There will always be debates held over which Premier League club is the biggest in the world, and Manchester United fans will point to their global reach. The Red Devils are widely supported, particularly in Asia and Africa.
The post-Sir Alex Ferguson era has been a tough watch for supporters, having failed to win the Premier League title. The team have faltered, unable to replicate such heights as a 1999 treble.
United often take to the United States during pre-season, and that was the case last year. The Reds participated in the Premier League Summer Series.
This included visits to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, Soldier Field in Chicago and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. There were thousands of supporters cheering for Ruben Amorim, underscoring the club’s reach in America.
Manchester United fall short in USA survey
United might well be the most supported Premier League club in world football. That’s not the case in America, as the Reds’ popularity is behind three of their biggest rivals.
A survey conducted by Men in Blazers polled American fans on which English top-flight club they supported. The results were intriguing as the Red Devils came fourth with 7% of the votes.
Liverpool is the most popular team in America, according to the survey, with 22% of the vote. Arsenal comes in second with 16%, and Chelsea is third with 13%.
The good news is that United have a stronger American following than cross-city rivals Manchester City. The Cityzens are down in eighth with 3%, the same percentage as Fulham and Crystal Palace.
United’s struggles since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 may well have had an impact. There has been little for American fans to celebrate watching the Reds, and football is only just starting to grow in popularity over the pond.
Lack of American representation
Only three American players have played for United in the club’s history. The most famous name is Tim Howard, who spent three seasons at Old Trafford during the 2000s.
Howard made 77 appearances but failed to claim the number one jersey. He was sent out on loan to Everton before joining the Toffees permanently in the summer of 2007.
Another American who has worn the Red Devils’ kit is defender Jonathan Spector. He only appeared eight times for the club in a one-year spell at the Theatre of Dreams.
The first ever United player from the United States was attacker Jim Brown, who was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland. He played only once for the Reds, and his playing days were way back in the 1930s.
If you compare this to the likes of Chelsea, it’s understandable why the Blues have a larger support base in the States. Christian Pulisic is the golden boy of the USMNT, and he helped grow the West Londoners’ popularity in his homeland.
Glazers mistake
Liverpool’s American support is largely down to their Boston-based Fenway Sports Group ownership. They have delved into American marketing and ensured the Merseysiders are heavily promoted in North America.
This is something United’s majority owners, the Glazer family, have failed to do during their tumultuous ownership. Their lack of football knowledge has led to a nosedive on the pitch, and it stems from those upstairs.
Wrong appointments have been made under their watch, including high-ranking employees who are not footballers. Understanding the sport’s culture is vital when presenting it to the American fanbase.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, whose INEOS became a co-owner in February 2024, backed the Glazers despite heavy fan backlash. The British billionaire told The Times that “they’re really good on the commercial side.”
He added, “They’re East Coast, you know — that old East Coast America, they’re very polite, they’re very civilized, they’re the nicest people on the planet.”
The Glazers have owned United since June 2005, following a £790 million takeover. They loaded £600 million of debt onto the Premier League club and are vilified by supporters.
