Tuned In: Fox Eyes $2M for USMNT

June 24, 2026

With soccer’s biggest names at their best, the 2026 men’s FIFA World Cup has gotten off to a hot start. But there may be no bigger winner of the tournament than Fox, which hasn’t just enjoyed record ratings but also could soon be commanding ad rates as high as $2 million per spot.

—Michael McCarthy

First Up

First at FOS: ESPN NBA reporter Tim Bontemps is in advanced talks to join the Hawks’ front office. Read the story.
College GameDay’s Rece Davis will host ESPN’s upcoming coverage of Wimbledon. Read the story.
First at FOS: Chase Daniel is joining SEC Nation. He replaces Jordan Rodgers, who will move into “elevated” game and studio analyst roles for ESPN. Read the story.
In an interview with FOS, Fox analyst Landon Donovan took issue with the state of youth soccer in the U.S. Read the story.

The New Era of Sports Media

Tuned In, presented by Elevate, gathers the biggest names in sports media in one room.

Last year, we welcomed industry heavyweights—from Adam Silver and Rob Manfred to Jimmy Pitaro, Maria Taylor, and Stephen A. Smith—for intimate, candid conversations.

Joining us onstage this year will be NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman, MLS commissioner Don Garber, Steve O’Donnell of NASCAR, Elle Duncan of Netflix, and Pablo Torre of the Pulitzer-winning podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out. Also, college sports broadcasters John Fanta of NBC Sports and Josh Pate of Josh Pate’s College Football Show will sit down together to discuss the growth of college sports and its impact on media.

Additional speakers will be announced soon. Don’t miss your chance to be in the room with the people shaping the future of sports media.

Tickets are limited—register now to join us on Oct. 13 at The Times Center.

USMNT World Cup Run Could Push Fox Ad Rates Past $2 Million

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Fox Sports is reaping a windfall from World Cup advertising sales. If the U.S. men’s national team is able to make a deep run through the tournament, Fox could fetch more than $2 million per 30-second spot, sources tell Front Office Sports.

That’s the word from Madison Avenue media buyers currently negotiating with Fox over its dwindling advertising inventory during the media giant’s coverage of the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup.

Depending on matchups, ad rates range from $300,000 in the group-stage and knockout rounds to an estimated $1 million to $2 million for later rounds. But there’s a difference between Team USA telecasts and those of other countries, say sources.

This is the first time in 30 years the U.S. has hosted the World Cup in ideal TV time zones. Network executives at Fox are selling USMNT telecasts separately. With a rising Team USA seeking its first World Cup title, Fox is able to charge—and get—a premium.

During the group stage, for example, Fox was charging close to $1 million for some commercials in Team USA’s first two matches, sources say. If the U.S. men’s national team makes it to the semifinals or final, ad prices could soar into NFL-like territory.

“You’re looking at over $2 million,” estimates one source. “Obviously, [Fox] is banking on that. You saw from some of the early-round matches that they are delivering from a ratings standpoint. I can only imagine if [Team USA] gets to the round of 16.”

There’s no arguing Fox’s World Cup TV ratings have been strong as stars like the USA’s Folarin Balogun, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Norway’s Erling Haaland, and France’s Kylian Mbappé score at a record pace.

Fox averaged an impressive 15,986,000 viewers for Team USA’s opening 4–1 win over Paraguay 4–1 on June 12. That made it the most-watched FIFA World Cup match in English-language history for the U.S. men’s national team. On Friday afternoon, Fox scored again, averaging 14,781,000 viewers for Team USA’s 2–0 win over Australia, per preliminary data. The audience peaked at an NFL-esque 19,169,000 viewers from 4:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Fox is set to broadcast the Group D finale featuring Team USA vs. Turkey in primetime on Thursday night. Spots for that game could cost more than $1 million, say sources.

Marketers and their media agencies are pleased with Fox’s and Telemundo’s numbers so far, according to Ryan Zia, SVP of the Dentsu Sports marketing agency. He declined to comment on specific ad prices, however.

“It’s been great. We’re only two weeks in. Every team has played their two matches. Ratings are doing very well across the board, both Telemundo and Fox,” Zia tells FOS. “You’re seeing records broken. The USA-Paraguay game broke a lot of records. If you take into account English and Spanish language [numbers] combined, it was one of the biggest-rated games ever.”

But Fox’s high national prices have scared off some buyers. Olivia Hawkins, VP of media strategy at the Craft & Commerce media agency, represents a national consumer packaged goods company that sponsors the USMNT. After reviewing Fox’s national rates, she decided on a cheaper, local ad-buying approach with Fox.

“National was overpriced. I feel comfortable going on the record and saying that,” Hawkins tells FOS. She also declined to comment on specific ad prices.

There’s also the controversy over FIFA’s hydration breaks. These match stoppages allow Fox to show commercials in full or split-screen formats. Soccer purists scream they break up the match flow and upend decades of match strategy. But marketers are embracing them since they finally enable brands to place their messages inside, rather than around, matches, notes Zia. The Hollywood Reporter reported these in-game spots have cost anywhere from $200,000 to $750,000 apiece, depending on the matchup and the stage of the tournament.

Fox paid a bargain basement rate of $485 million for U.S. media rights to the 2026 World Cup. With World Cup fever sweeping up fans and advertisers, the network could ultimately reap a combined $250 million to $600 million in ad sales from the hydration breaks, according to THR. Fox’s ability to broadcast matches in ideal time zones has been a “game-changer,” said Fox VP of production Zac Kenworthy in an interview with THR.

Fox declined to comment on World Cup ad sales.

Around the Dial

Athens, GA - October 7, 2023 - Myers Quad: University of Georgia Bulldog alumni Aaron Murray on the set of Marty & McGee.

Adam Hagy-ESPN Images

SEC Network and ACC Network are switching up their top announce teams, Front Office Sports has learned. It will be Matt Schumacker and former Georgia QB Aaron Murray at SEC Network, while Wes Durham and former USC/Pitt QB Max Browne will be on the call at ACC Network. An ESPN spokesperson declined to comment.
The New York Times published a report on Dianna Russini’s exit from The Athletic, revealing she made nearly $800,000 annually before resigning earlier this year.
After scoring two goals in Portugal’s 5–0 win over Uzbekistan, legendary striker Cristiano Ronaldo blew off a reporter asking about rival Lionel Messi of Argentina.
Frank Isola on The Guardian’s takedown of Alexi Lalas: “British broadcasters on FOX didn’t recognize/identify Manu Ginóbili. The Guardian is blaming Alexi Lalas.”
Fox’s John Strong referenced the Battles of Lexington and Concord as England struggled to a 0–0 tie with Ghana at Boston Stadium: “But as we know, the English historically struggle here in Massachusetts.”
Prayers up to ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller, who shared he had to have his left arm amputated after a horrific car crash. “I’m incredibly fortunate to be writing this,” he tweeted.

One Big Fig

Norway forward Erling Haaland (9) attempts a shot during a game against Senegal at MetLife Stadium, Jun 22, 2026, East Rutherford, NJ, USA.

The Record

5.7 million

That’s the average viewership for the 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup match coverage across Fox, FS1, and Tubi over the first 24 matches. That’s up an eye-popping 116% from the last men’s World Cup in 2022.