November 13 – Major League Soccer attracted 11.25 million fans in 2026 and nearly doubled its weekly viewership, according to figures released by the league at the end of the regular season.
The league estimates it averaged 7.2 million gross viewers of live matches per week on Apple TV, linear partners in the US and Canada and international platforms, up 93% from 2025. Since the World Cup break, viewing on Fox and FS1 has increased 45% among men 18-34 and 18% among all adults in that age group. Nashville SC vs. Atlanta United on July 17 drew 587,000 on Fox, the network’s most-watched MLS regular season game since 2020.
The average attendance was 22,063 per game, the second-highest season total in league history, from 2024 to 2026 now the three seasons with the highest attendance. Three of the 10 largest stand-alone crowds in MLS history came this year, all involving Inter Miami: 75,824 at Colorado, 75,673 at LAFC and 72,026 at DC United. Chicago, Colorado, DC United, Inter Miami, LAFC and Toronto set club attendance records.
Including expected playoff crowds, MLS expects to rank among the top three major leagues in the world in total attendance.
Digital numbers also rose. Social media impressions for the league and clubs reached 19.1 billion, up 18%, with 838 million engagements. Combined followers reached 123.5 million, with 14.8 million added this year. MLSsoccer.com page views increased by 28%.
The league also says it has the youngest fan base of any major U.S. men’s league, with an average age of 39.6.
The World Cup is the obvious driver. A recent poll found that 46% of American adults consider themselves soccer fans, up 10 points from before the tournament. Messi’s continued attraction is another: Inter Miami was involved in the three biggest crowds of the season.
The challenge is to hold on to the gains. MLS now moves to a 14-game sprint season before switching to a European-style schedule, and its linear deal with Fox ends after this season, with talks about future TV coverage ongoing.
The MLS Cup Playoffs will begin on November 19 and the final on December 18.
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