the 2002 world cup, in which the united states unexpectedly made the quarterfinals through wins against portugal and mexico, coincided with a resurgence in american soccer and mls. mls cup 2002, held four months after the 2002 world cup final, set an attendance record with 61,316 spectators at gillette stadium witnessing the los angeles galaxy win their first title. this event held the largest crowd attendance in mls finals and second-highest attendance in overall domestic american soccer, after the north american soccer league championship in 1978, which held nearly 75,000 at giants stadium.