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The World Ahead | United States in 2024

A cricket World Cup comes to America

Get ready for googlies, leg breaks and silly mid-off

Illustration: Chantal Jahchan

By Leo Mirani

In 1994, when America hosted the FIFA men’s football World Cup, just 20% of Americans even knew it was happening in their country. Today, nearly a third of Americans who follow sports describe themselves as “avid” fans of soccer, no doubt helped by two consecutive World Cup victories, in 2015 and 2019, by their women’s team.

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This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition of The World Ahead 2024 under the headline “From long leg to silly mid-off”

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