US World Cup Draws 64,511 Fans a Match as Fox, Telemundo Set 33 Million-Viewer Records
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 11
US World Cup Draws 64,511 Fans a Match as Fox, Telemundo Set 33 Million-Viewer Records
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 11
Summary
Through 78 matches, the US-hosted World Cup has averaged 64,511 fans per game, with stadiums 99.7% full and FIFA saying it has sold 6.5 million tickets.
US television audiences are also surging: the US men’s round-of-16 loss to Belgium averaged 33 million viewers on Fox and peaked at 41 million, while England-Mexico drew 21.7 million on Fox and 23.2 million on Telemundo.
Fox says its first 72 matches averaged 5 million viewers and Telemundo 4.6 million, suggesting interest extends well beyond US games and into bars, watch parties and social media.
The boom has been helped by prime-time kickoffs, years of rising US soccer interest, and a tournament averaging 3 goals a game—the highest since 1958—with stars and underdogs delivering dramatic matches.
That response has defied fears that Trump-era travel restrictions, anti-immigrant politics and high prices would make the US an inhospitable host, turning the event instead into a visible display of multicultural fandom.
Will this World Cup's success finally transform America into a permanent, top-tier soccer nation?
As FIFA profits by billions, why are American host cities facing massive financial losses from the World Cup?
Record-Breaking 2026 FIFA World Cup: Unprecedented Attendance, Viewership, and Cultural Impact Across North America
Overview
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has become a landmark event, breaking records for both in-stadium attendance and global television viewership even before the tournament ended. Driven by the expansion to a 48-team format, the event saw unprecedented demand, with attendance records shattered during the group stage. This surge surpassed all previous benchmarks, ensuring the tournament’s prominent place in sports history for live audience figures. At the same time, television viewership reached historic highs across various regions, highlighting the World Cup’s massive appeal and its status as a truly global spectacle.