41% Of Pennsylvanians Are More Interested In Soccer Thanks To The World Cup, Quinnipiac University Sports Poll Finds; Basketball Fans Think Signing LeBron James To The 76ers Would Be A Slam Dunk
Share
As the 2026 World Cup draws to a close with the final match taking place on Sunday, roughly 4 out of 10 adults in Pennsylvania (41 percent) say the World Cup being played in the United States has made them more interested in soccer, while 55 percent say it has not made them more interested in soccer, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University Sports Poll of adults in Pennsylvania released today. The survey was conducted in collaboration with the Quinnipiac University School of Communications.
There are differences among age groups when asked if the World Cup being played in the U.S. has made them more interested in soccer:
- 18 to 34 year olds: 52 percent say yes, while 44 percent say no;
- 35 to 49 year olds: 39 percent say yes, while 54 percent say no;
- 50 to 64 year olds: 37 percent say yes, while 62 percent say no;
- 65 years of age and over: 33 percent say yes, while 62 percent say no.
"FIFA may not have won over the general public, but younger Americans are telling a different story. Their enthusiasm suggests the next generation of soccer fans is already taking shape," said Brittani Webb, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Media Studies, Quinnipiac University School of Communications.
U.S. RED CARD CONTROVERSY
Pennsylvanians were asked about President Trump's involvement in the World Cup when he asked FIFA, the governing body of international soccer, to review the penalty against U.S. Men's Soccer player Folarin Balogun that made him ineligible to play in the U.S. team's next game, against Belgium. FIFA allowed Balogun to play in the game.
Fifty-two percent of adults disapprove of President Trump's action, while 28 percent approve, with 19 percent not offering an opinion.
"We've always loved sports to be sports. So, politics entering the discussion at this level takes us into an entirely new world. In the end, what mattered most was that Belgium was just better," said Nick Pietruszkiewicz, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Program Director of Sports Communications, Quinnipiac University.
LEBRON JAMES
With speculation swirling about where LeBron James will land now that he is a free agent, 62 percent of professional basketball fans overall think it would be either an excellent (24 percent) or good (38 percent) move by the 76ers to sign LeBron James, while 25 percent think it would be either a not so good (12 percent) or poor (13 percent) move by the 76ers, with 13 percent not offering an opinion.
Among 76ers fans, 65 percent think signing James would be either an excellent (29 percent) or good (36 percent) move, while 26 percent think it would be either a not so good (12 percent) or poor (14 percent) move.
"LeBron James in Philadelphia would be such an interesting end-of-career dynamic. He says he is looking for happiness. As someone who grew up as a sports fan in Northeastern Pennsylvania and knows the fans of Philadelphia well, this would not be boring, for sure," added Pietruszkiewicz.
JAYLEN BROWN
Sixty-two percent of professional basketball fans overall give the thumbs up to the 76ers trade to acquire Jaylen Brown from the Celtics, as 24 percent think the trade was an excellent move and 38 percent think it was a good move. Seven percent think it was a not so good move and 4 percent think it was a poor move. Twenty-eight percent did not offer an opinion.
Among 76ers fans, 75 percent think the trade to acquire Jaylen Brown from the Celtics was either an excellent (32 percent) or good (43 percent) move, while 7 percent think it was either a not so good (3 percent) or poor (4 percent) move, with 18 percent not offering an opinion.
"The trade bringing Jaylen Brown to the 76ers has been one of the most talked-about moves this offseason, and 76ers fans seem optimistic about what it means for the team's future," added Webb.
ANTHONY DAVIS
Thirty-nine percent of professional basketball fans overall think a 76ers trade with the Washington Wizards to acquire Anthony Davis would be either an excellent (6 percent) or good (33 percent) move by the 76ers, while 31 percent think it would be either a not so good (16 percent) or poor (15 percent) move by the 76ers. Thirty-one percent did not offer an opinion.
76ERS' NEXT SEASON
As for what the next season holds for the 76ers, professional basketball fans are not optimistic.
Thirty-six percent of professional basketball fans overall expect the 76ers to make the NBA finals this coming year, while 47 percent do not, with 17 percent not offering an opinion.
PHILLIES VS. PIRATES
In the ultimate Pennsylvania Major League Baseball fantasy, if it came down to the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates facing each other in the MLB playoffs, 50 percent of Pennsylvanians would want the Phillies to win and 37 percent would want the Pirates to win, with 13 percent sitting on the bench for this one, not choosing sides.
PHILLIES & THE WORLD SERIES
When professional baseball fans in the Keystone State were asked to give their best guess about when the Phillies will next win the World Series, nearly half (48 percent) say within the next five years, 29 percent say in 5 to 10 years, 6 percent say more than 10 years, and 7 percent say probably never again, with 10 percent not offering an opinion.
Among Phillies fans, 71 percent say the Phillies will win the World Series within the next five years.
"The Phillies have a talented, but aging roster. The window - with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber and Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez - is now," added Pietruszkiewicz.
