The MLS+ 2026 Attendance Thread

Discussion in 'MLS: News & Analysis' started by Paul Berry, Feb 5, 2026.

  1. wantmlsphilly

    wantmlsphilly Member+

    Aug 2, 2006
    Philadelphia, Pa.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #476 wantmlsphilly, Jun 17, 2026
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2026
    Key Attendance Highlights
    • Single-Day Record: A single-day record of 281,223 fans attended games on June 16, shattering the previous single-day mark of 277,070 set on June 28, 1994.
    • Historical Pace: The expanded 48-team, 104-match format is averaging a fill rate near 99% for primary matches, projecting an estimated total attendance record that could reach up to 6.5 million by the conclusion of the tournament.
    • Cumulative Tracking: Cumulative attendance crossed the one-million mark in just five days, solidifying the immense demand across the North American host cities.
    • With a conservative $150 per ticket, this would produce almost a billion dollars just in ticket revenue if the trend continues.
     
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  2. AZUL GALAXY

    AZUL GALAXY Member+

    Aug 28, 2009
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CDSC Cruz Azul
    2026 FIFA WORLD CUP
    6/17/2026

    68,777 @ Houston
    70,389 @ Dallas
    42,942 @ Toronto
    80,824 @ Mexico City
     
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  3. AZUL GALAXY

    AZUL GALAXY Member+

    Aug 28, 2009
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CDSC Cruz Azul
    2026 FIFA WORLD CUP
    TOTAL ATTENDANCE

    So far after 24 matches
    all teams played their first game

    TOTAL = 1,572,584
    Average = 65,524
     
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  4. crookeddy

    crookeddy Member+

    Apr 27, 2004
    I wish they had $150 tickets!
     
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  5. SabreKhan

    SabreKhan Member+

    AFC Mobile
    Jun 25, 2007
    United States
    Club:
    Atlanta
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Bro, if you find $150 tickets, hook me up. I need 6 of them together. Given the cost of hospitality tickets, I would bet the average cost is something like $400+.
     
  6. AZUL GALAXY

    AZUL GALAXY Member+

    Aug 28, 2009
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CDSC Cruz Azul
    In 1994 fifa World Cup attendance was
    3,587,538 total 52 matches, average 68,991

    right now on resell average tickets prices are over $1,000

    do anyone know what were the average prices in 1994 and convert it in today’s money?
     
  7. wantmlsphilly

    wantmlsphilly Member+

    Aug 2, 2006
    Philadelphia, Pa.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Bro, when I'm stating that it's a conservative estimate, I need you to use a little thought and realize I'm not talking actual numbers but just spit balling numbers.:thumbsup:
     
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  8. wantmlsphilly

    wantmlsphilly Member+

    Aug 2, 2006
    Philadelphia, Pa.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    So, just to be clear when it comes to FIFA, they are a non-profit (supposedly) that takes revenue and reinvest it to grow the game. With a 99% capacity rate so far, it's hard to argue they don't know what they are doing.
     
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  9. blacktide

    blacktide Member

    Feb 25, 1999
    With the massive revenue that FIFA must be generating from this WC, their ability to reinvest in the game is going to be incredible. New fields, millions of $$ of scholarships for young players, investment in referee and coaches training, improved conditions for the WWC (no more turf games), and I am sure so much more.

    Oh yeah, that's right, FIFA sucks. Never mind.
     
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  10. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Gianni, Victor, et al are going to be getting some FAT bonuses at the company Holiday Party in December!
     
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  11. wantmlsphilly

    wantmlsphilly Member+

    Aug 2, 2006
    Philadelphia, Pa.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
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  12. AZUL GALAXY

    AZUL GALAXY Member+

    Aug 28, 2009
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CDSC Cruz Azul
    2026 FIFA World Cup
    6/18/2026

    67,442 @ Atlanta
    70,026 @ Los Angeles
    52,497 @ Vancouver
    45,522 @ Guadalajara
     
  13. carnifex2005

    carnifex2005 Member+

    Jul 1, 2008
    Club:
    Vancouver Whitecaps
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  14. RafaLarios

    RafaLarios Member+

    Oct 2, 2009
    Medellín
    Club:
    Atletico Nacional
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    This one surprised me. A local team in the world cup shouldn't fail to sold out their games. I saw empty seats. Those would be very expensive ones or the resale market very weird.
     
