced of it. Time and the pitch\u2014as always\u2014will reveal the truth.<\/p>\n![\"MetLife](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01ky2e5k8pydpg1xr96b.jpg\" "\\"MetLife")
<\/p>\n![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01kj0y08c1qr8hrdkz9j.jpg\" "\\"David")
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