FIFA World Cup final draws record viewership in United States

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing company figures and Reuters reporting, said nearly 63 million people in the United States watched Spain defeat Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, a record audience for the tournament in the country. The match, staged in New Jersey, was decided in extra time when Spain scored in the 106th minute for a 1-0 win.

According to the report, Fox drew 38.9 million viewers for its English-language coverage, while Comcast’s Telemundo network and Peacock added 23.9 million for Spanish-language broadcasts. That combined total was far above the 22.3 million US audience recorded for the 2022 final in Qatar. Al Jazeera said the figures underlined the continued rise of football’s audience in a market where the sport has historically trailed American football, basketball and baseball.

The report also noted strong US interest beyond the final. England’s round-of-16 match against Mexico drew nearly 45 million viewers, surpassing recent audiences for decisive Major League Baseball and NBA championship games cited in the article. Viewership stayed high even after the United States exited against Belgium in the round of 16 on July 6.

Context cited by Al Jazeera included the tournament’s US-friendly kickoff times, its cohosting by the US, Canada and Mexico, and interest in stars such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The next two World Cups, in 2030 and 2034, are expected to be less convenient for US audiences because of time zones.