Major League Soccer has reached another major landmark after surpassing 11 million fans during the regular season, breaking its previous attendance record with 16 matches still left to play.
The league has now gone beyond last season’s record of 10,900,804 fans, underlining the continued growth of football in the United States.
MLS announced the milestone on Monday and credited several factors for the rise, including the arrival of global stars such as Lionel Messi at Inter Miami and the introduction of more creative, fan-friendly ticket packages.
The league is currently averaging 23,240 fans per game, with Messi’s presence playing a major role in drawing huge crowds across the country. One of the biggest attendances came on April 13, when 72,610 fans watched Messi and Inter Miami face Sporting Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium.
Another major crowd was recorded on July 4, when 70,076 fans attended the El Tráfico clash between Los Angeles FC and LA Galaxy at the Rose Bowl. Inter Miami also helped New England Revolution set a Gillette Stadium attendance record, with 65,612 fans turning up for their match on April 27.
Messi’s influence has also been felt on the pitch. The Argentine inspired Inter Miami to a derby comeback with a brace, further strengthening his impact on the league as MLS continues to enjoy one of the most successful periods in its history.
While Messi’s arrival has boosted interest in American football, not every European star is ready to make the move. Antoine Griezmann has reportedly rejected an MLS switch for now, choosing instead to remain focused on Atlético Madrid’s current campaign.
Despite that, MLS continues to grow in popularity, and the latest attendance milestone shows how much the league has benefited from star power, improved fan engagement, and the rising appeal of football across the United States.
