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Major League Soccer (MLS) is on track to surpass its 2023 record-breaking season in terms of crowd numbers, with 6.5 million fans having already attended in 2024.
This figure represents some 725,000 more than this point last season. The 2024 regular season began in February and is set to run until October.
Five matches so far have featured an attendance of 60,000 or higher, while six matches have welcomed crowds of 50,000 or more. Another 15 matches have welcomed guests of 40,000 and up, with MLS attendances up by 13% compared to the same date in 2023.
Some 25 of 29 clubs have witnessed a higher than average attendance compared to the same date last season.
MLS has attributed the increase in crowd numbers to consistency in scheduling, opting to play games on Saturday nights, as well as growing its season ticket bases across clubs. Additionally, the arrival of Argentina’s Lionel Messi has helped to grow the overall excitement around football in the US and Canada.
The US is also set to host the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, while the country will host the 2026 men’s FIFA World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada, further driving the momentum of the sport.
Earlier this year, Messi and his Inter Miami CF side visited Sporting Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium, which is traditionally home to the National Football League’s (NFL’s) Kansas City Chiefs, welcoming 72,610 fans. This was the fourth-largest standalone crowd in MLS history.
Messi’s star power also prompted 65,612 fans to attend Gillette Stadium for Inter Miami’s match against the New England Revolution. The two figures are club attendance records for Sporting KC and the Revs.
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