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 for the 2024/25 season so far.
| 20 Clubs in World Football With Highest Average Attendance (2024/25) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Club | Attendance |
| 1. | Borussia Dortmund | 81,365 |
| 2. | Bayern Munich | 75,000 |
| 3. | Manchester United | 73,653 |
| 4. | Inter Milan | 70,465 |
| 5. | River Plate | 68,485 |
| 6. | AC Milan | 67,649 |
| 7. | Real Madrid | 67,004 |
| 8. | Marseille | 63,492 |
| 9. | West Ham United | 62,339 |
| 10. | AS Roma | 61,643 |
| 11. | Schalke 04 | 61,262 |
| 12. | Liverpool | 60,318 |
| 13. | Atletico Madrid | 60,251 |
| 14. | Arsenal | 60,200 |
| 15. | VfB Stuttgart | 59,455 |
| 16. | Tottenham Hotspur | 59,227 |
| 17. | Eintracht Frankfurt | 57,455 |
| 18. | Flamengo | 56,352 |
| 19. | Hamburger SV | 55,798 |
| 20. | Benfica | 54,821 |
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20-16
Benfica, Hamburger SV, Flamengo, Eintracht Frankfurt, Tottenham Hotspur
The bottom of our list sees some rich footballing heritage as Portugal’s most famous team, Benfica, kick things off. While the quality of the squad may pale in comparison to what it was like in the days of the legendary Eusebio, more than 54,000 continue to pack out the Estadio do Benfica. They are followed by one of two teams who don’t even play in the first division of their respective league, as Hamburger SV come 19th.
Moving away from Europe, we find one of two South American teams as Flamengo appear as the only outfit from Brazil. They are helped by the fact that they play at the country’s most famous arena, the Maracana, which AI voted as the most famous stadium in the world.
Omar Marmoush’s performances this term have seen fans flock to Frankfurt to watch his genius play out, while Tottenham Hotspur round out the bottom five, with supporters getting the pleasure of experiencing one of the most modern stadiums in the game today.
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15-11
VfB Stuttgart, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Schalke 04
Returning to Germany for number 15, VfB Stuttgart are the next to make an appearance. Sebastian Hoeness’s side sit 10th in the Bundesliga despite finishing second behind Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen last time out.
Just 118 supporters separate 14th from 12th, and all three teams involved in the discussion happen to be three of Europe’s biggest. Arsenal may be the home of some of the most expensive season tickets in the Premier League, but they still get over 60,000 coming to the Emirates on matchday. The same goes for Atletico Madrid and Liverpool, who also just miss out on a top-half ranking.
In 11th is the second and final team not to play in the top tier of their country, and it’s no surprise once again that it is another German outfit as Schalke 04 continue to be supported throughout their most challenging spell. The seven-time Bundesliga champions have spent three of the last four seasons in Bundesliga 2 and are all the way down in 13th at the time of writing.
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10-6
AS Roma, West Ham United, Marseille, Real Madrid, AC Milan
We enter the top 10 with the closest thing to an 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.
From one former Olympic stadium to another, West Ham come in ninth. While many believe the London Stadium lacks the heart and soul that Upton Park once had which made it so tough to play in, it has certainly allowed for more people in the stands. Roberto de Zerbi’s Marseille follows, known for having an incredibly intense fanbase.
With the Santiago Bernabeu undergoing construction, Real Madrid‘s attendance has taken a slight knock from what it ordinarily would be. The final team to just miss out on the top five is the seven-time European champions, AC Milan. The San Siro can fill more than the 67,649 that the Rossoneri average, but the fact that the red and blacks are not the same force they once were may have something to do with why they don’t crack the top five, but a certain team in the same city does.
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5-1
River Plate, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund
Our second trip to South America takes us to the Estadio Mas Monumental, where Argentinian giants River Plate cram in an average of 68,485 every time they are at home. They are followed by Inter Milan, who prove that the legendary San Siro is capable of holding even more, as they welcome close to 3,000 more supporters every game when they are hosting, as opposed to when their local rivals are at home.
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 Ruben Amorim’s side. How long Old Trafford will be standing for remains to be seen amid discussions of a brand-new stadium.
The top two sees yet another return to Germany, with the country’s most dominant team, Bayern Munich, falling short in second. They are bested by the only club to average over 80,000 fans, and it is none other than the yellow wall itself, Borussia Dortmund. 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.
