MLS shatters all-time stadium attendance records

More than 380,000 fans packed stadiums across North America for the opening weekend of the 2026 season.

 The exact figure of 387,271 spectators sets a historic milestone for the highest attendance ever recorded in a single MLS weekend. This represents a 5% increase over the 2025 opening day and a 17% jump compared to last year's season average.

The marquee matchup between Los Angeles FC and Inter Miami at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was the weekend's biggest draw. A staggering 75,673 fans attended the clash—headlined by the showdown between Son Heung-min and Lionel Messi—marking the second-highest single-game attendance in league history.

 The all-time record is still held by the 2023 "El Tráfico" between LA Galaxy and LAFC, which drew 82,110 fans to the Rose Bowl. Meanwhile, Atlanta United continues its streak as the franchise with the highest average attendance since 2021.