A New Milestone for Soccer in the U.S.

While the Monday night showdown between the USA and Belgium was initially thought to have set a new record for soccer television ratings in the United States, it appears a different match held the true top spot. Data released on Wednesday confirms that the Sunday encounter between England and Mexico captured a larger American audience.


Breakdown of the Record-Breaking Numbers

According to Fox Sports, England’s thrilling 3-2 victory in Mexico City attracted 21,742,000 viewers on its network. When combined with the 23.1 million viewers who tuned in via Telemundo, the total reach within the U.S. hit approximately 44.8 million people. This figure exceeds the 42 million viewers who watched the Belgium 4-1 victory over the USA on Fox, Telemundo, and Peacock combined.


Competing with NFL Giants

The scale of these numbers is significant, positioning international soccer firmly alongside major domestic sports. For context, these viewership statistics are comparable to the NFL's championship rounds; reports indicate that last season’s NFC and AFC title games drew an average of 47.4 million viewers. These figures highlight the massive success of hosting the World Cup across North American cities, not even accounting for the estimated 60 million viewers in Mexico and millions more global fans who followed the match.


Why England-Mexico Captivated More Viewers

The disparity in viewership can be attributed to the nature of the matches themselves. While U.S. interest in their national team was exceptionally high leading up to the Monday night kickoff, the competitive reality of the match shifted momentum:

  • The USA-Belgium experience: Belgium asserted dominance early in the game, leading to a lopsided defeat for the U.S. team. The lack of competitiveness likely caused a drop in viewership as the match progressed.
  • The England-Mexico thriller: As noted by analysts, the England-Mexico game was a high-stakes, end-to-end contest. Even with England playing a man down against an energetic crowd in Mexico City, the match remained intense until the final whistle.

Ultimately, the gripping nature of the England-Mexico fixture proved to be a more compelling broadcast for both dedicated fans and neutral observers alike, securing its place in the history books.