What is the record US TV audience for the US vs Belgium match? Not so fast.
Early viewership numbers on Telemundo and Fox are expecting last Sunday night’s dramatic match between England and Mexico, a total that will surpass the U.S.-Belgium game in the U.S. as the most-watched soccer game in U.S. history.
More than 44 million people in the U.S. watched Mexico’s game against England – a staggering total audience of 23.2 million on Telemundo, as well as 21.742 million who watched on Fox.
Fox’s 21.7 million views made it the most-watched U.S. English-language World Cup telecast of all time not featuring the USMNT. (Fox’s 30 million viewers for Monday’s USMNT loss made it the most-watched English-language soccer game ever broadcast in the United States.)
But if you add in Telemundo’s 23.2 million (now the most-watched Spanish-language soccer telecast in U.S. history), the Mexico vs. England total comes to 44.8 million, exceeding the 42 million estimated by Fox and Telemundo for the US-Belgium matchup.
Keep in mind that these preliminary numbers will likely only increase as Nielsen finalizes the full data picture for both networks for both Sunday and Monday games.
The atmosphere at the Azteca on Sunday was as tense as any other tournament in 2026, with one team (England) having a relatively large fan base in the US and the other team (Mexico) having an absolutely huge one. That’s in addition to a dramatic round of 16 knockout clash as England try to beat a Mexico team that historically just hasn’t lost in this stadium.
Fox audiences peaked towards the thrilling conclusion of the game at 25.715 million viewers, with England reduced to 10 viewers as they tried to hold on to their lead and contain El Tri.
Viewers in the US followed the action in droves throughout the tournament, providing an eight-figure viewership for the series. With some of the biggest brands still in the tournament, the four quarterfinal games will draw large crowds, with perhaps none topping Sunday’s game in Mexico City or Monday’s game in Seattle.
France plays Morocco on Thursday at 4:00 pm ET and Spain-Belgium on Friday at 3:00 pm ET, followed by two games on Saturday, including Norway vs. England (5:00 pm ET) and defending champion Argentina vs. Switzerland at 9:00 pm ET.
Games involving France and Spain will be broadcast in the afternoon across the United States, so it is unlikely that the games will approach the heights of Sunday’s Mexico vs. England game, which aired in prime time in the United States. Saturday’s doubleheader – along with the star power of Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Lionel Messi – has the best chance of attracting the biggest audience in the quarter-finals.