The English Premier League has made a historic leap, surpassing Mexico's top-flight Liga MX to become the most-watched soccer league in the United States. This shift marks a significant change in US soccer viewership trends that have been dominated by Liga MX for decades.
For many years, Liga MX held sway over American soccer fans, particularly among the large Hispanic population. However, 2023 has witnessed a seismic shift. According to data from Nielsen compiled by World Soccer Talk and sports media analyst Larry Johnson, more viewers are now tuning into Premier League matches than those of its Mexican counterpart.
Previously, one key distinction was that Liga MX attracted larger audiences for its Apertura and Clausura Finals. Yet on December 17th last year, Club America's second leg of the Apertura against Tigres drew an equal number of viewers (2.21 million) as Liverpool versus Manchester United match aired earlier that day.
This trend is not just about one game or even about the Premier League simply attracting more viewers; it also reflects a relative decline in Liga MX's viewership.
The English league is consistently setting new records with increased audiences across both Peacock and NBC platforms. This surge can be attributed to various factors including diverse teams achieving success alongside existing reasons contributing to its popularity.
Liga MX's 2023 Apertura saw a 12% decline in viewership over last year.
Conversely, there has been a sharp drop in viewing figures for Mexico’s top-flight league this year. Johnson’s analysis reveals that average Univision viewership for Mexican games fell from around 900k in 2022 to just over 600k this year - representing a decrease of approximately 30%.
In contrast, the Premier League experienced a modest but steady growth of 2% on both NBC and USA Network in 2023.
The shift in viewership patterns signifies a new era for soccer fans in the United States. While Liga MX had previously seen extremes of high and low viewership that far exceeded those of the Premier League, this is no longer the case.
While Liga MX still has its loyal fanbase, it appears that more American soccer enthusiasts are now tuning into English football. This trend not only reflects changing viewer preferences but also underscores the global appeal and growing popularity of the Premier League matches among US audiences.
