US Soccer Fans Rally Behind Underdog Teams In UEFA Conference League

US Soccer Fans Rally Behind Underdog Teams In UEFA Conference League...

The UEFA Conference League, Europe's third-tier club competition, is gaining unexpected traction among American soccer fans this week. The surge in interest comes as underdog teams like Aston Villa and Fiorentina advance to the quarterfinals, with matches airing on CBS Sports and Paramount+.

Domestic interest spiked after US midfielder Weston McKennie helped Juventus reach the semifinals last week. American viewers are also tuning in to see rising stars like Fiorentina's US-born forward Ricardo Pepi, who scored in Thursday's 2-0 win over Viktoria Plzeň.

ESPN reported a 37% increase in US streaming viewership compared to last year's tournament. The Conference League's afternoon ET kickoffs make it more accessible than Champions League matches for American audiences. Social media engagement has doubled since March, with #UECL trending on Twitter during matches.

This Thursday's quarterfinal first legs feature Lille vs. Aston Villa and Fiorentina vs. Viktoria Plzeň. CBS Sports analyst Kate Abdo noted the tournament's growing appeal: "Americans love an underdog story, and these teams are delivering drama without the superstar price tags."

The Conference League was created in 2021 to give smaller clubs European exposure. Its stateside popularity reflects broader growth in US soccer fandom - Paramount+ reported 1.2 million unique viewers for February's knockout rounds. With the semifinals approaching May 2, American interest shows no signs of slowing.