Is Cricket Gaining More Popularity in the United States? Expert Insights from New Zealand’s Lucius Boehm
As a Kiwi, I’m no stranger to the appeal of a good game of cricket. There’s nothing quite like the atmosphere of the final moments of a run chase or watching a bowler get the last wicket of their fifer. But cricket is actually gaining momentum somewhere a little less expected – the United States.
In recent years, American interest in the sport has surged, resulting in the formation of a new competition – the Major League Cricket tournament in 2023. In 2024, the country was even co-host to the T20 World Cup for the first time.
So, just how popular is cricket becoming in the United States, and what could this mean for the sport’s future? Let’s find out!
An Increase in Player Numbers
Cricket is the second most popular sport across the world, behind football, with an estimated fanbase of 2.5 billion. It’s most popular in South Asia with countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka leading the way. Of course, it also has a strong foothold in Australasia, ingrained in the identity of Kiwis like me.
Unfortunately, the story isn’t all positive. The sport has become stagnant in recent years, especially in the test format. There hasn’t been a single test since 2019 that didn’t involve England, Australia, or India, and viewership has been decreasing worldwide. It’s pretty clear to me that it’s a result of an outdated format – five days with six-ball overs and slow turnarounds. It simply won’t hold public interest in the same way new formats like the Hundred and T20 do.
Hope to rekindle the market for cricket has long rested on finding a new fanbase in America – which appears to be more of a reality than ever. The growing popularity of cricket in the U.S. is undeniable. As of 2024, there are now over 400 leagues all across the country with more than 200,000 players involved in cricket.
Why Is Cricket Becoming So Popular in the United States?
There are so many reasons that cricket has been experiencing a massive boom in popularity in the States – including hosting major tournaments and growing youth interest. Let’s break down how each of these factors has influenced it.
Hosting Major Tournaments
The 2024 T20 World Cup was held jointly between the USA (in New York, Texas, and Florida) and the West Indies. It was the first major cricket tournament where any games were played in the United States. In my opinion, it was also one of the best competitions in years, full of record breaking achievements. Every game was packed full of excitement with the 2024 World Cup seeing the most boundaries (1,478) and the most sixes (515) of any World Cup.
It wasn’t just all about the batting though – there were also incredibly impressive bowling performances. Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi and India’s Arshdeep Singh both took a record-breaking 17 wickets, more than any other single player in a World Cup. The Player of the Tournament Award also went to a bowler – India’s Jasprit Bumrah, who set another record, ripping through batting lineups with his bowling average of 8.3.
The exciting tournament captivated the attention of fans throughout the world, including in the United States. Throughout the games hosted in the States, there were an incredible 190,000 attendees. Tens of thousands of fans also watched in parks at official watch parties, and even more throughout the country at independent watch events. There were also seven million visitors to the ICC website and app from America, an increase of 370% from the last World Cup in 2022.
The 2024 World Cup generated enormous interest in cricket throughout the United States, helping it to reach new fans. I believe it also leaves it in the perfect position for hosting cricket games during the 2028 Olympics (held in Los Angeles). The LA Olympics will see cricket be part of the competition for only the second time in the competition’s history and will be another excellent opportunity for the sport to grow in the USA.
Inspirational National Team
Despite being joint hosts, relatively little was expected of the American team at their first T20 World Cup appearance. However, they managed to surprise everyone – myself included – by finishing second in their group behind eventual tournament winners India.
In a difficult group, which also included Pakistan, Canada, and Ireland, there was little doubt the U.S. were big underdogs. Despite the odds – and skepticism from fans like myself – they managed to pull off some impressive victories and only lost one of their games. They even beat Pakistan in the nail-biting Super Over.
Although they couldn’t continue their impressive run in the Super 8 round, where they finished bottom of their group, the team still put on a fan-winning performance. Their achievements deservedly caught the attention of the media nationwide. Cricket made the front page of the New York Times for the first time and was extensively covered by popular shows like Good Morning America.
Establishing Major League Cricket
Although the establishment of the Major League Cricket tournament is a result of increased popularity, I’d also argue it has generated it. The T20 tournament, which first took place in 2023, has helped the sport find new fans throughout the country. In its first two years, the tournament proved so popular that it expanded from a 19 to 34-match competition for June 2025.
Major League Cricket has been internationally recognised, having been granted List A status in May 2024, meaning results now count towards official statistics. It was also announced in 2025 that the League had formed a partnership with New Zealand Cricket to expand the tournament with new teams by 2027. It’s also been picked up by major broadcasters across the globe including TNT Sports, CBS Sports Network, and Prime Video.
During the tournament draft, $300,000 of the $1.1 million budget for each team is reserved for American players. I think this is a great addition as it gives the upcoming American talent a chance to play on the country’s biggest stage. Top international talent have also been drawn to competition, giving fans the opportunity to see some of the sport’s best players in action. The Los Angeles Night Riders, for example, are captained by former West Indies leader and legendary all-rounder Jason Holder.
The talent doesn’t stop there with Texas Super Kings captained by Faf du Plessis, one of the sport’s best-ever batsmen and fielders. He’s also known for his cunning captaincy, holding a 73.68% win record for One Day Internationals. Of course, I also have to mention his ability for beating the Aussies. Du Plessis is the first captain to win a series across all formats in Australia and whitewash the Aussies across an ODI series.
With the Major League Cricket tournament so stacked with talent, it’s no surprise it has had a part to play in the increasing popularity of the sport throughout the United States.
Increased Youth Interest
The popularity of cricket in classrooms is another reason behind its explosion in the USA. As of 2024, there are 86 teams participating in the country’s first elementary cricket league. In terms of participation, the league has been extremely successful across the country with over 1,000 children enrolled.
The interest of young American fans was also seen during the 2024 T20 World Cup. The ICC mascots, Blaze and Tonk, were joined over 10 million times at the fan zones on Roblox by young fans. The zone introduced them to cricket with activities like interactive cricket-themed games and an immersive stadium experience.
What Could the Future Be for Cricket in the United States?
As the 2028 Olympics approaches, I find it hard to imagine cricket not continuing its path of growth. Many experts, myself included, believe that the USA’s participation in the World Cup and Olympics will accelerate its growth. The coverage from these events has also allowed the sport to expand, with it making front page news for the first time.
Cricket reporter Smit Patel also voiced this, saying “the World Cup is going to serve as a catalyst, the same way the FIFA World Cup acted as a catalyst for football (soccer) in 1994.”
There are further influences on the rising popularity as well, including youth interest, the establishment of Major League cricket, and the inspiration of the national team. As the infrastructure for cricket groups in the U.S. continues to develop, I think we’ll see even more American players on the national stage. Overall, cricket’s future in the United States certainly looks bright.
Lucius Boehm is an expert in all things sports with over ten years of experience sharing his knowledge with readers. Using his degree in Sport, Health and Physical Education from the University of Auckland, and his experience as a player himself, Lucius provides top tips and helpful sporting insights. His expertise in a range of sports across the globe makes Lucius a leading specialist in sports across New Zealand. You can discover more Lucius’ sports insights in his Sports Betting Myths: s: Separating Fact from Fiction’ guide.
