Record attendances in United States club soccer


Competitive men's professional soccer has been played in the United States since 1912 and since 2001 for women's. Numerous leagues have existed over the years with some recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and some not. The lists below are the single game attendance records for men's outdoor, men's indoor, and women's outdoor matches in American club soccer.

Men's soccer

MLS attendance

This list includes matches in which at least one Major League Soccer team has participated. This list does not include several matches played in the U.S. between two clubs not based in the United States.
#YearAttendanceTeamsCompetitionVenue & Location
1201593,226Barcelona at LA Galaxy2015 ICCRose Bowl, Pasadena, California
2200993,137Barcelona at LA GalaxyFriendlyRose Bowl, Pasadena, California
3201089,134Real Madrid at LA GalaxyFriendlyRose Bowl, Pasadena, California
4201486,432Manchester United at LA GalaxyFriendlyRose Bowl, Pasadena, California
5201873,019Portland Timbers at Atlanta UnitedMLS Cup 2018Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
6201972,548LA Galaxy at Atlanta UnitedMLSMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
7201872,317Juventus at MLS All-StarsAll-Star GameMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
8201872,243Seattle Sounders at Atlanta UnitedMLSMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
9201872,035D.C. United at Atlanta UnitedMLSMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
10201872,017Real Salt Lake at Atlanta UnitedMLSMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
11201871,932Orlando City at Atlanta UnitedMLSMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
12201771,874Toronto FC at Atlanta UnitedMLSMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
13201871,812Chicago Fire at Atlanta UnitedMLSMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
14201070,728Manchester United at MLS All-StarsAll-Star GameReliant Stadium, Houston
15201870,526New York City FC at Atlanta UnitedMLS PlayoffsMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
16201770,425Orlando City at Atlanta UnitedMLSMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
17201970,328FC Cincinnati at Atlanta UnitedMLSMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
18201870,016New York Red Bulls at Atlanta UnitedMLS PlayoffsMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
19202069,301FC Cincinnati at Atlanta UnitedMLSMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
20201969,274Toronto FC at Seattle SoundersMLS Cup 2019CenturyLink Field, Seattle

International doubleheaders

The following are MLS league matches that were part of a double-header involving international teams.
#YearAttendanceTeamsCompetitionVenue & location
1200692,516New England Revolution at Chivas USAMLSLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles
2199692,216Tampa Bay Mutiny at LA GalaxyMLSRose Bowl, Pasadena, California
3200588,816LA Galaxy at Chivas USAMLSLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles
4199678,416MLS East vs. MLS WestMLS All-Star GameGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
5199973,123D.C. United at San Jose ClashMLSStanford Stadium, Stanford, California
6200670,550LA Galaxy at Houston DynamoMLSReliant Stadium, Houston
7200961,572Columbus Crew at San Jose EarthquakesMLSCandlestick Park, San Francisco

NASL attendance

This list includes matches in which at least one team from the North American Soccer League has participated.
#YearAttendanceTeamsCompetitionVenue & Location
1197777,691Ft. Lauderdale Strikers at CosmosNASL playoffsGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
2197976,031Tulsa Roughnecks at New York CosmosNASL playoffsGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
3197775,646Santos FC at Cosmos 'friendlyGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
4197874,901Cosmos vs. Tampa Bay RowdiesNASL Soccer BowlGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
5197773,669Rochester Lancers at CosmosNASL playoffsGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
6197972,342Ft. Lauderdale Strikers at New York CosmosNASLGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
7198071,413NASL Select at New York CosmosfriendlyGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
8197871,219Seattle Sounders at CosmosNASLGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
9198070,312Ft. Lauderdale Strikers at New York CosmosNASLGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
10197970,134Argentina at New York Cosmos 'friendlyGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
11197970,042Tampa Bay Rowdies at New York Cosmos NASLGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
12197865,287Portland Timbers at CosmosNASL playoffsGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
13197862,497New England Tea Men at CosmosNASLGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
14197762,394Tampa Bay Rowdies at CosmosNASLGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
15198060,384Vancouver Whitecaps at New York CosmosTrans-Atlantic ChallengeGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
16197860,199Minnesota Kicks at CosmosNASL playoffsGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
17198060,182Seattle Sounders at New York CosmosNASLGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
18197860,032Tampa Bay Rowdies at CosmosNASLGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
*Cosmos dropped "New York" from name in 1977 and 1978 seasons

