Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Competition began in 1996 and attendance has been increasing rapidly since the early 2000s, making it one of the fastest-growing sports leagues in the world. On average, MLS draws to its games the fourth largest crowds of any professional sports league in North America, ranking behind the National Football League, Major League Baseball and the Canadian Football League. Similar to the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball, attendance is based on the number of tickets distributed.
During the 2025 regular season, MLS averaged 21,988 spectators per match, 5 percent below the record set in 2024 and its lowest average since 2022. The league nevertheless surpassed 11 million spectators for the second consecutive season. Atlanta United led the league with an average of 43,992, followed by Seattle Sounders FC at 30,993, Charlotte FC at 30,664, and expansion club San Diego FC at 28,064. Nineteen clubs recorded year-over-year declines and eight recorded increases. San Jose Earthquakes led the increases at 12 percent, while FC Dallas declined 42 percent amid a stadium renovation that closed its east stand.
On July 4, 2023, the largest standalone attendance in MLS history for a single match (82,110 spectators) was reached at the Rose Bowl where the LA Galaxy defeated Los Angeles FC 2–1. The highest average attendance during a regular season was reached in 2018 when Atlanta United matches were attended by an average of 53,002 spectators.
2025 regular season
This table shows the average attendances of the 30 MLS clubs during the 2025 regular season. It also includes the average attendances of the previous 2024 regular season, the percentage changes in average attendance from 2024 to 2025, the names of all home venues, their respective capacities, and the percentages of those capacities filled by each team's average attendance during the 2025 regular season. A few teams have played some games at venues other than their usual ones. In these cases, each attendance percentage has been calculated based on the capacity of the team’s regular stadium.
Team 2025average2024averagePercentchangeStadium Capacity(unrestricted) Percentcapacity 1 Atlanta United FC 43,992 46,831 % Mercedes-Benz Stadium (at least 73,019) %(%) 2 Seattle Sounders FC 30,993 30,754 +% Lumen Field (68,740) %(%) 3 Charlotte FC 30,664 33,383 % Bank of America Stadium (74,867) %(%) 4 San Diego FC 28,064 - - Snapdragon Stadium % 5 Nashville SC 26,433 28,599 % Geodis Park % 6 FC Cincinnati 24,668 25,237 % TQL Stadium % 7 New England Revolution 24,477 29,262 % Gillette Stadium (65,878) %(%) 8 Chicago Fire FC 23,450 21,328 +% Soldier Field (61,500) %(%) 9 Columbus Crew 22,795 20,646 +% Lower.com Field % 10 St. Louis City SC 22,423 22,423 % Energizer Park % 11 Portland Timbers 22,405 22,485 % Providence Park % 12 New York City FC 21,971 21,765 +% Yankee Stadium (47,309) %(%) 13 Los Angeles FC 21,931 22,122 % BMO Stadium % 14 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 21,806 26,121 % BC Place (54,500) %(%) 15 Toronto FC 21,353 25,681 % BMO Field % 16 Austin FC 20,738 20,738 % Q2 Stadium % 17 Orlando City SC 20,573 22,805 % Inter&Co Stadium % 18 Inter Miami CF 20,410 20,979 % Chase Stadium % 19 LA Galaxy 20,067 26,136 % Dignity Health Sports Park % 20 Real Salt Lake 19,776 20,295 % America First Field % 21 New York Red Bulls 19,710 19,479 +% Sports Illustrated Stadium % 22 San Jose Earthquakes 19,614 17,501 + % PayPal Park % 23 Minnesota United FC 19,247 19,597 % Allianz Field % 24 Philadelphia Union 18,331 18,845 % Subaru Park % 25 Houston Dynamo FC 17,693 17,038 +% Shell Energy Stadium % 26 Sporting Kansas City 16,604 21,193 % Children's Mercy Park % 27 D.C. United 16,389 18,137 % Audi Field % 28 CF Montréal 16,162 19,619 % Saputo Stadium % 29 Colorado Rapids 15,890 15,686 +% Dick's Sporting Goods Park % 30 FC Dallas 11,013 19,096 % Toyota Stadium % Key The stadium capacity was reduced for soccer matches
Notes Some clubs have attendances over 100% capacity. This is because the limited capacities of their usual venues are lifted for certain matches by opening additional sections. Other clubs use larger venues for certain matches that attract large attendances.
