ESPN has drawn its highest TV audience figures for the Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup play-offs since 2012, with an average 388,000 people tuning into this year's post-season coverage so far, reports, www.sportspromedia.com/.

According to the industry analyst Nielsen, the Disney-owned US broadcaster attracted 36 per cent more viewers than last season across all four single-elimination play-off matches on ESPN and ESPN2, up from an average 286,000 a year ago. The post-season figures are the highest since David Beckham helped the LA Galaxy to a second successive MLS Cup final in his glorious farewell run with the team.

Ahead of the MLS Cup final on 10th November between Seattle Sounders and Toronto FC, the Sounder's 3-1 Western Conference final victory over Los Angeles FC on 29th October drew an average audience of 389,000.

The figure represents a seven per cent increase on the second leg of Portland Timbers' victory over Sporting Kansas City in the same fixture in 2018, which drew an average 363,000 viewers.