World Cup Final Breaks Viewership Records on Fox
The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina attracted a massive audience on Fox, with 38.9 million tuning in to watch Spain clinch a 1-0 victory at MetLife Stadium. This broadcast set a new record as the most-watched English-language soccer event in U.S. history, peaking at approximately 51.7 million viewers according to Nielsen.
Tournament Coverage and Ratings Growth
Fox aired all 104 matches in English throughout the tournament, maintaining strong ratings even after the U.S. men's national team exited in the Round of 16 against Belgium. Across Fox, FS1, and Tubi, the average viewership was 7.73 million, a significant jump compared to the 2022 World Cup’s 3.588 million and the 2018 edition’s 2.77 million average viewers.
Ferran Torres celebrated lifting the FIFA World Cup Winners Trophy following Spain's triumph on July 19, 2026.
Spanish-Language Broadcasts Also Hit New Highs
Telemundo drew 23.9 million viewers for the final, marking it as the most-watched Spanish-language soccer broadcast ever in the United States. The tournament’s excitement was fueled by stars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Folarin Balogun, who captured American attention.
Strong Ratings for Third-Place Match
The third-place game between England and France attracted 13.13 million viewers on Fox, including pre-match coverage. Telemundo added 7.7 million viewers for the same match, setting new records for both English- and Spanish-language broadcasts of a World Cup third-place game.
Kylian Mbappé was a standout during the semifinals, showcasing his skills in the France vs. Spain match.
