The World Cup has taken the US by storm, with Fox and Telemundo reporting record-breaking viewership numbers as the knockout rounds commence. Fox Sports, the English-language television broadcaster for the tournament in the US, and Telemundo, the Spanish-language broadcaster, have both seen significant increases in viewership compared to the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Viewership Records Shattered

Telemundo reported that its World Cup viewership is pacing at more than double the 2022 tournament, with audience engagement at historic highs. Fox Sports stated that 84 million Americans have watched at least some of its coverage through June 25, according to Nielsen’s TV and streaming measurement system.

The high viewership numbers can be attributed to several factors, including the fact that the games are being played in the US, Canada, and Mexico, raising Americans’ overall awareness and placing matches in more favorable TV windows. Additionally, soccer continues to grow in popularity in the US, and sporting events remain a major draw for live viewers.

Nielsen is also measuring out-of-home audiences more extensively than in the past, which has contributed to the higher ratings. Television executives believe that these viewers have always been watching at bars, restaurants, and other locations, and now the ratings more accurately reflect the real audience size.

Historic Viewership Numbers

The June 19 match between the US and Australia averaged 16.2 million viewers for Fox, making it the most-watched FIFA men’s World Cup day in English-language US history. The June 25 match between the US and Turkey averaged 15.8 million viewers for Fox, despite the US having already secured its place in the knockout round.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.