The past few years have seen a massive change in the soccer landscape. While the soccer market has been dominated by a set of elites since the very beginning, there seems to be a new fan favorite in town. Defending Premier League champions Manchester City has seen a rapid rise in their popularity, with the club becoming the most-watched English soccer side in the United States in 2023. The Cityzens have leaped the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, and other Premier League heavyweights in recent years with their viewership numbers going through the roof.

Pep Guardiola‘s side has scoured through the soccer market following the COVID-19 pandemic, understanding different ways to connect to fans worldwide. The team’s campaign in the United States has been a massive success, with the Cityzens fostering multiple ideas to establish their foothold across the nation.

Manchester City emerges as the most-watched team in the United States

2023 was a massive year for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. The side made history last season as they bagged a historic treble getting their hands on the Premier League, FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League trophies. Their success across all competitions saw the team post sky-high numbers in the United States, with the team’s estimated viewership reaching 36.9 million.

According to data from Nielsen, Manchester City was the most-watched English club in 2023. In comparison, arch-rivals Manchester United despite their pre-season US tour could not attract better numbers with the side finishing seventh behind Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Tottenham, with 13.4 million viewers.

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The team’s Champions League triumph played a huge role with over 2 million viewers witnessing the team’s crowning moment against Inter Milan. However, while their numbers might be a surprise to some fans, this isn’t some overnight success story!

A dive into Cityzens’ success in the United States

While most sports sides connect with their fans through their performances on the field, Manchester City found a unique way to break into the American market. The club dipped its toes in the United States through the entertainment industry, with manager Pep Guardiola making brief cameo appearances on the popular Apple TV series Ted Lasso. This was a big move from the club, as it allowed fans to relate to the club as a brand rather than a soccer team.

Capitalizing on their growing popularity, the side has done a great job in the United States. The team has been to the country thrice since 2017 during their pre-season tours. Manchester City was amongst the first soccer sides to tour the United States following the pandemic in 2022.

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With the newfound success, the club has a tremendous opportunity on their hands. The United States looks set to host the Copa America 2024 and the World Cup 2026. The hype behind the upcoming events has provided the club with the right chance to expand its grasp on an untapped market with massive potential.

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