Survey finds there’s plenty of interest in Canada in both the CFL and NFL

This year, a recent survey in Canada has revealed a strong interest in both the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL) among the country's population. Reginald Bibby, a sociologist and trend tracker, conducted the survey alongside Angus Reid in December 2025, gathering a representative sample of 1,500 Canadians.

The study found that 27% of respondents follow one or both leagues, a figure similar to the popularity of Major League Baseball. The CFL, which kicked off its season on June 4, currently has all nine teams in the second half of their 18-game schedules. The NFL's 2026 season begins on September 9 with a Super Bowl rematch. Despite the NFL's growing popularity, Bibby argues that increased NFL interest has actually boosted the CFL's fanbase, calling this a "cultural miracle."

The survey showed that 7% of respondents are CFL-only fans, while 10% support only the NFL. However, 27% of respondents follow both leagues, a number that has doubled from around 5% in 1990 to 10% in recent years.