PIRATES & THE PLAYOFFS
When professional baseball fans in the Keystone State were asked to give their best guess about when the Pirates will next make the playoffs, 35 percent say within the next five years, 25 percent say in 5 to 10 years, 12 percent say more than 10 years, and 15 percent say probably never again, with 13 percent not offering an opinion.
Among Pirates fans, 52 percent say the Pirates will make the playoffs within the next five years.
986 adults in Pennsylvania were surveyed from July 9th - 13th with a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points, including the design effect. The sample includes 413 self-identified professional basketball fans with a margin of error of +/- 6.4 percentage points, including the design effect and 613 self-identified professional baseball fans with a margin of error of +/- 5.2 percentage points, including the design effect.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Doug Schwartz, Ph.D. since 1994, conducts independent, non-partisan national and state polls on politics and issues. Surveys adhere to industry best practices and are based on probability-based samples using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.
Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll
Email poll@qu.edu or follow us on X @QuinnipiacPoll.
Poll Questions
-
Question 22. Would you say the World Cup being played in the United States has made you more interested in soccer, or not?
ADULTS............................................................. AGE IN YRS.............. AREA.............. Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ West Cntrl East Yes/More interested 41% 42% 39% 52% 39% 37% 33% 36% 37% 46% No 55 54 57 44 54 62 62 59 60 50 DK/NA 4 4 4 3 7 1 4 5 3 4 -
Question 23. As you may know, Donald Trump asked FIFA, the governing body of international soccer, to review U.S. Men's Soccer player Folarin Balogun's penalty that made him ineligible to play in the U.S. team's next game in the World Cup, against Belgium. FIFA allowed Balogun to play in the game. Do you approve or disapprove of Donald Trump's action?
ADULTS............................................................. AGE IN YRS.............. AREA.............. Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ West Cntrl East Approve 28% 33% 24% 23% 27% 33% 26% 30% 31% 25% Disapprove 52 44 60 53 53 51 58 52 43 59 DK/NA 19 23 16 24 20 16 16 18 26 16 Rep Dem Ind Approve 56% 8% 25% Disapprove 25 84 51 DK/NA 19 7 24 -
Question 24. Thinking about professional basketball, would you describe yourself as a super fan, a fan, a casual fan, or not a fan?
ADULTS............................................................. AGE IN YRS.............. AREA.............. Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ West Cntrl East Super fan 3% 4% 1% 4% 6% 1% - 2% 3% 3% Fan 10 12 8 11 8 12 9 5 5 16 Casual fan 27 27 26 22 29 25 30 25 19 32 Not a fan 60 57 64 63 57 60 60 67 72 49 DK/NA 1 - 1 1 - 1 1 1 - - -
Question 25. (If professional basketball super fan, fan or casual fan q24) Are you a 76ers fan or a fan of another team?
ADULTS................................ PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL FANS Q24...... AGE IN YRS....... Tot Men Wom 18-49 50-64 65+ 76ers fan 50% 51% 48% 46% 50% 49% Fan of another team 38 41 36 46 41 29 DK/NA 12 8 16 8 9 21 FAN TYPE Q24........... SuperFan/Fan CasualFan 76ers fan 52% 49% Fan of another team 45 35 DK/NA 4 16 -
Question 26. (If professional basketball super fan, fan or casual fan q24) Do you think the 76ers trade to acquire Jaylen Brown from the Celtics was an excellent, good, not so good, or poor move by the 76ers?
ADULTS....................................... PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL FANS Q24............. AGE IN YRS....... Tot Men Wom 18-49 50-64 65+ Excellent 24% 35% 10% 28% 28% 14% Good 38 40 35 39 44 31 Not so good 7 6 7 8 8 6 Poor 4 3 4 5 2 3 DK/NA 28 16 43 20 19 47 FAN TYPE Q24........... FAVORITE TEAM Q25 SuperFan/Fan CasualFan 76ers OtherTeam Excellent 41% 15% 32% 18% Good 39 37 43 33 Not so good 3 9 3 14 Poor 6 2 4 5 DK/NA 11 37 18 31 -
Question 27. (If professional basketball super fan, fan or casual fan q24) Do you think signing LeBron James would be an excellent, good, not so good, or poor move by the 76ers?
ADULTS....................................... PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL FANS Q24............. AGE IN YRS....... Tot Men Wom 18-49 50-64 65+ Excellent 24% 24% 23% 26% 27% 20% Good 38 38 39 38 36 38 Not so good 12 13 10 13 15 10 Poor 13 17 9 14 16 12 DK/NA 13 8 19 10 6 20 FAN TYPE Q24........... FAVORITE TEAM Q25 SuperFan/Fan CasualFan 76ers OtherTeam Excellent 30% 21% 29% 18% Good 41 37 36 45 Not so good 11 12 12 12 Poor 15 12 14 14 DK/NA 3 17 9 11 -
Question 28. (If professional basketball super fan, fan or casual fan q24) Do you think a 76ers trade with the Washington Wizards to acquire Anthony Davis would be an excellent, good, not so good, or poor move by the 76ers?