Indoor soccer

This list refers to indoor soccer matches, not to regulation soccer matches played in indoor stadiums.
Nearly all of the most attended indoor matches occurred during the 1980s in the Major Indoor Soccer League. The majority of these were hosted by the St. Louis Steamers during the early 1980s, or by the Cleveland Force during the mid 1980s.
#YearAttendanceTeamsCompetitionVenue & Location
1198721,728Dallas Sidekicks at Tacoma StarsMISL ChampionshipTacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington
2198720,284Dallas Sidekicks at Tacoma StarsMISL ChampionshipTacoma Dome, Tacoma, Washington
3198620,174Minnesota Strikers at Cleveland ForceMISLRichfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio
4198619,476San Diego Sockers at St. Louis SteamersMISL playoffsSt. Louis Arena, St. Louis, Missouri
5198619,468Baltimore Blast at Cleveland ForceMISLRichfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio
6198219,398Tampa Bay Rowdies at Chicago StingNASLChicago Stadium, Chicago
7198419,360New York Arrows at Cleveland ForceMISLRichfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio
8198119,298Denver Avalanche at St. Louis SteamersMISLCheckerdome, St. Louis, Missouri
9198019,229Philadelphia Fever at St. Louis SteamersMISLCheckerdome, St. Louis, Missouri
10198119,112Philadelphia Fever at St. Louis SteamersMISLCheckerdome, St. Louis, Missouri
11198019,108Detroit Lightning at St. Louis SteamersMISLCheckerdome, St. Louis, Missouri
12198319,106Chicago Sting at Cleveland ForceMISL playoffsRichfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio
13198419,048Pittsburgh Spirit at Cleveland ForceMISLRichfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio
14198318,881Wichita Wings at St. Louis SteamersMISLCheckerdome, St. Louis, Missouri
15198618,797Minnesota Strikers at Cleveland ForceMISL playoffsRichfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio
16198718,674San Diego Sockers at Cleveland ForceMISLRichfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio
17198418,630Pittsburgh Spirit at Cleveland ForceMISL playoffsRichfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio
18198418,627Baltimore Blast at Cleveland ForceMISLRichfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio

Women's soccer

WUSA, WPS, NWSL attendance

These lists include the top-attended league matches from WUSA, WPS, and NWSL, split into standalone matches and matches that were doubleheaders with MLS teams.

Standalone matches

The Washington Freedom of WUSA hold the overall attendance record. Portland Thorns FC held the top six NWSL attendance records until the debut home game of the Orlando Pride in 2016, which set the new NWSL record; that record was eclipsed by the Thorns in 2019. The Thorns consistently draw over 14,000 fans and averaged slightly over 20,000 in their most recent 2019 season; until that season they were the only NWSL team to have drawn over 10,000 fans more than thrice – continued strong numbers from Utah Royals FC and a club-record post-World Cup standalone match from the Chicago Red Stars pushed both clubs to their fourth 10,000-plus attendances.
#YearAttendanceTeamsCompetitionVenue & Location
1200134,148Bay Area CyberRays at Washington Freedom 'WUSARFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
2201925,218North Carolina Courage at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
3201924,521Washington Spirit at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
4201623,403Houston Dash at Orlando Pride 'NWSLCitrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida
5201922,329Houston Dash at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
6201521,144Seattle Reign FC at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
6201521,144Washington Spirit at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
6201621,144Western New York Flash at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
6201721,144Chicago Red Stars at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
6201821,144Seattle Reign FC at Portland Thorns FCNWSL playoffsProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
6201821,144North Carolina Courage at Portland Thorns FCNWSL playoffsProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
12200121,078Bay Area CyberRays at Atlanta BeatWUSA finalFoxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
13201920,895Washington Spirit at Portland ThornsNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
14200120,170New York Power at Atlanta BeatWUSABobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta
15201620,086Western New York Flash at Portland Thorns FCNWSL playoffsProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
16201719,672Houston Dash at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
17201919,471Orlando Pride at Washington SpiritNWSLAudi Field, Washington, D.C.
18201919,461Chicago Red Stars at Portland ThornsNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
19201819,302Chicago Red Stars at Utah Royals FC NWSLRio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
20201619,231Seattle Reign FC at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
21201719,141Washington Spirit at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
22200119,133Washington Freedom at Atlanta BeatWUSABobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta
23201419,123Houston Dash at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
24201919,116Reign FC at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
25201919,070Reign FC at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
26201918,909Orlando Pride at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
27200118,887Washington Freedom at Atlanta BeatWUSABobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta
28201718,637Boston Breakers at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
29201818,631Chicago Red Stars at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
30201718,478Washington Spirit at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
31201718,243Houston Dash at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
32201818,231Sky Blue FC at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
33201718,193Houston Dash at Portland Thorns FCNWSL playoffsProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
34201618,114Seattle Reign FC at Portland Thorns FCNWSLProvidence Park, Portland, Oregon
35201918,015Washington Spirit at Utah Royals FCNWSLRio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah

