Will America Finally Call Soccer ‘Football’ Now?/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump reignited the global debate over soccer’s name by joking about mandating Americans call it “football.” The lighthearted remark comes as the U.S. plays a growing role in international soccer, hosting major tournaments and attracting global stars. With Lionel Messi in MLS and surging Premier League viewership, the word “football” could become more common in American sports culture.
Soccer or Football? Quick Looks
- Trump Sparks Buzz: Jokes about executive order to rename soccer “football.”
- World Cup Momentum: U.S. will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Messi Mania: Global icon Lionel Messi plays for Inter Miami in MLS.
- “Football” Origins British: The term “soccer” actually began in the UK.
- Historic Use in Britain: British legends like Bobby Charlton once embraced “soccer.”
- Not Just U.S.: Australia, Ireland, and Canada also use “soccer” due to local variations of football.
- Cultural Shift Possible: Growth of soccer in the U.S. could prompt linguistic evolution.
- Pop Culture Boost: Shows like Welcome to Wrexham are mainstreaming global football narratives.
- Academic Insight: Experts say backlash against “soccer” is often more about who uses it.
- NFL’s Role: The dominance of American football justifies the U.S. distinction, for now.
Will America Finally Call Soccer ‘Football’ Now?
Deep Look
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The world calls it football. Americans still call it soccer. But that divide may not last forever—at least if President Donald Trump has his way, half-jokingly.
While attending the Club World Cup Final in New Jersey, Trump stirred the age-old naming controversy with a grin and a tease. Speaking to DAZN, he quipped,
“I think I could do that,”
referring to an executive order that would align the U.S. with most of the world and call the sport “football.”
Though his tone was playful, the joke came at a time when American soccer’s global relevance is surging, prompting new scrutiny of the terminology that separates the U.S. from the rest of the football-loving planet.
Global Game, American Name
Despite global consensus on the term “football,” the U.S. has long held to “soccer”—a name rooted in history but now largely unique to North America.
As Trump put it:
“They call it football, we call it soccer. I’m not sure that change could be made very easily.”
Still, with Messi captivating MLS crowds, record viewership for the Premier League, and the U.S. preparing to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the sport’s domestic influence is undeniable—and growing. The U.S. also hosted the Club World Cup this summer and Copa América in 2024, making it a consistent stage for global soccer events.
The British Origins of “Soccer”
Ironically, Americans didn’t invent the word “soccer.” It was British slang, dating back to the late 19th century as a short form of “association football,” coined to distinguish it from rugby football and other variants.
Institutions like English Heritage trace the word’s emergence to elite British schools like Harrow, where students developed shorthand for the growing game. Even British legends like Bobby Charlton and Matt Busby embraced “soccer” in their work. Busby’s 1974 autobiography was titled Soccer at the Top.
British TV also adopted the term—Sky Sports’ “Soccer AM” aired from 1994 to 2023.
A Linguistic Divide, Not a Cultural One
Dr. Stefan Szymanski, a University of Michigan sports economist, argues the problem isn’t the term “soccer” itself—but the fact that Americans use it. His book It’s Football, Not Soccer (And Vice Versa) explores the etymology and backlash tied to national pride and cultural dominance.
In a lecture, Szymanski noted:
“It’s when Americans use this word that we get the outpourings of distress and horror.”
That resistance isn’t universal. Nations like Australia, where Australian Rules Football is king, also use “soccer.” Their national team is even nicknamed the Socceroos, while the governing body is called Football Australia.
In Ireland, “soccer” is used alongside “Gaelic football,” with the national federation still called the Football Association of Ireland. Canada, like the U.S., uses “soccer” to differentiate from the NFL and CFL.
Pop Culture Driving Change
More than legislation or linguistics, pop culture could be the tipping point.
The Disney+ series Welcome to Wrexham follows a Welsh soccer club owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, bringing British football culture into the American mainstream. Combined with streaming access to Champions League and Premier League games, the younger generation is increasingly fluent in “football”—not just the word, but the passion behind it.
Football’s American Future?
While it’s unlikely that “soccer” will disappear from American vocabulary overnight, the sport’s rising relevance could lead to a gradual shift. As Americans become more globally connected through sports, media, and events, the lines between “soccer” and “football” may blur.
Trump’s joke about a name change might be just that—a joke—but the conversation is serious. The U.S. may not need an executive order to evolve; it just needs more goals, more fans, and maybe another Messi.
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