The most anticipated match of the 2026 World Cup was the final, which Spain won over Argentina, with an audience that matched expectations.
While the English-language audience in the United States has not yet been released, the Spanish-language broadcast drew numbers unlike anything the sport had previously seen in the country.
The match averaged 22.6 million viewers across Telemundo and Peacock, according to figures published by Nielsen. The total marked a huge increase from the 9 million viewers who watched the final between France and Argentina at the previous World Cup.
Audience in other countries
The biggest match in soccer once again attracted massive audiences around the world. In Spain, it became the most-watched match in the country’s history, even surpassing the final in 2010, with an average audience of 15.7 million viewers according to Barlovento Comunicación.
Lautaro Martínez scored the winning goal against England (Elsa/Getty Images)
In the United Kingdom, the final was watched by 19.2 million viewers. With England no longer in the tournament, it could not surpass the semifinal against Argentina, which drew 24 million viewers.
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Italy once again proved they are still a soccer nation even after missing the last three editions, recording an average audience of 12.5 million viewers. The matchup may also have been influenced by many fans hoping Spain would win, as an Argentina victory would have tied Italy’s four titles.
Audience in Canada
It is clear the sport still has room to grow in Canada, even after the national team’s best-ever World Cup campaign. Canada won its first World Cup match and then its first knockout match against South Africa before losing to Morocco in the Round of 16. Despite that run, the final averaged 6.4 million viewers.
