Major League Soccer (MLS) launched in 1996 in the United States, where any mention of football relates to the National Football League (NFL).
Soccer, as our American cousins call the beautiful game, still takes a backseat to North American sports, resulting in several MLS team ground sharing with NFL and even Major League Baseball (MLB) teams.
The three MLS stadiums with the largest capacity are all shared with other sports, with the largest having a 74,867 capacity.
Regarding soccer-specific stadia, Geodis Park of Nashville SC, which opened in 2022, has a capacity of exactly 30,000. So which MLS stadiums are the largest? Keep reading to find out.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta United FC – 42,500 (71,000)
Atlanta United FC first competed in the MLS during the 2017 season, but they do not have a home to call their own. Instead, they use the Mercedes-Benz Stadium alongside the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.
Atlanta United burst onto the scene and finished fourth during their debut season, followed by two runner-up finishes in their conference. However, a lack of consistency since the 2019 season has resulted in slipping down the pecking order of the latest MLS soccer odds online.
The Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened on August 26, 2017, with a 71,000 capacity for NFL, reduced to 42,500 when Atlanta United FC plays at home.
Like many stadiums in the United States, the playing surface is artificial grass, namely FieldTurf CORE, which allows Atlanta United FC to play in all weather conditions.
The stadium’s signature feature is its epic retractable roof, which, when opened, creates an illusion of a bird’s extended wings! Football fans worldwide will get this fantastic stadium in all of its glory during the 2026 FIFA World Cup because at least three fixtures will take place here.
Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte FC – 38,000 (74,867)
The Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, opened in 1996 but only became home to an MLS team 16 years later. NFL’s Carolina Panthers call the stadium home, but Charlotte FC has played its home fixtures here since 2022.
Charlotte FC is one of the more recent MLS expansion teams, having started competing in the MLS during the 2022 season. The team finished ninth in their conference and 19th overall while enjoying an average attendance of 35,260, which is impressive compared to some of the other franchises. Indeed, that figure is second only to Atlanta United FC mentioned above.
The Bank of America Stadium, formerly the Ericsson Stadium, has a capacity of 74,867 for NFL games and 38,000 for association football. As the stadium is the home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, there are two larger-than-life bronze panther statues flanking each of the huge entrances, while the colours are black, blue, and silver to match the Panthers’ uniforms.
In addition, arches that connect the support columns resemble half of an American football!
Lumen Field – Seattle Sounders FC – 37,722 (68,740)
Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, is the 68,740-capacity stadium of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, although association football fans know it better for being the home ground of the Seattle Sounders.
The Seattle Sounders made their MLS debut in 2009 and quickly became one of the best teams in the competition. They were all-conquering in 2014 when they won their conference and the league overall. The Sounders won the coveted MLS Cup in 2016 and again in 2019; only six teams have won the tournament at least twice.
Usually, Lumen Field has a reduced capacity of 37,722 for football games, but it can be expanded to 68,740 for special occasions. One such game was when the Seattle Sounders faced Toronto FC in the 2019 MLS Cup final. An impressive 69,274 fans turned out as the Sounders ran out 3-1 winners.