More than one million soccer fans filled stadiums across the United States to see summer friendlies featuring many of the biggest teams from around the world, according to new research from World Soccer Talk.
These games frequently draw massive crowds as fans clamor to see players and teams they otherwise might not ever get to see. This summer was no different.
The clubs playing summer friendlies in the US this year were a who’s-who of the biggest teams in the world. Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid came over. Five of England’s “Big Six” made appearances. And one of Italy’s biggest clubs, AC Milan, made the rounds to show off American forward Christian Pulisic.
Here is the list of the top 25 exhibition games played in the US this summer:
| Rank | Stadium | City | Attendance | |
| 1 | Barcelona vs. Real Madrid | MetLife Stadium | East Rutherford, NJ | 82,154 |
| 2 | Liverpool vs. Man United | Williams-Brice Stadium | Columbia, SC | 77,559 |
| 3 | Chelsea vs. Man City | Ohio Stadium | Columbus, OH | 71,280 |
| 4 | Liverpool vs. Arsenal | Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia, PA | 68,789 |
| 5 | Barcelona vs. Man City | Camping World Stadium | Orlando, FL | 63,237 |
| 6 | Real Madrid vs. Chelsea | Bank of America Stadium | Charlotte, NC | 62,617 |
| 7 | Arsenal vs. Man United | SoFi Stadium | Inglewood, CA | 62,486 |
| 8 | Milan vs. Real Madrid | Soldier Field | Chicago, IL | 61,568 |
| 9 | Milan vs. Barcelona | M&T Bank Stadium | Baltimore, MD | 51,337 |
| 10 | Milan vs. Man City | Yankee Stadium | New York, NY | 46,122 |
| 11 | Liverpool vs. Real Betis | Acrisure Stadium | Pittsburgh, PA | 42,679 |
| 12 | Chelsea vs. Club America | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, GA | 38,000 |
| 13 | Celtic vs. Chelsea | Notre Dame Stadium | South Bend, IN | 35,000 |
| 14 | Chelsea vs. Wrexham | Levi’s Stadium | Santa Clara, CA | 32,724 |
| 15 | Celtic vs. Man City | Kenan Memorial Stadium | Chapel Hill, NC | 30,000 |
| 16 | Man United vs. Real Betis | Snapdragon Stadium | San Diego, CA | 26,248 |
| 17 | Club America vs. Aston Villa | Soldier Field | Chicago, IL | 22,225 |
| 18 | MLS All-Stars vs. Liga MX All-Stars | Lower.com Field | Columbus, OH | 20,931 |
| 19 | Columbus vs. Aston Villa | Lower.com Field | Columbus, OH | 20,218 |
| 20 | DC United vs. Celtic | Audi Field | Washington DC | 18,590 |
| 21 | Wrexham vs. Bournemouth | Harder Stadium | Santa Barbara, CA | 13,322 |
| 22 | Arsenal vs. Bournemouth | Dignity Health Sports Park | Carson, CA | 13,000 |
| 23 | Wolves vs. West Ham | EverBank Stadium | Jacksonville, FL | 12,275 |
| 24 | Louisville vs. Frankfurt | Lynn Family Stadium | Louisville, KY | 10,218 |
| 25 | Crystal Palace vs. Wolves | Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium | Annapolis, MD | 7,000 (estimated) |
In addition to the above friendlies, there were several pre-season games played in the United States where the attendance numbers were not disclosed. Also new this summer are a handful of pre-season friendlies featuring high-profile women’s soccer teams from Europe, many of whom are playing later this month across the United States.
Of the 28 summer friendlies played in the US, eleven of them drew over 40,000 people. Just as impressive is that an additional four of the 28 games cracked the 30,000 mark. In the top 25 most-attended games listed above, the average attendance was 39,583.
The same cannot be said for the 2024 edition of the Leagues Cup. MLS may have been successful at cashing in on the Mexican-American fans last year, but it has not been the case this year. Thus far, only two Leagues Cup games have cracked the 40,000 barrier. Those were the San Jose Earthquakes against Chivas Guadalajara at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and then Inter Miami against Tigres at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Notably, neither of MLS’s two best-attended teams have had their Leagues Cup games draw well. Atlanta United had a pair of home games that were, by their lofty standards, poorly attended. So too were the Seattle Sounders’ two home games. They drew 28,000 and 26,000 respectively against Minnesota United and Necaxa.
Typically, preseason friendlies between top European clubs are often played at NFL stadiums due to their large capacities. This year, more than ever, several of the games were played in American college football stadiums. It’s perhaps fitting as college football is perhaps the only American sport that can match the passion and intensity of European club soccer.
For example, Liverpool played Manchester United at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. While not on the campus of the University of South Carolina, it is home to the Gamecocks on Saturdays in the fall.
The battle between Chelsea and Manchester City took place at Ohio Stadium. Commonly known as “The Horseshoe,” Ohio Stadium is the home to the Ohio State Buckeyes and has seen some of the biggest games in college football history.
Nor was that Chelsea’s only game in a college football stadium this summer. They also played Celtic at Notre Dame Stadium. The home of the Fighting Irish was no stranger to hosting summer friendlies. Back in 2019, Liverpool played Dortmund at Notre Dame under the watchful gaze of “Touchdown Jesus.”
Celtic too, played another game in a college football stadium. Their match-up against Manchester City was on the campus of the University of North Carolina. The Tar Heels had also played hosted last year’s game between Chelsea and Wrexham.
With so many successful club friendlies in college football stadiums, could we see US Men’s National Team games in college football stadiums in the future?
Overall, this summer was another successful series of summer friendlies. On the heels of drawing big crowds for Copa America, the American soccer fans delivered again with more great numbers for the club friendlies. With the country now firmly in the middle of the biggest stretch of soccer in American history, many will undoubtedly be hoping that these crowds are a sign of things to come.
Photo: IMAGO / Marca
