2026 FIFA World Cup final shattered TV records

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain, Argentina shattered TV records

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Jul 21, 2026 11:05 PM ET

Football is America's game, but many in the United States are beginning to acquire a taste for the other futbol.

Don't believe that claim? Just take a look at the TV viewership numbers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. The figures could blow your mind.

Front Office Sports reveals record-breaking numbers for 2026 FIFA World Cup

On Tuesday night, Front Office Sports shared that Spain's 1-0 extra-time win this past Sunday averaged 66.4 million viewers (42.5 million on Fox, 23.9 million on Telemundo), making it the most-watched soccer match in U.S. history.

That rating is higher than several of the biggest NFL games. This past season, a Dallas Cowboys-Kansas City Chiefs Thanksgiving tilt set the record for the most-watched regular-season game in NFL history. Dallas' 31-28 win still averaged fewer viewers (57.23 million) than the World Cup final.

The FIFA World Cup final averaged 66.4M viewers across Fox and Telemundo, including 42.5M on Fox and 23.9M on Telemundo.

It marks the most-watched soccer match of any type in U.S. history. #TunedIn pic.twitter.com/WCRjRxxxtF
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 22, 2026

Super Bowl LX remains the most-watched sporting event of 2026. Nielsen announced Super Bowl Sunday averaged an estimated 125.6 million viewers on NBC. Let's be honest, some were more interested in Bad Bunny's halftime show than the game, which was a snoozer. The Seattle Seahawks rolled the New England Patriots 29-13.

The NFL remains king in the United States, but the World Cup ratings illustrate a growing appetite for soccer. Fans want to know about some of the sport's biggest stars, like Argentina forward Lionel Messi, Norway forward Erling Haaland and France forward Kylian Mbappe.

Let's not ignore that the United States co-hosting the World Cup along with Canada and Mexico also played a factor. That may have piqued the interest of more casual fans.

The United States Men's National Team got off to a fast start before losing to Belgium 4-1 in the Round of 16. Imagine how many more people would've watched the final if the American squad had gone all the way.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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