Friday, October 23, 2026

2022 MLS Cup Draws Near-Record Viewership

  • Saturday’s championship match averages 2.155M viewers.
  • That’s up 38% from last year.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

Major League Soccer drew its biggest audience in 25 years for the 2022 MLS Cup.

LAFC’s win over the Philadelphia Union Saturday generated 2.155 million average viewers across Fox Sports and Univision in the U.S., according to sources.

The championship match’s combined viewership (English and Spanish) was up 38% from last season — the second-best number since the league was formed in 1996 and trailing only the D.C. United vs. Colorado Rapids match in 1997.

Only the UEFA Champions League Final on May 28 drew more viewers on English language TV among club soccer matches this season. 

  • The match ranked fifth all-time in English language viewership.
  • Univision delivered the second-highest Spanish language viewership ever. 
  • On linear TV, Fox posted its second-most-watched MLS Cup in its history.
  • The telecast was the most-viewed Union match of all time in the Philadelphia TV market, and in the Los Angeles market, it ranked as the second most-watched LAFC match.

The numbers didn’t stop there: MLSsoccer.com posted its highest traffic since 2017, and the hashtag #MLSCUP peaked at No. 1 on Twitter Worldwide and No. 1 in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.

This all builds on MLS’ best regular season to date: The league drew record attendance numbers (over 10M) and Disney networks saw the highest average viewership (356,000) for people aged 2 and up.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

FIFA’s World Cup Rights Shake-Up Could Favor NBC Over Fox

It’s bad news for Fox and great news for Telemundo’s parent, NBC.

College Football’s Emerging Powers Are Shaking Up TV Ratings

BYU–Notre Dame averaged 9.2 million viewers on ABC.

FIFA to Reconsider Peace Prize After Trump Received Inaugural Award

FIFA’s Football Social Responsibility Committee will assess the prize’s future.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/22/26 – Rays-Brewers Can’t Stop Lockout, $771 to Watch NBA, Jaguars Fans’ Afterlife

0:00

Featured Today

Football - NFL - Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - October 18, 2026 The necklace of a Jacksonville Jaguars fan outside the stadium before the match

Die-Hard Sports Fandom Has Reached the Afterlife

Will fans pay $6,000 to memorialize their team loyalty?
October 20, 2026

Why Europe Is Pumping Out NBA Superstars

The NBA and NCAA have an increasingly European flavor.
October 15, 2026

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.
Oct 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas arrives at the arena before the Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena
October 12, 2026

NHL’s New Wave of GMs Is Built Different

“I am in the prediction business,” Devils GM Sunny Mehta tells FOS.
Action Images/Peter Cziborra
October 9, 2026

Is Leicester City’s $264 Million Price Tag Too Rich for Hungry Investors?

After falling from grace, how much is a former top club worth?
Zach Lowe Sean Fennessey The Ringer

Substack CEO: No Deal With The Ringer, Even as Talent Flocks to Platform

Zach Lowe is the latest Ringer talent to launch a Substack newsletter.
NBC Sports Logo
October 22, 2026

Comcast-NBCUniversal Split Comes With $1B Cost, Layoffs

The NBC Sports parent company will take on a hefty restructuring charge.
Troy Aikman
October 22, 2026

Examining Troy Aikman’s Options After J.J. Watt-CBS Deal 

Aikman has yet to receive a formal offer to return to ESPN.
Sponsored

Blake Griffin’s Plan for Media Domination

The former NBA star is building a second act across media & entertainment.
Aug 3, 2024; Canton, OH, USA; Houston Texans former defensive end J.J. Watt in attendance at the Class of 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
October 22, 2026

NFL TV’s Analyst Market Tightens as CBS Extends JJ Watt

Watt is officially Tony Romo’s full-time replacement at CBS.
Oct 15, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; MLB on Fox broadcasters Kevin Burkhardt, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz and Derek Jeter during game four of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium.
October 22, 2026

Fox, MLB Look to Counter Lower World Series Expectations

MLB is riding a wave of postseason audience expansion.
October 21, 2026

NFL Claims ‘No Concern’ About Aikman’s Issues With Buck, ESPN

Aikman’s contract expires after the Super Bowl.
Los Angeles, CA - October 27, 2025 - Dodger Stadium: Jeff Passan during game three of the 2025 World Series.
October 21, 2026

Jeff Passan: Brewers-Rays World Series Won’t Head Off MLB Lockout

Passan also addressed the backlash he received to comments about the Dodgers.