Tom Krasovic: World Cup ratings prove what we already knew - San Diegans love soccer
Like the weather reporter telling you it's sunny in San Diego, I'm here to tell you that large numbers of San Diegans are watching the World Cup.
A big San Diego audience by national standards watched the United States-Paraguay telecasts and several other matches through the quadrennial event’s first four days, per Fox Sports.
For the Americans' first match, San Diego's 7.3 household rating placed third of 56 metered markets, only trailing Kansas City and Boston while edging out Dallas and St. Louis.
Across the Cup's first 13 matches played through Sunday, San Diego landed fifth of the 56 markets with a 3.2 household rating and 16 household share. Once again, Kansas City and Boston led the pack. Austin, Dallas and San Diego followed.
It's all familiar, San Diego and soccer having forged a bond that goes back many years.
In several other recent World Cups, San Diego placed among the American ratings leaders. Often, it stood as the leader in the Pacific Time Zone.
Lately, the soccer ball has been bouncing even higher in San Diego County.
Where the Chargers played NFL games for decades in Mission Valley, professional soccer teams San Diego FC and the San Diego Wave have drawn enough fans to finish above their league averages in attendance.
In Oceanside, a new park with 22 soccer fields attracts hundreds of youth players. The San Diego Sockers play in the new arena next door.
Giving the beautiful game another push here, the World Cup has returned to North America for the first time since 1994 and displayed improved soccer from both the United States and Mexico, who each won their opener by multiple goals. On the same day that Mexico kicked off the whole tournament in Mexico City, many San Diegans wore green "El Tri" jerseys in support.
On the other hand, this must be noted, too:
For many sports fans in San Diego, soccer is an effective sleep aid.
These good folks don't buy the aficionados' claim, which goes back decades, that soccer is the next big sport in the United States.
I don't think the 104 matches in this World Cup, which ends July 19 in New Jersey, will change those minds. If anything, the expanded format could further ingrain beliefs that soccer matches serve up mostly tedium.
But I am a believer in the universal power of greatness in many walks of life.
For non-soccer fans who are open to seeing greatness within the world's sport, a pro tip:
Be sure to watch Argentina's Lionel Messi, the Mozart of soccer.
At 38, Messi should be well past his prime. He's not.
On Tuesday, the 5-foot-7 midfielder seemed to operate on a different plane of awareness and anticipation. He scored three goals against Algeria as a childlike Patrick Mahomes and a global audience looked on.
Messi is likely playing in his last World Cup.
Watch him now, or potentially miss out on true greatness at the world’s game.
Friday, when the U.S and Australia meet in Seattle, another large audience in San Diego figures to tune in.
The main question: will they get to see Christian Pulisic, the attacking midfielder and wing who lit up the Americans' three-goal first half against Paraguay in the Kroenke Dome last Friday, only to be shut down for the final 45 minutes with a calf injury?
The Pulisic situation looms as a test for U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino, who resembles the actor Russell Crowe and seems to have a beautiful mind for soccer.
Here's thinking that the U.S. should hold Pulisic out.
Bolstered by an improved reserve crew headed by midfielder Gio Reyna, the Americans would still have a fair shot of collecting one or three points against Australia.
The bottom line here: a Cup-ending injury to Pulisic would be worse than a defeat.
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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 8:11 PM.