FOX Sports 1’s coverage of Japan against England in the Women’s World Cup semi-final was viewed by 2.3 million people, and was the most-watched cable television program on Wednesday in the United States.

For a semi-final to be viewed by so many people and not involve the US, and not be shown on the over-the-air FOX network is extraordinary.

In the United Kingdom, the Japan-England game was watched by 1.7 million on BBC One.

SEE MORE — Watch Japan-England match highlights.

The news follows on the heels of the impressive 8.4 million people who watched USA versus Germany in Tuesday’s semi-final. That match was shown live on the over-air FOX network from 7pm to 9pm ET, and is the most-watched broadcast on FOX since the April 1 edition of American Idol. While an average of 8.4 million people watched the broadcast, it peaked at 12.1 million between 8:30-8:45 p.m. ET.

SEE MORE — Women’s soccer doesn’t need male approval or political correctness.