These are the top 5 teams SC soccer fans are rooting for in the 2026 World Cup. Here’s why
The first whistle of the 2026 World Cup match blew on June 11 and it’s already been a historic tournament for many countries and the U.S.
Before the ongoing competition, the last time the U.S. hosted the men’s FIFA World Cup was back in 1994, and things are looking pretty good for America. Currently, we have won consecutive games against Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0), making it the first time since 1930 that the U.S. has won back-to-back games.
This is also the third time in our men’s World Cup resume that we have won multiple games in a single tournament. With one more win, the U.S. team will have won more games than ever before.
It’s a no-brainer that South Carolinians are rooting for the U.S. as they aim to make history, but if they could support another team, who would they cheer for?
Covers.com, a digital platform for sports betting statistics, has revealed the World Cup nations most likely to become America’s unofficial “second teams” in 2026, based on where each country’s foreign-born community is most strongly represented across the U.S. A separate survey by Covers.com of 1,500 respondents found that 36% of Americans say they are likely to support another country during the 2026 World Cup, in addition to Team USA.
Here are five of South Carolinians’ second-favorite teams in the 2026 World Cup, according to the study:
Top 5 second-favorite teams in SC
The following countries received a score that shows how strong their community presence is in SC. A score of 1.00 represents the national average, while a score above 1.00 indicates that a country is over-represented in that state compared with the U.S. overall.
#1. Germany
With 9,567 foreign-born German residents in SC and a 2.32 index over-index score, Germany is the team that people in the Palmetto State are most likely to cheer for besides the U.S. during the 2026 World Cup. Team Germany is one of the strongest competitors this year, winning against Curaçao (7-1) and Ivory Coast (2-1).
#2. Panama
Panama comes second in SC, with 1,575 foreign-born Panamanian residents, a strong community presence and a 1.90 over-index score. The Central American country is an underdog in this year’s tournament, but it’s hard not to find their grit and determination admirable.
#3. Colombia
Colombia is another favorite team in SC. There are 14,627 foreign-born Colombian residents in the state, with a 1.89 index score. In raw numbers, the country has the biggest community presence on this list, and Colombians show up to support their teams.
#4. Brazil
There are 6,896 foreign-born Brazilian residents in SC, and the country has an index score of 1.37, making it one of the more favorable teams in SC. The South American country has lots of love in the state and will likely continue to see support throughout the rest of the World Cup.
#5. France
France rounds out South Carolina’s top five, with 1,991 foreign-born French residents and a 1.37 over-index score. The European powerhouse has garnered significant support from its residents, as well as from South Carolinians.
Methodology
According to their study, Covers.com analyzed foreign-born population data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, comparing each World Cup country’s share of a state’s foreign-born population with that country’s share of the U.S. foreign-born population overall.
The result was an index score that shows where each country has a stronger-than-average community presence.