There’s a saying in football that sometimes feels like a cliche but actually holds more value than some might often give it. That is the idea of a ’12th man.’ The saying refers to the strength that home supporters can give their team as they push them to victory while drowning out the songs of the opposition’s away end.
While it may sound superficial, former and current players will tell you just how impactful the noise in the stands can be in either motivating them or striking fear into the opposition. While it isn’t always the case, there is logic to thinking that the more ’12th men’ there are, the better.
And for these 20 clubs across the world, they have the benefit of packing out their stadiums more than any other, which in theory should play to their advantage. Find out more as GIVEMESPORT brings you the 20 clubs with the highest average attendance in the 2026/27 season.
20-16
Just making the top 20 is West Ham United, the only club on this list to play outside of their country’s top division this season. The Hammers were relegated to the Championship last term, but that hasn’t stopped more than 58,000 fans turning up at the London Stadium every week.
They are followed by Tottenham, who narrowly avoided the drop themselves last season, and Benfica, who are now managed by Marco Silva.
Two German clubs round out this section: Eintracht Frankfurt and Stuttgart. Separated by fewer than 500 fans per game, both continue to fill their grounds week in, week out.
15-11
In 15th are the reigning Premier League champions, Arsenal. Having finished as runners-up in three straight campaigns, the Gunners finally ended their 22-year wait for the title last season. Nearly 60,000 faithful fans continue showing up to support the Gunners as they sit pretty at the top of the English top tier once again.
Just above the Gunners are Liverpool. It has been a period of change on Merseyside, with Andoni Iraola now in the dugout, but Anfield is still packed on a weekly basis and even more so after renevations in recent years.
Next up is DL Yingbo, whose inclusion inside the top 15 can be considered a surprise. The Chinese Super League side are pulling in more than 60,000 fans per game at the Dalian Suoyuwan Football Stadium.
Fees correct prior to summer 2026
All 10 found — excellent!
Some rich footballing heritage as Brazil’s most popular team, Flamengo, just miss out on the top 10. While the quality of the squad may pale in comparison to some of the sides above them, more than 61,000 continue to pack out Maracana, which AI voted as the most famous stadium in the world.
Rounding off this section are Schalke 04. After three seasons in Germany’s second tier, the Royal Blues are back in the Bundesliga, and almost 62,000 fans are routinely turning up to cheer them on.
10-6
Creeping into the top 10 is one of this year’s new entries, Real Betis. The Seville club have temporarily moved to the larger Estadio La Cartuja while the Benito Villamarin is redeveloped, and their fans have followed in their droves, with more than 64,000 cheering on a side back in the Champions League after a fifth-place finish last term.
Next up is the closest thing to the old colosseum thanks to the Stadio Olimpico. While there may not be the same violence that the Italian capital used to see in arenas during the Roman Empire, Roma fans still bring the same fighting spirit to every game as they continue to wait for their side to end their Serie A title drought.
Atlético Madrid are the next to make an appearance. Diego Simeone’s men finished fourth in La Liga last season, but maintained their strong following, with more than 66,000 cheering them on every week.
AC Milan enter in seventh, averaging more than 70,000 fans per game – around 4,300 fewer than their fierce rivals, Inter. Both teams could have a new home soon, with their iconic stadium, the San Siro, set to be demolished.
Things may not be going well across the board for Manchester United of late, but through thick and thin, their supporters are turning up at the Theatre of Dreams to show their support for Michael Carrick’s side. How long Old Trafford will be standing for remains to be seen amid discussions of a brand-new stadium.
5-1
The Santiago Bernabéu is now regarded as the best stadium in world football after renovations were completed in 2025. Home to Real Madrid, more than 73,000 fans turn up every week to watch football’s biggest club in action under the returning José Mourinho.
Inter Milan are fourth, and the Nerazzurri faithful have had plenty to cheer about after their side reclaimed the Scudetto last season under Cristian Chivu.
The top three sees yet another return to Germany, with the country’s most dominant team, Bayern Munich, in third. Just above them is the yellow wall itself, Borussia Dortmund, the only European club on this list to average over 80,000 fans.
Dortmund are known for having one of the best atmospheres in Europe, and when you combine passionate fans with the sheer volume that Signal Iduna Park can hold, it is no wonder why it has such a reputation.
Top of the pile, though, are River Plate. Following the expansion of the Mas Monumental – now the largest stadium in South America – the Argentine giants average 85,018 fans per game, filling the ground to its full capacity.
|
20 Clubs in World Football With Highest Average Attendance (2025/26) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Club |
Attendance |
|
1. |
River Plate |
85,018 |
|
2. |
Borussia Dortmund |
80,882 |
|
3. |
Bayern Munich |
75,000 |
|
4. |
Inter Milan |
74,414 |
|
5. |
Real Madrid |
73,707 |
|
6. |
Manchester United |
72,704 |
|
7. |
AC Milan |
70,070 |
|
8. |
Atletico Madrid |
66,733 |
|
9. |
AS Roma |
65,378 |
|
10. |
Real Betis |
64,312 |
|
11. |
Schalke 04 |
61,870 |
|
12. |
Flamengo |
61,413 |
|
13. |
DL Yingbo |
60,886 |
|
14. |
Liverpool |
60,176 |
|
15. |
Arsenal |
59,695 |
|
16. |
Eintracht Frankfurt |
59,600 |
|
17. |
Stuttgart |
59,112 |
|
18. |
Benfica |
58,924 |
|
19. |
Tottenham Hotspur |
58,815 |
|
20. |
West Ham United |
58,107 |
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt – accurate as of 08/11/2026
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