FC Cincinnati’s USL Home Opener-record attendance of 23,144 at Nippert Stadium was the second-highest attended game in the United States and Canada over the past weekend, trailing only Orlando City SC’s clash with the LA Galaxy. It also compared favorably with some of the top Division II leagues around the rest of the world.

Cincinnati’s attendance against Saint Louis FC at Nippert Stadium drew more fans than any game in Mexico’s Liga Ascenso and Spain’s La Liga 2 this past week. Tenerife’s 3-3 draw with Girona in the Spanish second division saw 19,395 fans at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López, while FC Juarez’s 3-0 victory against Celaya F.C. at the Estadio Olímpico Benito Juárez drew 15,832 fans as Juarez clinched a fourth-place finish in the standings ahead of the playoffs that kick off this week.

FCC’s attendance even compared well to the best-attended Division II league in the world, England’s Championship, where it would have sat sixth overall as teams turned out for the traditional Bank Holiday Monday slate of games. Cincinnati’s attendance surpassed those of clubs like former Premier League champion Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City and Queens Park Rangers.

“I’ve been in this game for a long, long time and there was a special atmosphere tonight,” said FCC Head Coach Alan Koch after Saturday’s game. “We went out and got the result as a team, but also created a great performance for the fans and the city. Our game plan tonight worked to perfection and it was gratifying to have such a showing.”