The NFL dominates in viewership, revenue, and global presence, while MLS shows growth potential within North America. The NFL has a more established player union, while MLS focuses on expanding its reach and enhancing the game experience.
| Attribute | NFL | Major League Soccer |
|---|---|---|
| Average game attendance | NFL stadiums seat about 70,000 people on average, and games usually sell out. | 23,240 in 2024, with 213 sellouts and 94% stadium capacity |
| Global viewership | The Super Bowl LVIII in 2025 had an international average viewership of 127.7 million. A global TV audience of 62.5 million viewers watched Super Bowl LVIII. | MLS earns around $90 million per year from deals with ESPN, Fox Sports, and Univision. |
| Revenue generation | National revenue comes from TV deals, merchandising, and licensing contracts, which are negotiated nationally by the league and shared evenly among the 32 teams. In 2022, the NFL allocated roughly $400 million per franchise from media rights and sponsorship agreements. Local revenue is generated through ticket sales, concessions, and local sponsorships. | Media rights deals, ticket sales, sponsorships, merchandise sales, and player transfers. A new Apple TV deal launching in 2023 will pay MLS a minimum of $250 million annually for 10 years. |
| Player salary cap | Not specified in the search results. | Soft cap with a maximum salary of $743,750 per player and a minimum salary of $104,000 per year. Total roster salary is $5,950,000. |
| Number of teams | The NFL has 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). Each conference has four divisions with four teams each. | 30 teams (27 in the United States and 3 in Canada) |
| Geographic reach (domestic vs. international) | The NFL is a major professional sports league in the United States and Canada. The NFL is expanding globally, playing games in London, Munich and Sao Paolo. Super Bowl LVIII was aired in over 195 countries/territories. | Teams located in the United States and Canada |
| Season length | The NFL season includes a three-week preseason in August, followed by an 18-week regular season from early September to early January. Each team plays 17 games and has one bye week. | Regular season from late February/early March to mid-October, with each team playing 34 matches. |
| Playoff structure | Seven teams from each conference advance to the playoffs, including four division winners and three wild card teams. The playoffs are a single-elimination tournament culminating in the Super Bowl. | Top nine teams from each conference qualify for the MLS Cup playoffs, a five-round tournament which culminates in the MLS Cup final in early December. |
| Rules and regulations complexity | The NFL has made numerous rules changes to eliminate potentially dangerous tactics and reduce the risk of injuries. | Specific rules about teams' rosters and players' salaries. |
| Player union strength | The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) is the labor union representing NFL players. A collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is in place through the 2030 season. | Not available |
| Media coverage (TV, streaming, online) | The NFL has extensive media coverage through TV, streaming, and online platforms. TV deals are a main source of revenue. | National broadcast rights deals with ESPN, Fox, and Univision. A new Apple TV deal launching in 2023 will pay MLS a minimum of $250 million annually for 10 years. |
| Fan engagement (social media, merchandise) | The NFL uses social media platforms to connect with fans. They provide interactive content, real-time insights, and virtual reality experiences. | Engages with fans through social media, merchandise, and digital platforms. |