  15. crookeddy

    crookeddy Member+

    Apr 27, 2004
    Best atmosphere in the tournament too. People wanted to come, I'm sure. Just couldn't afford these prices.
     
  16. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #491 Paul Berry, Jun 19, 2026
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2026
    Guadalajara Stadium
    Address: Circuito J.V.C. 2800, El Bajío, 45014 Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico
    Stadium capacity: 45,664 (please note that the net capacity may change due to ongoing stadium configuration)

    Quite possible that there are some FIFA or sponsor seats that weren't occupied. There were some available for US$3,500 according to UK media.

    The attendances throughout do consistently seem to be about 100 or so under capacity, but it will be the second highest average attendance of all time.


    By the way, the last time South Korea played in a World Cup game in Mexico, against Italy in 1986 in Puebla, the stadium was less than half full. How times and expectations have changed.

    gettyimages-79033208-594x594.jpg
     
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  17. crookeddy

    crookeddy Member+

    Apr 27, 2004
    Interestingly I think the world cup truly exploded as an "every match is a must see" event in 1994.
     
  18. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It was the first World Cup where we didn't see vast swathes of concrete at some point.

    English supporters will swear blind that the 1966 World Cup was sold out but France v Mexico at Wembley Stadium, for instance was 30,000 below capacity. Portugal v Hungary featuring Eusebio at Old Trafford only attracted 29,886.
     
  19. sportie1

    sportie1 Member+

    Sep 4, 2008
    if you were in the BC Place Stadium- Canada vs Qatar- was a tremendous atmosphere before, during and after the game- its becoming more than a Vancouver scene- its Canada fever for the Mens National team- watch out next Wednesday vs Switzerland- lots of people wont be going to work for the noon start- Canada wins the group and rocket ship ignition in the my nation like never seen before, especially because they play at BC Place Stadium
     
  20. Jeremy Goodwin

    Jeremy Goodwin Member+

    SSC Napoli
    Feb 16, 1999
    Club:
    Montreal Impact
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    They have a fantastic amount of deferred revenue in there (look at the increase under non current liabilities on the balance sheet, presumably that has more than a little to do with the timing of the world cup and TV rights deal payments). Meanwhile they drew down their reserves (cash set aside for their "ongoing mission," conveniently comingled with deferred compensation arrangements.)

    It's almost like the vast majority of what they do in an average year isn't well disclosed by the financial statements they present.
     
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  21. AZUL GALAXY

    AZUL GALAXY Member+

    Aug 28, 2009
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CDSC Cruz Azul
    6/19/2026

    66,925 @ Seattle
    64,146 @ Boston
    68,324 @ Philadelphia
    68,827 @ San Francisco
     
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  22. wantmlsphilly

    wantmlsphilly Member+

    Aug 2, 2006
    Philadelphia, Pa.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    As of June 20, the cumulative total attendance for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is 2,076,293 spectators across the first 32 matches, representing a per-game average of 64,884 fans.
     
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  23. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Lol if you see any English fans complaining about empty seats you can always remind them of 29,886 to watch Eusebio's Portugal take on Hungary at Old Trafford or 13,792 to watch South Korea take on Chile at Ayresome Park in the 1966 World Cup.​
     
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  24. Roger Allaway

    Roger Allaway Member+

    Apr 22, 2009
    Warminster, Pa.
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    In the first few days of the World Cup, we were seeing a lot of empty seats in the most expensive sections right at the midfield stripe, but for the last week or so, I haven't noticed those. Is there a reason for that? I haven't been paying attention to FIFA's ticket manipulations.
     
  25. crookeddy

    crookeddy Member+

    Apr 27, 2004
    The vibes have been so good that secondary FOMO has kicked in and now people are paying double price for the already insane tickets.
     

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