Getting in the Game This Football Season

It seems like yesterday the entire world was captivated by the FIFA World Cup. But the NFL’s preseason games have started, so it won’t be long before U.S. consumers turn their focus to the other football – American football. It’ll be a long season, but now’s the time to get into the spirit. And remember — it’s not just about the game. It’s also about the gathering.

America’s Favorite Sport

Consumer research firm Civic Science conducted a survey in advance of America’s 250^th birthday that found consumers consider football to be America’s favorite sport. Yes, sorry baseball: 36% of respondents picked football, compared to 25% for baseball.

(What about soccer? CivicScience also found that 39% of Americans said their interest in soccer increased in some way when the U.S. hosted the 2026 World Cup. But it’s too soon to tell if that interest will last or how it will translate to U.S.-based teams.)

It’s Not Just About the Game

Anyone who’s paid more attention to ads during the Super Bowl than the game itself knows you don’t have to love the sport of football to love a good football gathering. What’s more, this type of get-togethers feeds directly into consumers’ desire to spend more time with friends and family and an increased interest in at-home entertaining.

IHA’s 2026 At-Home Entertaining Survey showed that hosting at home continues to gain momentum, especially among Gen Z and Millennials. What’s more, game watch parties rank as the second most popular reason to host a casual at-home gathering (41%) — second only to birthdays (72%).

What It Means To Retailers

Whether they’re hosting a watch party or setting up at the game, consumers are hungry for smart cooking, serving and entertaining solutions. Any way you can help them feed a crowd with less work and more fun, helps make you (and them) the MVP of game day.

Budget-friendly tips (46%) are the top type of assistance respondents to IHA’s At-Home Entertaining Survey said they could use, closely followed by recipes (45%), party-specific themes or concepts (32%) and entertaining tips (30%).

The Right Products

Retailers can also help in terms of serving up the right combination of functional and inspirational products. Grilling still holds a prominent role in game day routines, so helpful tools like Braize’s Smash Burger Press Set or Drip EZ’s BBQ & Meal Prep Tub are a great place to start.

Unique new ways to serve in style never go out of style, so consider eye-catching items like fun football-shaped beer mugs from Womyn Home Products and the Flip, Serve & Store® Football Charcuterie Board with Locking Lid by Totally Bamboo.

And for anyone taking the football fun on the road: A state-of-the-art cooler like the RollR by RovR Products makes game day easy and fun with the utility of a chef’s kitchen and the vibe of an adult ice cream truck. Shoppers will also love the Briefcase BBQ from Kikkerland — a clever handled carrying case that unfolds to reveal a small charcoal grill.