Why more fans than ever are attending football matches in Europe as UEFA reveal record numbers

Football attendances across Europe have reached record levels for a fourth consecutive season, with 242 million spectators attending matches during the 2025/26 campaign.

The figures show the continued appeal of watching football in person, despite supporters having access to more televised matches and online football content than ever before.

UEFA reveal record-breaking football attendance numbers across Europe

UEFA's European Club Talent and Competition Landscape report found that at least 242 million people attended men's club and national-team matches across Europe during the 2025/26 season.

Domestic men's top-flight leagues accounted for 116 million spectators, with crowds increasing across 27 European top divisions. Seventeen countries recorded their highest top-flight attendance figures in at least a decade.

England recorded the highest top-flight attendance total at 15.8 million, a 3% increase, while the Bundesliga was second with 13 million after a 10% rise.

Lower-league football attracted a further 82 million supporters, while domestic cup competitions brought in 13 million and UEFA men's club competitions welcomed 20 million.

The Champions League also recorded an aggregate attendance of approximately 9.85 million, up 4.3% on the previous season. Twenty different clubs recorded at least one home attendance of 50,000 or more.

UEFA said the figures demonstrate the continued strength of the live football experience, despite the huge amount of football now available through television and digital platforms.

Women's football also recorded strong numbers, with an estimated 5.1 million spectators attending women's club matches during the season.

Domestic top-flight fixtures accounted for more than 3.7 million of those attendances.

FGG says: European football's live experience remains hugely popular

The latest figures show that supporters continue to turn up in significant numbers, with record attendances being recorded across different levels of the European game.

The growth is particularly notable alongside the huge increase in football available away from stadiums, suggesting the matchday experience remains an important part of following a club.

European football is continuing to attract millions of supporters through the turnstiles, with the 2025/26 figures providing another record year for attendances.