League: MLS Sport: Soccer Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

USL Championship match achieves second-highest TV viewership following World Cup

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 25, 2026, 12:30 PM

Last updated Jul 25, 2026

USL Championship match achieves second-highest TV viewership following World Cup

Summary

A USL Championship match between Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Louisville City FC on July 18 averaged 453,000 viewers, marking the second-highest television audience in the league's history. This viewership follows the World Cup, indicating sustained interest in soccer in the U.S. The match's viewership was only slightly below the MLS matchup between Nashville and Atlanta, which averaged 587,000 viewers on the prior day. The USL aims to compete with MLS, planning to introduce 'USL Premier' by 2028, featuring promotion and relegation. Continuing to build viewership is essential for the USL as it seeks to enhance its competitive standing in U.S. soccer.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs. Louisville City FC averaged 453,000 viewers.
•Viewership is the second-highest in USL history.
•MLS match between Nashville and Atlanta drew 587,000 viewers.
•USL plans to launch 'USL Premier' by 2028.
•USL seeks to enhance competitiveness with promotion and relegation.

Latest Updates

12:30 PMYahoo Sports — USL records second-highest TV viewership in league history after World Cup

What they're saying

"
The World Cup may be over, but soccer continues to draw strong viewership. A USL Championship match following the World Cup recorded the second-highest TV audience in USL history. The Pittsburgh Riverhounds-Louisville City FC match on July 18 averaged 453,000 viewers. That is the second-highest recorded audience in USL history. The 2024 USL Championship Final…
— Yahoo Sports

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