Atlanta United attendance ranked Top 10 in world, MLS is 8th among leagues

Mercedes-Benz Stadium - full stadium tifo - Atlanta United

Attendance for Major League Soccer matches ranks among the best in global soccer, both from a league-wide and club-specific view, according to a study conducted by The CIES Football Observatory


Comparing attendances between 2003-2008 and 2013-2018, MLS has seen the second-largest growth rate among global leagues at a 34 percent increase (from 15,920 to 21,358), behind only the Polish first division (47 percent from 6,114 to 8,959).


MLS's average attendance of 21,358 from 2013-2018 ranks 8th in the world, slightly trailing France's top division (21,556) and Italy's Serie A (22,967). 

Atlanta, Seattle rank high among clubs


On the club level, a pair of MLS sides rub elbows with the world's elite. 


Atlanta United, which debuted as an expansion club in 2017, placed 10th in average attendance at 51,547 for the period between 2013 and 2018.


Borussia Dortmund tops the club chart at 80,000, with global powers like Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid also in the top 10. ATLUTD rank ahead of Manchester City, Newcastle United, Liverpool, Benfica and Atletico Madrid among others. 

The Seattle Sounders (42,797) are also featured on that list, coming in at 29th across the globe, ahead of the likes of Club America, AC Milan, Chelsea and others.