The 2026 FIFA World Cup produced historic Nielsen ratings in the United States, shattering previous records for both English- and Spanish-language broadcasts across multiple rounds and drawing massive combined audiences.
The standout performance came in the Round of 16 match between the U.S. and Belgium on July 6. Fox’s English-language telecast averaged 37.225 million viewers, with a peak of 41.03 million — the largest non-NFL sports audience ever on a single U.S. network and the most-watched soccer game in American television history.
Combined viewership across Fox, Telemundo, and Peacock for that U.S. match reached 42 million, setting an all-time record for any soccer telecast in the U.S. The Mexico vs. England quarterfinal later drew an even larger combined audience of 44.8 million viewers.
⚽English-language highlights on Fox
- Semifinals: Averaged more than 15 million viewers per match, the highest in U.S. history.
- Quarterfinals: Averaged 15.64 million viewers, a 150% increase from 2022.
- Group stage: Averaged 5.05 million viewers per match.
⚽Spanish-language highlights on Telemundo and Peacock Final (Spain vs. Argentina on July 19):
- Preliminary data showed 22.6 million viewers across both platforms, a 150% jump from the 2022 final’s 9 million.
- Semifinals: Telemundo averaged 10.6 million viewers, the highest ever for Spanish-language soccer coverage in the U.S.
- Quarterfinals: Averaged 10.4 million viewers across Telemundo and Peacock, up 154% from 2022.
- Group stage: Telemundo and Peacock captured 48% of the total U.S. World Cup audience, meaning nearly half of all American soccer viewers watched in Spanish.
⚽Key factors driving the surge
- Co-hosting by the United States, Mexico, and Canada brought more matches to convenient local time zones and heightened national interest.
- Global star power from players such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland, combined with high-production halftime entertainment, further boosted engagement.
- Expanded streaming options on Peacock and Fox One also extended reach well beyond traditional linear television.
The 2026 tournament’s record ratings reflect soccer’s growing popularity in the U.S. market, particularly among both English- and Spanish-speaking audiences.