LOS ANGELES—Fox Sports is reporting record viewing levels for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which culminated on Sunday with a historic Final match that saw 38,937,000 viewers watch on Fox, an all-time high mark for viewership as the new most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. television history and most-watched FIFA World Cup™ final ever in the U.S.
According to Nielsen Media Research the record-breaking Final reached its dramatic peak with 51,685,000 viewers watching from 5:45 to 6:00 PM ET as Spain secured a 1-0 victory in extra time over Argentina.
Overall, FIFA World Cup 2026 finished as the most-watched FIFA World Cup in U.S. history averaging 7,737,000 viewers across 104 matches on Fox, FS1 and Tubi up +116% vs. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 (3,588,000) and up +179 vs. FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 (2,770,000).
Fox Sports' FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage also redefined digital sports consumption, generating more than 17.2 billion content views on Fox Sports digital and social platforms to become the most digitally viewed event in network history.
Across Fox Sports social media, tournament content generated a record-breaking 16.5 billion social impressions with 2,560 of Fox Sports' FIFA World Cup 2026 social videos surpassing one million views. During the tournament’s 39-day run, Fox Sports grew its social media audience by more than 10 million followers.
Fox Sports recorded 542 million social video views on Sunday, July 19 around the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final - the most socially viewed day in its history.
Other key viewing highlights from the FIFA World Cup 2026 included:
- Up +132% vs. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final (France vs. Argentina, Sunday morning 12/18/22, 16,784,000 viewers); up +240% vs. FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 Final, (France vs. Croatia, Sunday morning 7/15/18, 11,441,000 viewers).
- Fox Sports’ jam-packed, four-hour "FIFA World Cup Live" pregame show scored 2,873,000 viewers as America gathered in anticipation for the epic closing ceremony and festivities in the leadup to Spain vs. Argentina.
- The 38,937,000 viewers bested the previous record for most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. history set earlier in the tournament by U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) vs. Belgium in the Round of 16 (33,089,000 viewers).
- FIFA World Cup 2026™ finished as the most-watched FIFA World Cup™ in U.S. history averaging 7,737,000 viewers across 104 matches on Fox, FS1 and Tubi up +116% vs. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ (3,588,000) and up +179 vs. FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™ (2,770,000).
- On Saturday, July 18, the bronze final on Fox between France and England drew 13,130,000 viewers becoming the most-watched FIFA Men’s World Cup third-place telecast in U.S. history (previous record: Uruguay vs. Germany, FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010, 4,755,000 viewers). France vs. England finished up +232% from the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 third-place match on Fox (Croatia vs. Morocco, Saturday morning, 3,956,000 viewers) and up +330% from the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 third-place match on Fox (Belgium vs. England, Saturday morning, 3,052,000 viewers).
- France vs. England peaked at 18,529,000 viewers from 6:45 to 7:00 PM ET.
- Two FIFA World Cup 2026 matches surpassed 30 million viewers (the Final and U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) vs. Belgium Round of 16).
- Five broke 20 million viewers (Final, USMNT vs. Belgium, USMNT vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina Round of 32, Norway vs. England Quarterfinal and Mexico vs. England Round of 16).
- 11 matches surged past the 15 million viewers markNine FIFA World Cup 2026 telecasts on Fox eclipsed the previous high mark for most-watched FIFA Men’s World Cup telecast of all-time (France vs. Argentina, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Final on Fox, 16,784,000 viewers).
- Two FIFA World Cup 2026 matches surpassed 30 million viewers (the Final and U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) vs. Belgium Round of 16).
- Five broke 20 million viewers (Final, USMNT vs. Belgium, USMNT vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina Round of 32, Norway vs. England Quarterfinal and Mexico vs. England Round of 16).
- 11 matches surged past the 15 million viewers mark.
- Nine FIFA World Cup 2026 telecasts on Fox eclipsed the previous high mark for most-watched FIFA Men’s World Cup telecast of all-time (France vs. Argentina, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final on Fox, 16,784,000 viewers).
- Fox Sports’ first-ever "Always On" live stream - available exclusively on the Fox Sports YouTube channel, TikTok (starting Round of 32), Tubi, FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports App - launched June 11 and remained live for 974 consecutive hours over the course of the entire tournament and beyond, generating 1.2 billion total minutes of watch time across platforms. Fans watching on the Fox Sports YouTube channel generated more than two million comments, with half of all live stream viewers choosing to watch with live chat enabled to engage with other fans on a second screen.
- Editorial coverage reached historic levels as FIFA World Cup 2026 became the most-read event in Fox Sports history, with time spent across FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports App increasing +73% compared to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
- Over the span of the tournament, Fox Sports produced over 300 live-streaming shows, pushed out over 27,000 social media posts and authored more than 1,300 stories around FIFA World Cup 2026, representing the most ambitious and successful digital content operation in the network’s history.
