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The match was a disappointment for fans of the US men’s soccer team, but television viewership set another record for the sport in this country.
Early Nielsen ratings show 30 million people watched Fox’s broadcast of Belgium’s 4-1 win over the United States on Monday night in the World Cup round of 16. That number is likely to rise when final ratings, which will include a big data component from Nielsen and more out-of-home numbers, are released later in the week.
However, initial ratings easily surpassed the previous all-time high for English-language soccer programming broadcast in the United States. The five-day record of 26.4 million viewers was set in the USA’s previous match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1.
The audience peaked at 36.9 million viewers from 9:15 to 9:30 p.m., midway through the second half. Spanish-language TV data for Telemundo and Peacock was not immediately available, but the combined total likely exceeds 40 million viewers.
The match between the United States and Belgium was surrounded by controversy, as FIFA waived the suspension of the red card for American striker Valorin Balogun before the match, allowing him to play. The US Soccer Federation reportedly threatened legal action against FIFA over what it believed was the incorrect use of video review that led to Balogun being sent off in the previous match. President Donald Trump also commented, saying he had contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino about lifting the suspension.
With the USA’s loss, all three hosts are now out of contention heading into the quarter-finals. Canada and Mexico lost in their round of 16 matches as well. England’s 3-2 win over Mexico on Sunday night also set a new record for Spanish-language soccer broadcasts in the United States with 23.1 million viewers. Like Fox, Telemundo set multiple viewing records during the World Cup, the first in North America since 1994.
Pending updates on Monday’s match, the five American matches averaged more than 21 million viewers on Fox.
With the United States and Mexico out, the remaining World Cup matches may not reach record highs, but they should continue to get strong ratings. Several matches to date in which neither team participated have attracted over 10 million viewers. The 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France brought in a total of 26.78 million viewers (16.78 million on Fox, 9 million on Telemundo and Peacock).