Season averages
Yearly statistics
SeasonTotal attendanceGamesAverageYoY changeHighest averageLowest averageRef. Attendance Team Attendance Team19962,785,00116017,406 - 28,916Los Angeles Galaxy10,213Colorado Rapids19972,336,52916014,603 -16.1%21,298New England Revolution9,058Kansas City Wizards19982,747,89719214,312 -2.0%21,784Los Angeles Galaxy8,073Kansas City Wizards19992,742,10219214,282 -0.2%17,696Columbus Crew8,183Kansas City Wizards20002,641,086192 13,756 -3.7%20,400Los Angeles Galaxy7,460Miami Fusion20012,363,88915814,961 +8.8%21,518D.C. United9,112Kansas City Wizards20022,214,97814015,821 +5.7%20,690Colorado Rapids11,150San Jose Earthquakes20032,234,74715014,898 -5.8%21,983Los Angeles Galaxy7,906Dallas Burn20042,333,79715015,559 +4.4%23,809Los Angeles Galaxy9,088Dallas Burn20052,900,71619215,108 -2.9%24,204Los Angeles Galaxy9,691Kansas City Wizards20062,976,78719215,504 +2.6%20,814Los Angeles Galaxy11,083Kansas City Wizards20073,270,21019516,770 +8.2%24,252Los Angeles Galaxy11,586Kansas City Wizards20083,456,64121016,460 -1.8%26,008Los Angeles Galaxy10,685Kansas City Wizards20093,609,04822516,040 -2.6%30,942Seattle Sounders FC9,883FC Dallas20104,002,05324016,675 +4.0%36,173Seattle Sounders FC9,659San Jose Earthquakes20115,468,84930617,872 +7.2%38,496Seattle Sounders FC11,858San Jose Earthquakes20126,074,72932318,807 +5.2%43,144Seattle Sounders FC13,056Chivas USA20136,005,99132318,594 -1.3%44,038Seattle Sounders FC8,366Chivas USA20146,184,35032319,147 +3.0%43,734Seattle Sounders FC7,063Chivas USA20157,329,82934021,558 +12.6%44,247Seattle Sounders FC15,657Colorado Rapids20167,375,28734021,692 +0.6%42,636Seattle Sounders FC14,094FC Dallas20178,267,53437422,106 +1.9%48,200Atlanta United FC15,122FC Dallas20188,552,50339121,873 -1.1%53,002Atlanta United FC12,447Columbus Crew SC20198,702,67440821,330 -2.5%52,510Atlanta United FC12,324Chicago Fire2020637,0202922,182N/A6,101Seattle Sounders FC0 Multiple teams20216,213,02245913,536N/A43,964Atlanta United FC647CF Montréal202210,011,57847621,033 -1.4%47,116Atlanta United FC12,637Inter Miami CF202310,900,80449322,111 +5.1%47,526Atlanta United FC15,029Houston Dynamo FC2024 11,454,205493 23,234 +5.1%46,831Atlanta United FC15,686Colorado Rapids2025 11,213,880 510 21,988 -5.4% 43,992 Atlanta United FC 11,013 FC Dallas Key Record high Record low Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
Notes This table is mainly based on the "MLS Fact and Record Book". For most of the seasons the differences between the numbers in the "Fact and Record Book" and other sources are small. Regarding the year 2020, it seems that there is an error in the number of games (26) stated in "MLS Fact and Record Book". Another MLS document, the "2020 MLS Standings and Leaders", states that there were up to 292 regular season games. Therefore, the number of games and the average for 2020 are from the "2020 MLS Standings and Leaders". Regarding 2021, the numbers in the "MLS Fact and Record Book" and those in yet another MLS document, the "MLS Media Resources: 2021 Stat Sheets" are rather different. The "Attendance", the "Games" and "Average" have been taken from this 2021 source. The drop in number of games and total attendance from 2000 to 2002, and the corresponding increase in average attendance, is attributable to league contraction, when MLS folded the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny. Several seasons saw increases in total attendance, despite drops in average attendance. One such case was due to expansion of the regular-season schedule; all others were due to league expansion. The 2020 and 2021 seasons were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted many matches to zero spectators.
