The World Cup is always one of the top TV draws in the US, and 2022 is no different. Group stage clashes with the big teams and stars are among the most watched World Cup 2022 matches up to the round of 16.
Most Viewed World Cup Matches So Far
Four of the six most-watched games at this year’s World Cup were from the United States. Anticipation for the USA’s return to the World Cup was certainly high after the USMNT failed to qualify for Russia in 2018, and the numbers back that up. Of course, these games tend to appeal to the casual American viewer who doesn’t normally follow soccer, but will tune in to watch the US.
The US holds the top four spots in English on FOX and FS1, with the biggest of the bunch being the Black Friday showdown between the US and England. The game averaged a combined total of over 20,000,000 viewers in English and Spanish. More than 15 million of those viewers were in English only, which would be enough to rank it as the third biggest draw overall.
Argentina-Mexico a record
On the Spanish language side, Telemundo/Peacock drew huge numbers. The best game in Spanish was, unsurprisingly, Messi and Argentina against arguably the most popular sports team in the US… El Tri. An average of 9 million viewers tuned into ARG-MEX, making it the most watched Spanish-language group stage game in history. More than 2 million of those viewers watched the game, making it the most-streamed World Cup game in US history, regardless of language. Total Spanish-language audience for 2022 so far ranks second out of the last eight World Cups, behind only 2014 in Brazil, which featured better viewing time slots in the US.
Mexico’s 0-0 group stage draw with Poland rounded out the top 5 on Telemundo/Peacock with 4.6 million viewers, with Brazil, Spain and the US also appearing at the top of the Spanish-language rankings.
Impressive World Cup numbers
The overall numbers are a mix of the top spots in the English and Spanish rankings, with a similar focus on top teams and star players. The United States leads the way with four appearances in the top ten, with Mexico and Argentina participating in two matches each. Powerhouse teams from Brazil, Germany, Spain and Portugal round out the notables that appear in the top ten.
We can surely expect to continue to see strong viewership numbers on both FOX and Telemundo as the tournament winds down, with the quarterfinals kicking off on December 9.
World Cup 2022 Guide
Here are some resources to help you make the most of the biggest event in soccer!
