The FIFA World Cup tournament barreled into North America this year amid a tide of nativism, political polarization in the U.S. and the usual uncertainty over how well the quadrennial men's soccer championship would play with American sports fans — especially as this year's 39-day competition collided directly with the America 250 celebrations.

As the knockout rounds of the World Cup begin, Fox and Telemundo can be crowned as two of the biggest winners off the field.

When the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America on June 11, it’s easily predicted to garner billions of viewers all over the globe, with millions of fans also watching the action live. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar saw more than 5 billion people engage with the tournament,

FIFA World Cup 2026™ Group Stage Averages a Total Audience Delivery of 4.6 million viewers in Spanish, Up 122% vs. 2022 Group Stage

Fox and Telemundo execs analyze why, a bit more than halfway through the World Cup, it has already reached such rarefied air in terms of TV ratings.

They may not understand every word, but fans appreciate exuberant announcers who match their enthusiasm. Plus, cameras stay on the field during hydration breaks rather than cutting to commercials.

The game peaked at 31.883 million viewers between 9:45 and 10 p.m. ET, as it was coming to an end. Per Fox, the number makes the match the most-watched English-language soccer telecast in U.S. history.

Viewership of FIFA World Cup 2026™ Averages 7.5 Million Viewers, Up +234% vs. 2022 Through First Twelve Games. USA Opener on Friday is Most-Watched USMNT FIFA World Cup™ Match

The unforgettable run of Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team at FIFA WORLD CUP 2026™ came to a close on Saturday afternoon, and Canadian viewers came together once again to support this history-making team,

The U.S. match against Bosnia and Herzegovina averaged 24.43 million viewers on Fox, making it the biggest English-language soccer broadcast ever.