MLS doubleheaders

Doubleheaders make up the majority of attendance records above 12,000 fans when discounting the Portland Thorns.
WUSA attendances:
WUSA doubleheader listing:
#YearAttendanceTeamsCompetitionVenue & Location
1200130,271Carolina Courage at Washington FreedomWUSARFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
2200224,240San Diego Spirit at Washington FreedomWUSARFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
3200321,892New York Power at Washington FreedomWUSARFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
4200321,859Carolina Courage at Washington FreedomWUSARFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
5200121,682Boston Breakers at Washington FreedomWUSARFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
6200221,539Washington Freedom at Boston BreakersWUSACMGI Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
7200220,105Carolina Courage at Washington FreedomWUSARFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
8200317,032Washington Freedom at San Jose CyberRaysWUSASpartan Stadium, San Jose, California
9200916,098Sky Blue FC at Washington FreedomWPSRFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
10201516,017Boston Breakers at Chicago Red StarsNWSLToyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois
11201415,743Western New York Flash at Chicago Red StarsNWSLToyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois
12200313,772San Diego Spirit at Boston BreakersWUSACMGI Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
13201813,678Portland Thorns at Chicago Red StarsNWSLToyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois
14201912,967Portland Thorns at Chicago Red StarsNWSLToyota Park, Bridgeview, Illinois

Foreign clubs attendance

The following table shows record attendances for club soccer matches played in the U.S. where neither team was from a U.S. based league.
YearAttendanceTeamsCompetitionVenue & LocationRef
2014109,318Manchester United vs. Real Madrid2014 ICCMichigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
2016105,826Chelsea vs. Real Madrid2016 ICCMichigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
2018101,254Liverpool vs. Manchester United2018 ICCMichigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
201793,098Manchester City vs. Real Madrid2017 ICCLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
201686,641Real Madrid vs. Paris Saint-Germain2016 ICCOhio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
201181,807Manchester United vs. Barcelona2011 WFCFedExField, Landover, Maryland
200981,807Chelsea vs. Internazionale2009 WFCRose Bowl, Pasadena, California
201578,914Chelsea vs. Barcelona2015 ICCFedExField, Landover, Maryland
200971,203Chelsea vs. Milan2009 WFCM&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore
201170,780Guadalajara vs Barcelona2011 WFCSun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
201469,364Milan vs Liverpool2014 ICCBank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
201568,416Barcelona vs. Manchester United2015 ICCLevi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California
201367,273Real Madrid vs. Chelsea2013 ICCSun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
201462,583Real Madrid vs. Internazionale2014 ICCCalifornia Memorial Stadium, Berkeley, California
201561,351Manchester United vs. Paris Saint-Germain2015 ICCSoldier Field, Chicago
201461,238Manchester United vs. Internazionale2014 ICCFedExField, Landover, Maryland
201561,224Paris Saint-Germain vs. Chelsea2015 ICCBank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
198060,384Manchester City vs. Roma1980 TACCGiants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
201960,143Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid2019 ICCNRG Stadium, Houston
201160,087Barcelona vs. América2011 WFCCowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
201960,043Napoli vs. Barcelona2019 La Liga-Serie A CupMichigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan