Just in time for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Minneapolis made a list of best American cities for soccer fans.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicks off Thursday, June 14, and many Minnesotans are still upset that Team USA did not qualify. For the first time in 32 years, there will be no raucous chants of "U-S-A! U-S-A!" in Minnesota homes and sports bars. Instead, we'll be cheering on some secondary consolation team -- England's always been my backup team of choice -- and finding solace in the fact that Minnesota is still considered one of the best US states for soccer fans.

WalletHub recently released a list of Best Cities for Soccer Fans in 2018. After comparing nearly 300 US cities and 63 key metrics, they decided that Minneapolis, MN was the 14th best city overall to be a soccer fan. Not bad considering Minnesota United FC ranked the worst performing MLS team!

Source: WalletHub

Perhaps because of the Loon's continued failure to perform, Minneapolis ranked 3rd overall for Minimum Season Ticket Price for an MLS Game.

Minneapolis did rank 1st for Highest MLS Stadium Capacity, though presumably that credited the U of M's 50,805-seat TCF Bank Stadium where the Loons play while their 19,400-seat Allianz Field is under construction.

WalletHub
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There's no doubt soccer is alive and well in Minnesota. Its resurrection is amazing, actually. The state of Minnesota soccer looked dismal when the Minnesota Thunder folded in 2009. An article by the Star Tribune said "professional soccer...[was] struggling." With MN United FC's move to the MLS in 2015, though -- and the announcement of their own stadium to be built in St. Paul -- soccer has grown in popularity around the state. Maybe one day Minneapolis will break the top 10 best cities for fans.

Until then, we'll keep cheering on Minnesota soccer...and some other team this World Cup.


Speaking of Minnesota sports, would you believe that some high school boys hockey games have better attendance than professional games?!

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