World Cup Final Breaks Records with Massive Viewership on Fox
The final match of the World Cup turned into a huge win for Fox, drawing record-breaking viewership as Spain narrowly defeated Argentina 1-0 at MetLife Stadium. The broadcast attracted an average of 38.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched English-language soccer broadcast ever in the United States. At its peak, the audience swelled to about 51.7 million, based on Nielsen data released shortly after the event.
Fox aired all 104 matches in English throughout the tournament and maintained strong ratings even after the U.S. men's team exited the competition in the Round of 16 against Belgium.
Consistent High Viewership Throughout the Tournament
Across the entire World Cup, the network averaged 7.73 million viewers through its broadcasts on Fox, FS1, and Tubi. This represents a substantial jump compared to previous tournaments: the 2022 World Cup averaged just 3.588 million viewers, while 2018 drew around 2.77 million.
The Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo also enjoyed record numbers, reaching 23.9 million viewers for the final. This made it the most-watched Spanish-language soccer broadcast in U.S. history.
Star Players Captivate American Fans
The tournament’s thrilling matches and standout players helped boost interest in soccer across the country. Stars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Folarin Balogun became familiar names among American sports audiences during the World Cup.
The semifinal between France and Spain, featuring France forward Kylian Mbappé, was another highlight of the tournament, showcasing the intense competition at the highest level.
Strong Ratings for Third-Place Match
The battle for third place between England and France also drew significant attention. Fox averaged 13.13 million viewers for the broadcast including pre-match coverage. Meanwhile, Telemundo attracted 7.7 million viewers for the same game. Both numbers set new records for third-place match broadcasts in their respective languages.
