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MLS attendance record: List of top crowds in league history with Lionel Messi close to El Trafico mark
TL;DR
The July 4th El Trafico match set a new MLS attendance record with 82,110 fans at the Rose Bowl. This surpassed Charlotte FC's previous record of 74,479 from 2022.
Key points
- El Trafico match set MLS attendance record with 82,110 fans
- LA Galaxy defeated LAFC in the record-setting match
- Previous record was held by Charlotte FC with 74,479 fans
- Match took place at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California
- LA Galaxy returned to the Rose Bowl after over 20 years
Mentioned in this story
Rose Bowl
LA GalaxyLAFCCharlotte FCMLS
MLS attendance record: List of top crowds in league history with Lionel Messi close to El Trafico mark originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A special July 4th edition of El Trafico, the affectionate name for the fierce Los Angeles derby rivalry, holds the all-time mark for the highest attendance for a standalone match in MLS history.
The 2023 Independence Day event was held at the Rose Bowl, where 82,110 fans jammed in to watch a shock LA Galaxy win, followed by a fireworks show.
The LA Galaxy vs. LAFC match blew past Charlotte FC's mark of 74,479 set during their expansion season in 2022, just short of a sellout at Bank of America Stadium. According to reports, the Rose Bowl was evenly split between LA Galaxy and LAFC fans.
The Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California once played home to the LA Galaxy, before they moved to their current home, Dignity Health Sports Park, in 2003. Thus, this will be their first match back in their old stomping grounds for over 20 years.
MORE:All the latest Lionel Messi news
MLS attendance records
Lionel Messi has had his say on the attendance records since joining MLS.
A visit from Messi's side Inter Miami helped the in MLS history in April of 2026. It was the fourth time Messi had visited an opposing team in front of a top-10 MLS crowd since joining the Herons, and third time it happened in 2026 after trips to LAFC and also made the list.
Q&A
What is the highest attendance record in MLS history?
The highest attendance record in MLS history is 82,110 fans, set during the July 4th El Trafico match.
Which teams played in the record-setting MLS match?
The record-setting match was between LA Galaxy and LAFC.
Where was the record MLS match held?
The record MLS match was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
What was the previous MLS attendance record before the July 4th match?
The previous MLS attendance record was 74,479 fans, set by Charlotte FC during their expansion season in 2022.
