Leagues Cup viewership on FS1 falls from last year’s highs
What a difference a year can make. Last summer, Lionel Messi’s debut against Cruz Azul drew 1.75 million viewers on Univision. That was followed by 1.45 million watching Inter Miami win the Leagues Cup final on TUDN. Fast forward to the summer of 2024, and Leagues Cup viewership was a major disappointment. To put that in context, Leagues Cup games average 30,000 viewers on FS1. To put that in context, FOX’s flagship sports network is currently seen in 71 million American homes.
These numbers do not include viewership of the MLS Season Pass and Spanish-language broadcaster Univision. Apple keeps MLS Season Pass numbers strictly confidential and requires MLS employees to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
Previous spectator numbers in the Leagues Cup
Here are FS1’s ratings published online:
| Date | Team | Number of spectators |
| 8/4 | Philadelphia vs Cruz Azul | 72,000 |
| 26.7. | Pumas vs Austin FC | 39,000 |
| 28.7. | Club Leon vs Portland | 36,000 |
| 8/6 | New England vs Nashville | 35,000 |
| 8/7 | LAFC vs Austin FC | 31,000 |
| 8/1 | Toluca vs Chicago Fire | 29,000 |
| 8/9 | Club America vs Atlas | 28,000 |
| 30.7. | Monterrey vs Austin FC | 25,000 |
| 8/4 | Seattle vs Necaxa | 25,000 |
| 28.7. | NYCFC vs Queretaro | 24,000 |
| 27.7. | Chivas vs San Jose | 23,000 |
| 8/8 | Tigres vs Pachuca | 19,000 |
| 8/8 | San Jose vs Necaxa | 14,000 |
| Average: | 30,769 |
However, these numbers are in stark contrast to the Leagues Cup viewing figures in 2023 on the same channel FS1. For example, some of the viewing figures for FS1 in summer 2023 were:
• 173,000 for Club America against St. Louis
• 148,000 for Puebla against Chicago Fire
• 142,000 for Monterrey vs Seattle
• 121,000 for Monterrey vs Portland
• 119,000 for Chicago against Club America
• 101,000 for New England against Queretaro
The FS1 average for the 2023 Leagues Cup was below 150,000.
Reasons for the decline
Lionel Messi’s injury, which forced him to miss the entire Leagues Cup this summer, was a major blow. The Argentine broke through with Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup last year, and his subsequent absences from Inter Miami’s four matches have taken much of the greatness out of the fledgling competition. Regardless, the tournament’s problems are much bigger than any one player.
There is no long-standing rivalry between specific MLS clubs and their Liga MX competitors. There are notable stories in every league. Club America vs. Chivas and LA Galaxy vs. LAFC are two games that would draw spectators. Club Leon vs. the Portland Timbers won’t be enough to get spectators to watch games. Admittedly, such stories take time to develop. Perhaps as the years go by in the Leagues Cup, more MLS clubs will develop relationships with select Liga MX clubs. That might explain why some MLS clubs have been particularly active on social media against Liga MX opponents.
Another reason for the odd viewership numbers could be the timing of the games. While there is no obvious competition for viewers this time of year in the summer as there isn’t much sports on TV, many of these Leagues Cup games on FS1 were during the week. Additionally, fans may have just seen enough soccer for their liking due to the Copa America and Euros.
With the Leagues Cup semifinals just around the corner, both games involving four MLS teams will be available exclusively on the MLS Season Pass. These viewership numbers are also being kept strictly confidential by Apple, so it will be difficult to say what the viewership numbers for the second competition will look like from here on out.
PHOTOS: IMAGO
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