The 2026 MLS TV Thread

It’s incredible! It’s remarkable! It’s almost unbelievable!

FOX Sports’ presentation of @FIFAWorldCup 2026 averaged 7,737,000 viewers - the most-watched FIFA World Cup in U.S. history.

Full Details: https://t.co/JAAl1yjb4h pic.twitter.com/3PjsVRArte

— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) July 21, 2026

 

Now: where to get the 2 MLS games from Friday?

 

Viewership for Friday night's MLS doubleheader on Fox, the first games on the network since the league's return from its World Cup pause:
• Nashville-Atlanta: 587,000 viewers
• Galaxy-LAFC: 504,000 viewers

— Sports TV News & Updates (@TVSportsUpdates) July 22, 2026

Viewership for Friday night's MLS doubleheader on Fox, the first games on the network since the league's return from its World Cup pause:
• Nashville-Atlanta: 587,000 viewers
• Galaxy-LAFC: 504,000 viewers

 

Looks like we didn't get a World Cup bump.

 

You still have people watching on Apple and they aren't counted. So that's pretty good numbers considering MLS was getting those numbers prior to Apple.

 

Yeah, but its basically in the same ballpark as the rest of the season (which already had large increases on Fox) but no new bump.

 

Must be another half million at least.

We need YouTubers who do this for MLS games.

 

I guess casual viewers don’t dislike Lalas as much as hardcore fans.

 

Viewership for Friday night's MLS doubleheader on Fox, the first games on the network since the league's return from its World Cup pause:
• Nashville-Atlanta: 587,000 viewers
• Galaxy-LAFC: 504,000 viewers

— Sports TV News & Updates (@TVSportsUpdates) July 22, 2026

Number is pretty consistent with the season. The late game is impressive since it started after 11PM eastern and the game was never really competitive. The average of over half million and still being on Apple TV makes you think that this could be something that they could sell for the next contract. Friday Night soccer after dark...

 

That's only sellable if its above what Fox would normally have on at that timeslot (or significantly cheaper to produce)

 

They don't have any programming on after 10 on Friday other than local news and paid commercial progams.

 

Problem is its not after 10 on the West coast.

 

Good Point and that time slot broadcast the 1% Club which averages a 1.5 million on average.

 

We’re in our second day of World Cup withdrawal... pic.twitter.com/b3k589QL3p

— PTI (@PTI) July 21, 2026

 

580k doesn’t include Apple TV

580k is already more than the average viewership of the Premier League in the US

3/4 of the MLS Cup audience last year watched on Apple TV. And Apple TV is even more accessible now

2.1m is the record of a Prem match in the US.

You do the math https://t.co/oQ0MgWZLoO

— NSC Stats (@NSC_Stats) July 22, 2026

I'm in my mid-40s and I barely watch TV. I'm genuinely thinking that everyone who's worried about MLS numbers on TV are missing the forest for the trees. Not that many people are really watching TV. The World Cup and the Olympics are huge outliers. 🧵 https://t.co/peB1EcckYE

— JaseOfBase (RealSnarkLake) (@JaseOfBase513) July 22, 2026

 

So just as the Rapids were restarting play the coverage decided to get their Lowe's Best Assist promo in and show us a replay of the best assist in a 0-0 game, so it was the closest a team has gotten to scoring. All while there was an attacking play going on live. SMH.

 

MLS shooting itself in the foot with their production

 

But that ending!

 

Obviously the World Cup casuals found out about the lack of pro/rel, costing MLS a 20 million bump.

 

Read a couple of months prior to the WC that the MLS was getting 7.9 million on average per round.

With 15 games thats a little over 500k per match.

If Fox is getting 500k per match with Apple still to be added and assume Apple is say another 500k then on the surface if you can keep that up you will average 15 million per round.

In perspective the article said Baseball had 20.5 million per round and they have more teams.

Will be interesting to see what your rating finally turn out to be but the article I read indicated anything approaching 20 million per round means a huge broadcast deal awaits

 

Oops that Baseball figure was 29.5 million per round...left off the 9... sorry

 

According to Wikipedia MLB revenue works out at $4.46M a game. MLS revenue $4.17M per game.

 

What does "per round" mean in this context? MLB teams play almost every day for six months. Is that number per game, day with games on it, or week?

 

ESPN has acquired exclusive U.S. English & Spanish-language media rights to 6 international club soccer preseason matches

⚽Liverpool FC, Wrexham AFC, Leeds United &
Sunderland AFC
🗓️July 25-Aug. 2
📍ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes & ESPN Unlimited

Schedule: https://t.co/jn6ySfilay pic.twitter.com/8ZL6mWd0qS

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) July 23, 2026