World Cup viewership is booming in the US as knockout rounds begin

World Cup Viewership Surpasses Expectations in the U.S.

World Cup viewership is booming - As the World Cup’s knockout stage unfolds, Fox Sports and Telemundo are seeing unprecedented demand for their coverage. Both networks have set new records for audience numbers during the group phase, and analysts anticipate even stronger figures as the tournament progresses. The U.S. men’s national team’s matches, scheduled for prime time on Wednesday, are expected to draw large crowds.

Fox and Telemundo Report Record Engagement

Telemundo highlighted that its audience for the World Cup is currently “outpacing 2022’s Qatar event by over 100%,” with “historically high” interaction levels. Meanwhile, Fox Sports noted that 84 million Americans have viewed at least part of its broadcasts through June 25, according to Nielsen’s integrated TV and streaming analytics system.

“According to Nielsen,” Fox’s insights and analytics president, Michael Mulvihill, shared on X, “9,722 individuals have watched at least a minute of ALL 48 of the first 48 World Cup matches on FOX and FS1.”

Factors Driving Increased Interest

The surge in viewership can be attributed to several trends. First, the games are being held in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, increasing domestic awareness and aligning matches with more convenient TV times. Second, soccer’s growing appeal in the U.S. is drawing more fans to live events. Additionally, Nielsen now tracks out-of-home audiences more thoroughly, offering a clearer picture of overall engagement than previous methods.

Broadcast Rights Valuation and Cost Efficiency

While global viewership figures lack a universal standard, U.S. ratings are clearly robust. The June 19 match between the U.S. and Australia drew 16.2 million Fox viewers, marking the highest audience count for an English-language World Cup day in U.S. history. A later clash against Turkey averaged 15.8 million viewers, despite the U.S. already advancing to the knockout rounds. NBC’s Mike Florio noted that Fox’s $485 million investment for English-language broadcast rights may be its most profitable venture to date. However, The New York Times suggested the rights could be worth up to three times that amount, with Fox securing a favorable deal due to a longstanding litigation avoidance agreement with FIFA.