Seattle Sounders FC star Clint Dempsey seems to have become America’s favorite player in the World Cup — his jersey and other merchandise are the best-selling among all soccer players on Fanatics.com.

In fact, Dempsey’s Team USA merchandise sales have jumped more than 300 percent in the past week, according to Fanatics, as the United States national team prepares for the World Cup, which begins Thursday in Brazil. The U.S. plays its first match Monday against Ghana.

A lot of those purchases were by Seattle soccer fans. The Emerald City is the fifth best-selling market on Fanatics for the past week, the online retailer said Tuesday, trailing New York City at No. 1, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco in soccer merchandise sales.

Trailing Dempsey sales — in order — were Neymar of Brazil, Michael Bradley of the U.S., Ronaldo of Portugal, and Lionel Messi of Argentina. In a news release, Fanatics said its top-selling national teams were USA, Brazil, Italy, Portugal and England.

Team captain of the U.S., Dempsey scored a goal in the 52nd minute of the United States’ international friendly against Turkey on June 1, and had three shots on goal in the final pre-World Cup match against Nigeria on Saturday. This will be Dempsey’s third World Cup appearance.

Dempsey joined the Seattle Sounders last August on a $6.695 million contract. Though he got off to a slow start in 2013, he has torn up the pitch this MLS season, scoring eight goals in nine league matches. Still winning while Dempsey and U.S. teammate (and Seattle native) DeAndre Yedlin play in the World Cup, the Sounders are sitting atop of the MLS Western Conference with a 10-3-2 record and 32 points.

The Sounders are also Fanatics’ top-selling MLS team in merchandise sales this season, the retailer said. Sales of Sounders gear on Fanatics has increased around 1,000 percent so far this season over last.

Visit seattlepi.com for Seattle Sounders FC news and more World Cup news. Contact sports editor Nick Eaton at nickeaton@seattlepi.com or @njeaton.