According to statistics from Opta, MLS has released audience figures, attracting millions of viewers throughout the regular season and playoffs.
Since Messi joined MLS, the league has recorded impressive numbers in terms of audience and interest. This season, MLS is even second only to the Premier League – considered the most attractive league on the planet – in terms of viewership.
Specifically, the tournament of the “land of the stars and stripes” attracted 12.1 million people to the stands to watch live at the stadium, and was only behind the Premier League with 2.5 million people. Notably, the tournament of Messi and Inter Miami also surpassed La Liga – ranked top 5.
Even the number of spectators per match also created impressive numbers. Of which, the tournament had 2 matches reaching over 70,000 spectators/match, 8 matches exceeding 60,000/match, 10 matches with over 50,000/match and 31 matches reaching over 40,000 viewers.
These figures help MLS assert its position in the world of football. More specifically, MLS surpasses Bundesliga by about 100,000 spectators and creates a large gap with Serie A (500,000 spectators), La Liga (1.4 million). In particular, MLS’s audience is nearly double that of Liga MX, Mexico’s top professional league, with only 6,972,261 attendees.
Despite this, MLS actually hosts more games (493, including the regular season and MLS Cup) than La Liga (380), La Liga’s average attendance per game is still higher, with 29,000 spectators per game compared to MLS’s 23,000.
With 100 more games than La Liga, MLS’s total audience of 12.1 million is only slightly higher than La Liga’s 10.7 million in the 2023-24 season. But that’s still a positive, impressive statistic for American soccer.
This season, Messi contributed 21 goals and 11 assists, helping Inter Miami win their first MLS Supporters’ Shield title. However, Beckham’s team could not go far in the MLS Cup, when they were eliminated by Atlanta United in the first round of PO3.