Regular season and playoffs statistics SeasonMLS regular seasonMLS Cup playoffsMLS complete seasonTotalAttendanceGamesAverageTotalAttendanceGamesAverageTotalAttendanceGamesAverage19962,785,00116017,406300,4351717,6733,085,43617717,43219972,336,52916014,603208,1921316,0152,544,72117314,70919982,747,89719214,312249,9681417,8552,997,86520614,55319992,742,10219214,282257,4171616,0892,999,51920814,42120002,641,08619213,756203,5481711,9732,844,634209 13,61120012,363,88915814,961212,48518 11,8052,576,37417614,63820022,214,97814015,821235,8271713,8722,450,80515715,61020032,234,74715014,898164,7581114,978 2,399,50516114,90420042,333,79715015,559 153,6911113,9722,487,48816115,45020052,900,71619215,108158,2851114,3903,059,00120315,06920062,976,78719215,504166,9721115,1793,143,75920315,48620073,270,21019516,770217,4791119,7713,487,68920616,93120083,456,64121016,460181,3821116,4893,638,02322116,46220093,609,04822516,040259,1491123,5593,868,19723616,39120104,002,05324016,675214,8851119,5354,216,93825116,80120115,468,84930617,872265,5821320,4295,734,43131917,97620126,074,72932318,807335,3431522,3566,410,07233818,96520136,005,99132318,594328,4021521,8936,334,39333818,74120146,184,35032319,147354,4891523,6336,538,83933819,34620157,329,82934021,558388,2891722,8417,718,11835721,61920167,375,28734021,692472,4611727,7927,847,74835721,98220178,267,53437422,106453,7811726,6938,721,31539122,30520188,552,50339121,873494,5111729,0899,047,01440822,17420198,702,67440821,330442,47613 34,0379,145,15042121,7222020637,0202922,182— — — 637,0202922,18220216,213,02245913,536299,8911323,0696,512,91347213,799202210,011,57847621,033263,1921320,24610,274,77048921,012202310,900,80449322,111661,1452823,61211,561,94952122,1922024 11,454,205493 23,234 697,53429 24,053 12,151,739522 23,2792025 11,213,880 510 21,988 732,916 30 24,431 11,946,796 540 22,124 Key Record high Record low Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
Notes This table is primarily based on the "MLS Fact and Record Book". See the notes below the previous chart regarding the numbers of the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The format for the MLS Cup Playoffs has changed several times during its history, resulting in inconsistent numbers of matches played. The 2020 playoffs were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which restricted many matches to zero spectators. Only two matches were played in front of spectators, each with a maximum capacity of 1,500 people.
Comparison to other North American leagues The following table compares the regular-season average attendance of MLS with the averages of other major professional sports leagues in North America. All these leagues have season average attendances of at least 15,000 spectators per game.
League Sport Season Teams Games Total attendance Average attendance Average attendance YoY change Ref. 1 National Football League American football 2025 32 265 18,301,572 69,063 - 2 Major League Baseball Baseball 2025 30 2,430 71,409,522 29,387 + 3 Canadian Football League Canadian football 2025 9 81 1,857,411 22,931 + 4 Major League Soccer Soccer 2025 30 510 11,213,880 21,988 - 5 Liga MX Soccer 2025–26 18 306 6,611,808 21,607 + 6 National Basketball Association Basketball 2025–26 30 1,225 22,182,648 18,108 - 7 National Hockey League Ice hockey 2025–26 32 1,312 23,158,578 17,651 +
Comparison to other soccer leagues The following table compares the regular-season average attendance of MLS with the averages of other major soccer leagues in the world. All these leagues have season average attendances of at least 15,000 spectators per game.