Atlanta United match has more attendees than World Cup

Atlanta United match is highest attended soccer game in the world on Saturday

For one month every four years, the world seemingly comes to a standstill to watch one of the greatest displays of athleticism, skill and passion ever displayed — the World Cup. Regardless of whether or not one’s country is in the tournament, the world tunes in to see which country will reign supreme for the next few years. However, it’s not exactly a priority of many Americans. While the United States masses have surely tuned in to watch, another event is taking over — the MLS. While this may sound like a joke, it’s far from it. On a day which gave soccer fans around the world two of the greatest games of this year’s tournament, an MLS game boasted the highest attendance.

A crowd of 71,932 packed Mercedes-Benz Stadium to watch Atlanta United take on Orlando City SC. Atlanta dominated the match from start to finish, going on to cruise to a 4-0 victory. Although the result is important, the crowd was the biggest takeaway from this Saturday night MLS match. Despite being one of the newest franchises in the MLS, Atlanta has already drawn record crowds. Last season, the franchise broke the league’s attendance record. They’re showing no signs of slowing down either. Seeing an MLS game have more fans in attendance than a World Cup game is somewhat surreal.

Next: The best under-20 player on every MLS team

Say what you will about soccer in America, there is no longer denying it’s a growing sport. Despite the United States missing the 2018 World Cup, the game is growing on many. Whether it’s the extended coverage of domestic leagues, the growing popularity of the MLS or the fact North America landed the 2026 World Cup, the beautiful game is picking up steam in America.