World Cup Viewership Records Reset as Mexico-England Match Tops USA-Belgium

The Fox Corporation broadcast of the World Cup clash between Mexico and England has set a new benchmark for soccer viewership in the United States, surpassing the previously assumed record held by the USA-Belgium match. According to data released Wednesday, the Sunday match in Mexico City attracted a cumulative audience of approximately 44.8 million U.S. viewers across both English and Spanish-language networks.

Fox Sports reported that 21.7 million viewers tuned into the English-language broadcast, while Telemundo captured 23.1 million viewers for the Spanish-language coverage. This combined total exceeds the estimated 42 million U.S. viewers who watched the United States face Belgium the following day, a match that had been widely cited as a ratings record for the sport domestically.

The magnitude of the Mexico-England audience places soccer in direct competition with American football’s premier events. The figures rival the average viewership of last season’s NFC and AFC Championship games, which drew 47.4 million viewers. The performance highlights the significant reach of the tournament being held across North American cities, though these totals do not include the estimated 60 million viewers in Mexico alone.

Analysts point to the on-field dynamics to explain the divergence in ratings. While the USA-Belgium match saw a dominant Belgian performance that may have caused viewer attrition, the Mexico-England contest was described as a thriller with a dramatic finish. England secured a 3-2 victory while playing a man down in a high-energy environment, likely sustaining viewer engagement throughout the broadcast.

Shares of Fox Corporation were trading lower on Thursday, with the stock down 2.27% to $53.39. The company derives significant revenue from sports broadcasting and advertising.

What to watch

• Future World Cup ratings data for subsequent matches involving non-U.S. teams.
• Fox Corporation quarterly earnings reports for analysis of advertising revenue generated by the tournament.

Source: original release