The 2018 MLS All-Star Game drew a combined 947,000 viewers across ESPN and UniMás, a drop of more than 50% when compared to the 2017 All-Star Game against Real Madrid. The Spanish-language broadcast saw a 67% decrease in viewership with only 495,000 watching the match on UniMás this year. ESPN saw a slight 8% increase over FS1’s coverage last season, contributing 452,000 viewers to the total.
Atlanta United and Toronto FC played to a 2-2 draw Saturday afternoon with 207,000 people tuning in to watch the match on ESPN. It was the first time that a Canadian club has been featured on an ESPN broadcast in 2018. MLS matches on ESPN are averaging 267,833 so far this season. ESPN currently has 10 more MLS Regular Season broadcasts scheduled for the 2018 season.
The 2018 edition of the Tournament of Nations has concluded with the United States winning its first title. The tournament saw a significant drop in viewership this year with all of the USWNT’s matches moving from ESPN’s networks to FS1. This year’s tournament averaged just 304,667 viewers, down 45% from 551,667 in 2017.
Here are the most-watched soccer games on US TV for July 30-August 5, 2018:
| Rank | Date | Competition | Teams | TV1 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8/1 | MLS All Star Game | MLS / Juventus | ESPN: 452000 / UniMás: 495000 | 947,000 |
| 2 | 8/4 | Liga MX | Cruz Azul / Tigres | Univision: 718000 | 718,000 |
| 3 | 8/4 | Liga MX | Pachuca / América | Univision: 691000 | 691,000 |
| 4 | 8/5 | Liga MX | Toluca / Chivas | Univision: 591000 | 591,000 |
| 5 | 8/3 | Liga MX | Atlas / Pumas | UniMás: 390000 | 390,000 |
| 6 | 8/5 | Liga MX | Tijuana / León | FS1: 103000 / FOXD: 246000 | 349,000 |
| 7 | 8/2 | Tournament of Nations | USWNT / Brazil | FS1: 332000 | 332,000 |
| 8 | 8/5 | Liga MX | Santos / Puebla | UDN: 316000 | 316,000 |
| 9 | 7/31 | Int’l Champions Cup | Barcelona / Roma | ESPN: 250000 | 250,000 |
| 10 | 8/4 | Liga MX | Necaxa / Lobos | UDN: 217000 | 217,000 |
| 11 | 8/4 | MLS | Atlanta United / Toronto FC | ESPN: 207000 | 207,000 |
| 12 | 8/4 | Int’l Champions Cup | Real Madrid / Juventus | ESPN2: 151000 | 151,000 |
| 13 | 8/1 | Int’l Champions Cup | Chelsea / Arsenal | ESPN2: 146000 | 146,000 |
| 14 | 8/3 | Liga MX | Veracruz / Morelia | UDN: 143000 | 143,000 |
| 15 | 8/4 | Liga MX | Monterrey / Querétaro | FOXD: 135000 | 135,000 |
| 16 | 8/4 | Int’l Champions Cup | Inter / Olympique Lyon | ESPN: 134000 | 134,000 |
| 17 | 7/31 | Int’l Champions Cup | Man Utd / Real Madrid | ESPN2: 125000 | 125,000 |
| 18 | 8/2 | CONCACAF League | Herediano / Santa Tecla | UDN: 51000 | 51,000 |
| 19 | 8/2 | CONCACAF League | Tauro / Real España | UDN: 50000 | 50,000 |
| 20 | 7/31 | MLS Homegrown Game | MLS / Tigres U20 | UDN: 46000 | 46,000 |
| 21 | 7/30 | UEFA U19 Championship (W) | Germany (W) / Spain (W) | UDN: 17000 | 17,000 |
