This year's World Cup has captivated American audiences, with viewership figures for key matches rivaling those of the NFL's championship games. The England versus Mexico match on Sunday drew nearly 45 million viewers across Fox, Telemundo, and their streaming platforms. This figure marks a significant achievement for soccer broadcasting in the United States, demonstrating the growing popularity of the sport.
The dramatic 3-2 victory for England against Mexico at the Azteca stadium was the most-watched game of the past week. Of the total 44.842 million viewers, 23.1 million tuned in via Telemundo and Peacock for the Spanish-language broadcast, while 21.742 million watched the English-language feed on Fox.
This viewership total comes close to the average of 47.4 million viewers for the NFL's AFC and NFC Championship games in January. The figures highlight the World Cup's powerful draw in the U.S. market.
USMNT's Exit Also Draws Large Audience
The United States Men's National Team's exit from the tournament on Monday also attracted a substantial audience, with 42 million viewers tuning in to watch their 4-1 loss to Belgium. This figure, while slightly lower than the England-Mexico match, still represents a considerable audience. The English-language broadcast on Fox captured 30 million viewers, with an additional 12 million watching the Spanish-language broadcast on Telemundo and Peacock.
The match against Belgium saw a peak audience of 36.895 million viewers on Fox between 9:15-9:30 p.m. ET, coinciding with a crucial period in the game where defensive errors led to Belgium extending their lead. The USMNT conceded their first goal within nine minutes and trailed 2-1 at halftime. A significant defensive blunder by goalkeeper Matt Freese early in the second half, which led to a Belgian goal, further contributed to the team's downfall.
The USMNT's defeat marked another World Cup where they failed to advance past the Round of 16, a stage they have only reached once since the tournament expanded in 1986. The match was also preceded by controversy surrounding a red card issued to a USMNT player in a previous round, which was provisionally suspended following a reported inquiry from President Trump to FIFA.