• Loading stock data...
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Want a chance to win $250 and free FOS gear? Take our quick reader survey. Take the survey here

World Cup Final Gives Fox Sports A Viewership Record

  • Fox drew a ‘whistle to whistle’ average of 17.7 million viewers.
  • Telemundo, Peacock generated another 9 million viewers from Spanish-language TV viewers.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe argue during World Cup final
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

By whatever metrics you want to use, Fox Sports’ coverage of Argentina’s epic victory over France was the most-watched World Cup Men’s Final on American English-language television.

Fox says the match averaged 17,726,000 viewers “whistle to whistle,” from its start time of 10 a.m. ET to its end time of 12.55 p.m. ET.  

Fox previously pegged viewership at 16.8 million for Sunday’s legendary duel between Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappe. But that number accounted for the entire broadcast window, including pregame coverage.

Both numbers beat the previous Men’s Final record of 14.5 million for ABC’s coverage of Italy vs. Brazil in 1994. As well as the 15.4 million viewers for this year’s group stage match between the United States and England on Black Friday. 

However, the women’s game still holds the record for the U.S. World Cup viewership.

The U.S. women’s team’s win over Japan in 2015 drew 25.4 million viewers on Fox. So Fox now holds the record for most-watched men’s and women’s World Cup Finals on American TV. 

This year’s measurements included out-of-home viewing in bars and restaurants. More on the epic Men’s Final won by Argentina on penalty kicks:

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe stand side by side during World Cup final

World Cup Final Sets American Viewership Record

The epic penalty-kicks victory for Argentina drew 16.8 million viewers.
December 20, 2022
  • Viewership for Argentia-France peaked at 25,622,000 viewers as Messi and Mbappe traded goals in arguably the greatest Men’s Final in history.  
  • Telemundo and Peacock generated another nine million viewers from Spanish-language TV viewers. So the Men’s Final drew nearly 27 million total viewers in the U.S.
  • It was the most-streamed World Cup match in Fox’s history, with an average minute audience (AMA) of 1,281,776, up 158% from the 2018 Final in Russia. It was also the third most-streamed event in Fox history, after Super Bowls LI and LIV.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

YouTube/ Multiple streaming services appear on a Roku TV.

YouTube in Another Carriage Dispute, This Time With Disney

ESPN and ABC could be dropped from the No. 4 U.S. pay-TV distributor.
Oct 20, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates after defeating the Seattle Mariners in game seven of the ALCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Rogers Centre.

Blue Jays Game 7 Clincher Draws Record TV Audience

LCS viewership rises, with historic totals posted in Canada and Japan.
Donald Trump

FIFA Backs Down, Suggests Trump Could Move World Cup Games

Trump has threatened to remove games from Seattle, San Francisco, and Boston.

Texas-Oklahoma Gets 8.7M Viewers, Most-Watched CFB Game of Week 7

The Red River Rivalry was the most-watched game of the weekend.

Featured Today

September 21, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell before the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium

NFL Fall Meeting: 7 Big Topics Among Team Owners 

Media, facilities, and labor highlight some of the key areas of concern.
Ohio State Buckeyes running back Isaiah West (32) runs the ball in the second half at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin
October 25, 2025

NIL Has Birthed a Third-Party Cottage Industry—and It’s a Mess

There’s no limit to how much players can make from NIL deals.
Christie's
October 21, 2025

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
Oct 21, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) keeps the ball away from Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the second half at Paycom Center

NBA’s NBC Return Draws 5.9M Viewers, Best Opener Since 2010

Thunder vs. Rockets peaked at 7.1 million viewers.
Brian Windhorst
October 23, 2025

Brian Windhorst Details Emergency Landing on Omaha–L.A. Flight

The pilots and flight attendants had a communication issue.
May 17, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Dominguez (24) shakes hands with New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) after the top of the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium.
October 23, 2025

Mets, Yankees, and the Nielsen Debate That Won’t Go Away

Weeks after the end of the MLB regular season, viewership issues remain.
Sponsored

How HOKA is Reimagining the NIL Relationship

Fans can now follow their favorite golfers and experience every marquee moment at the Ryder Cup — thanks to innovation from T-Mobile.
October 22, 2025

YouTube Stars Help Bring Back Golf Channel’s ‘Big Break’

The show will return in 2026 after an 11-year hiatus.
Candace Parker
October 22, 2025

Candace Parker Wants NFL-Style Coverage From NBA Media

Amazon will stream its first NBA doubleheader Friday.
Netflix
October 21, 2025

Netflix Staying on the Sidelines As TNT Sports Parent Seeks Buyer

The streaming giant shows little interest in acquisition possibilities.
Apr 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of an NBA basketball and backyard and NBA logo before the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Toronto Raptors at the American Airlines Center.
October 17, 2025

NBA Tries to Solve Fragmentation Issue It Helped Create

A new “Tap to Watch” feature will direct fans to live games.