Media
The joy and entertainment that the World Cup has delivered in a broad way has been reflected in staggering viewership numbers for its broadcast partners.
The World Cup has been satisfying in a variety of ways, from Kylian Mbappé’s dynamism to Erling Haaland’s Gronk-like good-natured dominance to the Tartan Army takeover of Boston’s favorite houses of refreshment to — perhaps I have mentioned this before? — Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović’s open mockery of Alexi Lalas on the Fox studio program.
The joy and entertainment that the World Cup has delivered in a broad way has been reflected in staggering viewership numbers for its broadcast partners.
Colleague Aidan Ryan dug into the ratings and viewership for the US men’s national team, particularly in the Boston market, in his “Trendlines” newsletter this week. It’s an informative read if you missed it.
Over here, let’s check out some other ratings and viewership data of note through the round of 16 before acknowledging a couple of variables that have benefited the broadcast and streaming partners in this year’s tournament:
· Fox averaged 14.47 million viewers for its round of 16 broadcasts, locking it in as the most-watched round of 16 in English-language broadcasting history in the United States. That’s up a staggering 216 percent from the same period during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was available on Fox and FS1.
· The top 10 most-watched matches in Spanish-language history in the United States (in terms of total audience) all happened during the first 96 matches in this World Cup. Overall, across Telemundo and its streaming platforms, plus Peacock and Universo, the total audience averaged 5.7 million viewers, up 157 percent over 2022 (2.2 million average).
· The United States’ suspense-free 4-1 loss to Belgium in the round of 16 Monday nevertheless became this country’s most-watched soccer telecast, averaging 33 million viewers. The audience peaked at 41 million from 9:15 to 9:30 p.m. That’s getting into NFL playoff viewership territory, which are the most-watched of their television season. The Patriots’ three playoff games averaged 28.9 million (Chargers), 38 million (Texans), and 48.6 million (AFC Championship game vs. the Broncos, the second-most watched game of the NFL season, excluding the Super Bowl).
A little more context is necessary to understand why the World Cup numbers are so outstanding.
Not to sound like Lalas, but it helps greatly that it’s in the United States, particularly in terms of start times. The 2022 final between France and Argentina in Qatar started at 10 a.m. in the East and 7 a.m. Pacfic. That match averaged 25.3 million viewers.
The 2018 World Cup in Russia — for which the USMNT did not qualify — offered starker numbers, with the final between France and Croatia averaging 12.51 million viewers in the United States on Fox and Telemundo.
It’s also worth noting that live sports ratings are up pretty much anywhere you look in part because Nielsen changed its methodology in September 2025, an upgrade that now includes out-of-home audience measurements in such establishments as bars and restaurants.
Just a hunch, but those do seem like spots where people like to gather to watch sports. Especially something as universal and inclusive as the World Cup.
One last thought: If you think the numbers have been massive so far, just wait if we get a truly compelling matchup in the final.
An appreciation
When someone passes away and there are a flood of kind and genuine tributes saluting all of that person’s best attributes, I sometimes catch myself hoping that the person had known while still here how people felt.
I like to believe that Dan Ventura, the revered longtime high school sportswriter for the Herald who died Tuesday at age 66, knew how much people liked and appreciated him. He was outgoing and hilarious and seemed to know everyone, and everyone that knew him was happy that they did.
A miscalculation
What a miscalculation by WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert to cancel a scheduled appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show” during the week. There is not a more prepared host than Patrick, who asks tough, straightforward questions but is always fair. Actually, maybe that’s what she’s trying to avoid — someone who knows what to ask and has no fear of asking … Andy Hart, who was let go by WEEI in April during the latest shakeup with its afternoon program, has matriculated over to the Sports Hub, where he began doing some fill-in work at the start of July. Some decisionmakers at the Sports Hub have always appreciated Hart’s approach, and the connection came together quickly after his WEEI dismissal.