Most-watched MLS Cup Finals of all-time on US TV

Photo credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Given the impressive viewing number for the 2018 MLS Cup Final, how does it compare to previous MLS Cup Finals that have aired in English-language on US television?

With the over-the-air FOX network being available in approximately 115 million homes in the United States, Major League Soccer’s decision to televise games on that channel in 2016 and 2018 is paying dividends as can be evidenced below. The network is in far more homes than ESPN (87 million homes).

The viewing number for the 2018 MLS Cup Final does mask what has been largely been a disappointing year for the league’s TV ratings. For the 2018 regular season, viewing numbers were down on both ESPN and FS1. While the viewing numbers were up for the over-the-air FOX network, it was only because they aired the games immediately after World Cup matches when TV sets were left on. On the Spanish-language side, ratings were way up on Univision Deportes, which helped boost the overall numbers.

Here are the most-watched MLS Cup Finals of all-time on US TV:

	NETWORK	VIEWERSHIP	YEAR
1	ABC	2,200,000	1997
2	FOX	1,563,000	2018
3	FOX	1,411,000	2016
4	ABC	1,330,000	1996
5	ABC	1,245,000	2006
6	ABC	1,169,000	2002
7	ESPN	1,141,000	2009
8	ABC	1,137,000	2005
9	ABC	1,097,000	2007
10	ABC	1,031,000	2001
11	ESPN	964,000	2014
12	ABC	907,000	2008
13	ABC	876,000	2003
14	ABC	840,000	2004
15	ESPN	803,000	2017
16	ESPN	797,000	2012
17	ESPN	748,000	2010
18	ESPN	668,000	2015
19	ESPN	505,000	2013
20	ABC	N/A	2000
21	ABC	N/A	1999
22	ABC	N/A	1998