World Cup 2026 TV Ratings: England-Norway Leads Record U.S. Viewership For Quarterfinals

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup has been quite the ticket for TV ratings.

This year’s tournament concluded the group stage round averaging nearly 5.1 million U.S. viewers across 72 matches on Fox, FS1 and Tubi — a 92% increase from 2022. It’s now the most-watched FIFA Men’s World Cup Group Stage telecast average in English-language U.S. history.

The high point came July 6, when the U.S.-Belgium round of 16 matchup — the Americans fell out of the tournament with a 4-1 loss — scored 30 million viewers on Fox, making it the most watched soccer telecast in U.S. history. That topped the U.S.’ round of 32 game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which drew 24.4M viewers July 1.

Even with the USMNT out of the running, the World Cup has continued to put up big numbers. England’s close win over Norway in the quarter finals is now the most-watched FIFA World Cup non-USMNT telecast in English-language U.S. history with nearly 22M tuning in. Argentina-Switzerland came in a close second with 18.2M viewers, and France-Morocco/Spain-Belgium are also some of the most-watched matches this go-around.

Since opening weekend, the matches have been breaking U.S. viewership records, led by the U.S.’s impressive run into the knockout stages. Team USA’s opening win against Paraguay scored 18M viewers across Fox, FS1 and Tubi, a 132% increase from the USMNT’s first World Cup group stage telecast on Fox in 2022, when the team faced Wales to the tune of 7.8M viewers.

Scroll below to see the biggest audiences overall for World Cup 2026.

USA v Belgium: Round of 16 – FIFA World Cup 2026

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The round of 16 showdown between the United States and Belgium on July 6 drew 30 million viewers on Fox, making it the most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. history. The record viewership saw the co-host Americans eliminated from the tournament with a 4-1 loss.
USA v Bosnia and Herzegovina – FIFA World Cup 2026

Image Credit: Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images

24.4M U.S. viewers tuned in for the the USMNT’s World Cup 2026 round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Fox, FS1 and Tubi. The audience peaked toward the end of the match with nearly 32M U.S. viewers. The match also set a Spanish-language record with 9.1M total audience delivery for Telemundo.
Norway v England: Quarter Final – FIFA World Cup 2026

The quarterfinal match between Norway and England registered 21.8M U.S. viewers, making it the most-watched FIFA Men’s World Cup non-USMNT telecast in English-Language U.S. history. Per Nielsen, the game peaked with 28.1M viewers.
Argentina v Switzerland: Quarter Final – FIFA World Cup 2026

Argentina and Switzerland faced off in the quarterfinals to a U.S. audience of 18.2M viewers on Fox, which is the second most-watched FIFA Men’s World Cup Quarterfinals telecast in English-language U.S. history (right after this year’s England-Norway match).
USA v Paraguay: Group D – FIFA World Cup 2026

Until Team USA took on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the knockout round, the USMNT’s opening group stage match was the most-watched Men’s World Cup telecast not only this year but ever for English-language U.S. audiences.

Final numbers place the audience at 18M across Fox, FS1 and Tubi, which is up 132% from the first 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup Group Stage telecast on Fox (USMNT-Wales: 7.8M viewers on 11/21/22). The audience peaked with 21.5M viewers from 10:45-11:00 p.m. ET.
Türkiye v USA: Group D – FIFA World Cup 2026

USMNT’s win over Turkiye averaged 17M viewers, which is still among the most-watched FIFA Men’s World Cup Group Stage telecasts in English-Language U.S. history. The match was also the most-watched telecast of the day on any network, peaking with 19.5M viewers.
USA v Australia: Group D – FIFA World Cup 2026

The USMNT advanced to the knockout rounds with a 2-0 win over Australia that drew 14.8M viewers. The match peaked with 19.2M viewers.
France v Morocco: Quarter Final – FIFA World Cup 2026

France v Morocco drew 10.3M U.S. viewers on Fox, peaking around 13.4M.
Brazil v Morocco: Group C – FIFA World Cup 2026

Per Fox, 10M viewers tuned in for Brazil v. Morocco’s group stage match, making it the most-watched non-USMNT FIFA Men’s World Cup group stage telecast in English-language U.S. history. The audience is up 212% from the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup non-USMNT Group Stage telecast average on Fox, which was 3.2M viewers. The match peaked with 13.1M viewers from 7:45-8:00 p.m. ET.
Belgium v Spain: Quarter Final – FIFA World Cup 2026

Belgium took on Spain to the tune of 9.9M U.S. viewers on Fox. The audience peaked around 14.3M viewers.
Mexico v Korea Republic: Group A – FIFA World Cup 2026

Mexico beat South Korea to the tune of 9.4M viewers, marking the second most-watched FIFA Men’s World Cup non-USMNT group stage telecast in English-language U.S. history. The match was up 192% from the 2022 Men’s World Cup’s group stage telecast average, and it peaked with 11.5M viewers.
Colombia v Portugal: Group K – FIFA World Cup 2026

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Colombia v. Portugal averaged just over 9.2M viewers, peaking around 11.8M.
Scotland v Morocco: Group C – FIFA World Cup 2026

Scotland v Morocco also tallied nearly 9.2M U.S. viewers, peaking at 10.5M.
Argentina v Algeria: Group J – FIFA World Cup 2026

Messi’s 2026 World Cup debut raked in 9.1M viewers. The audience peaked with 10.5M viewers from 9:30 – 9:45 p.m. ET
Netherlands v Japan: Group F – FIFA World Cup 2026

This match scored 8.8M viewers and was, for a brief time, holding the title then claimed by Argentina-Algeria and now has been taken by Mexico-Korea Republic.
Brazil v Haiti: Group C – FIFA World Cup 2026

Per Fox, the Brazil v Haiti group stage telecast raked in an average of 8.7M U.S. viewers, peaking at nearly 9.9M.
Mexico v South Africa: Group A – FIFA World Cup 2026

With 7.2M viewers across Fox, FS1 and Tubi, Mexico-South Africa is the most-watched Men’s World Cup opening match in English-language U.S. history. The match is up 150% from the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup opening match on FS1 (Qatar-Ecuador on 11/20/22 – 2.9M viewers). It peaked with 4.1M viewers from 4:45-5:00 p.m. ET.
Germany v Curacao: Group E – FIFA World Cup 2026

Germany-Curaçao managed 6.3M viewers and peaked with 7.4M viewers
Haiti v Scotland: Group C – FIFA World Cup 2026

Haiti-Scotland scored 6M viewers and peaked with 6.6M viewers
Iraq v Norway: Group I – FIFA World Cup 2026

Iraq-Norway delivered 5.9M viewers and peaked with 7.4M viewers
Qatar v Switzerland: Group B – FIFA World Cup 2026

Qatar-Switzerland tallied 5.4M viewers and peaked with 6.6M
France v Senegal: Group I – FIFA World Cup 2026

France-Senegal drove 5.1M viewers and peaked with 6.5M viewers