Spain's World Cup win draws record TV audience in US and UK

Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, July 19, 2026, has set historic television viewership records across multiple continents, underscoring the tournament's massive global appeal. The match, decided by a Ferran Torres goal in the 106th minute of extra time, delivered unprecedented audience numbers in the United States and the United Kingdom while captivating millions worldwide.

In the United States, the final became the most-watched soccer telecast in the nation's history. An average of 38.9 million viewers watched the English-language broadcast on Fox, according to Nielsen data, surpassing the previous record set by a 2014 U.S. men's national team match. The Spanish-language broadcast on Telemundo and Peacock drew an additional 23.9 million viewers, making it the most-watched soccer match ever on Spanish-language television in the U.S. Combined, the two broadcasts reached a record 62.8 million viewers. Viewership peaked at 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time with 51.7 million concurrent viewers as Spain secured its winning goal. The final's audience represented a 132 percent increase over the 2022 final and a 240 percent increase over the 2018 final.