World Cup Final Draws Record Viewership on Fox and Telemundo
The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina captured the attention of nearly 39 million viewers on Fox, setting a new high for English-language soccer broadcasts in the United States. The game, held at MetLife Stadium, peaked with an audience of around 51.7 million according to Nielsen ratings released shortly after the match.
Fox aired all 104 tournament matches in English, maintaining strong viewership figures even after the U.S. men's team exited the competition following their Round of 16 loss to Belgium.
Tournament Viewership Growth
Across Fox, FS1, and Tubi, the World Cup averaged 7.73 million viewers per match. This marked a sizable rise compared to previous tournaments, with the 2022 World Cup averaging 3.59 million and the 2018 event drawing about 2.77 million viewers.
Telemundo's Spanish-Language Records
Telemundo also experienced record-breaking ratings during the tournament. Their broadcast of the final attracted 23.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched Spanish-language soccer event in U.S. history.
Stars and Matches That Drew Audiences
Several global stars became widely recognized among American audiences throughout the tournament, including Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Folarin Balogun. The thrilling nature of the matches helped keep viewers engaged from start to finish.
The third-place match between England and France also commanded significant attention. Fox averaged 13.13 million viewers for the game and its pre-match coverage, while Telemundo drew 7.7 million viewers. Both networks set new records for third-place match broadcasts in their respective languages.
