Friday, November 13, 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

A’s Owner John Fisher Exits MLS With $625M Earthquakes Deal

The A’s owner put the Earthquakes up for sale in June 2025.

How Spirit’s Stadium Ended Up in a Scheduling Scramble

Audi Field hosts an NWSL semifinal and college football game Saturday.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Brentford - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 10, 2026 Aston Villa's Boubacar Kamara applauds fans after the match

English Soccer Still Inundated by Gambling Ads Despite Jersey Ban

The ban on front-of-shirt gambling ads looks strict, but it’s largely cosmetic.

Man United Poaches Pochettino From U.S. Soccer for $10M

Pochettino will try to save Man United from relegation.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

11/13/26 – NFL Ratings Records, Softball Players Unionize, Skubal Deal Looms

0:00

Featured Today

West Wind Mahjong

Mahjong Mania Has Come for College Sports

Bespoke retailers are cashing in with officially licensed mahjong sets.
November 6, 2026

Can MLS Capitalize on Son-Mania?

Korea and Tottenham fans alike have flocked to LAFC’s away matches.
Pickering High School North
November 4, 2026

High School Athletic Directors Say They’re Running ‘Mini Colleges’

ADs are managing a growing list of demands from athletes and parents.
October 30, 2026

How Injuries Hit Pro Marathoners in the Wallet

Staying healthy can get expensive—quickly.
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
October 21, 2026

Die-Hard Sports Fandom Has Reached the Afterlife

Will fans pay $6,000 to memorialize their team loyalty?
Exclusive

Dianna Russini Will Seek Credential for Super Bowl Radio Row

Some NFL teams cite her association with BetUS as an issue.
Exclusive
November 12, 2026

NBA Doubles Down on Kenny Beecham, Enjoy Basketball

Enjoy Basketball previously had a three-episode pilot deal with the league.
Formula One F1 - United States Grand Prix - Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, U.S. - October 25, 2026 Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in action during the race
November 13, 2026

FIA Bans F1 Journalist for Calling Driver a ‘Sneaky Little Bastard’

The journalist said he will be reinstated next year.
Sponsored

How Jeremy Bloom Is Reinventing the X Games

Jeremy Bloom discusses transforming the X Games into a global brand.
November 12, 2026

NFL Viewership Climbs As ESPN, Amazon Deliver Double-Digit Gains

ESPN and Amazon have generated significant audience increases.
November 11, 2026

Mike Tomlin Knows Coaching Talk Is ‘Going to Come Up’ Soon

The ex-Steelers coach is “enjoying” his NBC Sports role.
Dianna Russini BetUS
November 11, 2026

Russini’s Return Hits 45-Minute Delay, Sidesteps Vrabel Scandal

Russini did joke about memes that have been made about her.
Nov 8, 2026; Madrid, ESP; A general overall view of the 2026 NFL Madrid Game at an empty Bernabeu Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
November 11, 2026

NFL Network’s Europe Games Average a Record 6.9M in First ESPN Season

NFL Network games this season also stream on the ESPN app.