ADULTS....................................... PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL FANS Q24............. AGE IN YRS....... Tot Men Wom 18-49 50-64 65+ Excellent 6% 8% 3% 8% 3% 4% Good 33 36 30 34 45 24 Not so good 16 22 8 19 14 13 Poor 15 20 9 22 15 6 DK/NA 31 14 50 17 24 52 FAN TYPE Q24........... FAVORITE TEAM Q25 SuperFan/Fan CasualFan 76ers OtherTeam Excellent 8% 5% 6% 7% Good 32 34 34 34 Not so good 22 12 18 16 Poor 24 11 14 17 DK/NA 14 39 29 26 -
Question 29. (If professional basketball super fan, fan or casual fan q24) Do you expect the 76ers to make the NBA finals this coming year, or not?
ADULTS....................................... PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL FANS Q24............. AGE IN YRS....... Tot Men Wom 18-49 50-64 65+ Yes/Expect 36% 32% 41% 41% 33% 34% No 47 60 31 52 53 37 DK/NA 17 8 28 7 14 29 FAN TYPE Q24........... FAVORITE TEAM Q25 SuperFan/Fan CasualFan 76ers OtherTeam Yes/Expect 46% 31% 44% 28% No 47 47 42 56 DK/NA 7 22 14 16 -
Question 30. Now thinking about professional baseball, would you describe yourself as a super fan, a fan, a casual fan, or not a fan?
ADULTS............................................................. AGE IN YRS.............. AREA.............. Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ West Cntrl East Super fan 7% 10% 4% 5% 8% 7% 6% 6% 5% 8% Fan 19 21 16 10 18 26 23 14 14 24 Casual fan 31 30 33 20 34 31 40 34 30 30 Not a fan 43 39 47 65 40 36 30 46 50 37 DK/NA - - - - - - 1 - 1 - -
Question 31. (If professional baseball super fan, fan or casual fan q30) Are you a Phillies fan, a Pirates fan, or a fan of another team?
ADULTS...................................................... PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL FANS Q30.............................. AGE IN YRS....... AREA.............. Tot Men Wom 18-49 50-64 65+ West Cntrl East Phillies 46% 44% 48% 44% 45% 46% 1% 38% 74% Pirates 27 26 27 23 27 32 80 20 2 Another team 24 26 22 32 25 16 12 37 24 DK/NA 3 3 3 1 3 6 7 4 1 FAN TYPE Q30........... SuperFan/Fan CasualFan Phillies 52% 41% Pirates 23 30 Another team 24 24 DK/NA - 6 -
Question 32. If the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates faced each other in the MLB playoffs, who would you want to win?
ADULTS............................................................. AGE IN YRS.............. AREA.............. Tot Men Wom 18-34 35-49 50-64 65+ West Cntrl East Phillies 50% 49% 51% 53% 53% 51% 46% 5% 47% 81% Pirates 37 36 37 34 37 37 41 87 31 9 DK/NA 13 14 12 13 10 12 14 8 22 10 FAN TYPE Q30........... FAVORITE TEAM Q31.................... SuperFan/Fan CasualFan Phillies Pirates OtherTeam Phillies 62% 55% 98% - 48% Pirates 35 42 2 98 43 DK/NA 3 3 1 2 9 -
Question 33. (If professional baseball super fan, fan or casual fan q30) What is your best guess about when the Phillies will next win the World Series; within the next five years, in five to ten years, more than ten years, or probably never again?
ADULTS........................................................... PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL FANS Q30................................... AGE IN YRS....... AREA.............. Tot Men Wom 18-49 50-64 65+ West Cntrl East Next 5 years 48% 48% 49% 46% 48% 52% 21% 47% 64% 5-10 years 29 31 25 34 28 21 33 29 26 More than 10 years 6 8 4 7 9 4 10 7 4 Never again 7 7 6 6 6 9 16 6 2 DK/NA 10 6 16 6 8 14 20 11 5 FAN TYPE Q30........... FAVORITE TEAM Q31.................... SuperFan/Fan CasualFan Phillies Pirates OtherTeam Next 5 years 56% 42% 71% 24% 36% 5-10 years 28 29 19 35 40 More than 10 years 6 7 4 10 7 Never again 4 8 3 13 5 DK/NA 5 15 3 18 13 -
Question 34. (If professional baseball super fan, fan or casual fan q30) What is your best guess about when the Pirates will next make the playoffs; within the next five years, in five to ten years, more than ten years, or probably never again?
ADULTS........................................................... PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL FANS Q30................................... AGE IN YRS....... AREA.............. Tot Men Wom 18-49 50-64 65+ West Cntrl East Next 5 years 35% 40% 29% 34% 38% 33% 47% 32% 30% 5-10 years 25 27 24 23 31 28 22 24 28 More than 10 years 12 12 11 15 11 9 15 11 10 Never again 15 15 15 20 12 12 12 19 14 DK/NA 13 7 21 8 9 17 4 14 18 FAN TYPE Q30........... FAVORITE TEAM Q31.................... SuperFan/Fan CasualFan Phillies Pirates OtherTeam Next 5 years 42% 28% 31% 52% 27% 5-10 years 25 26 25 20 31 More than 10 years 10 13 10 17 11 Never again 10 19 16 8 16 DK/NA 13 14 19 3 15