• Loading stock data...
Saturday, July 19, 2025

World Cup’s USA-Iran Match Draws 12 Million Viewers

  • Viewership peaked at 15.6 million during USA’s final stressful moments.
  • Black Friday’s USA-England outpaced with an audience of 15.4 million.
USMNT Christian Pulisic attempts shot during World Cup match
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

Fox Sports drew 12 million TV viewers for Tuesday’s USA-Iran World Cup group stage match.

Team USA’s 1-0 victory over Iran in Qatar averaged 12 million viewers, below USA’s Black Friday match against England, which drew 15.4 million.

But Tuesday’s match was an impressive number for a match that started at 2 p.m. ET when many soccer fans were still at work or school. 

  • Viewership peaked at 15.6 million viewers from 3:45 to 4 p.m. ET as the U.S. men’s national team tried to hang on and advance to the knockout stage.
  • Team USA’s three group stage matches against Iran, England, and Wales averaged 11.7 million viewers. That’s the highest figure for the men’s team at that stage. It also “easily beats” the average for every non-NFL TV show this fall, tweeted Fox executive Mike Mulvihill.
  • The top five TV markets were Washington D.C., Providence, Boston, Baltimore, and Kansas City.
  • USA vs. Iran was the most-streamed FIFA World Cup match in Fox Sports history, with an average minute audience of 959,004 viewers.
USMNT striker Josh Sargent heads ball towards Welsh goal during World Cup match

Fox Catching Flak For Tone-Deaf World Cup Coverage

Network’s early World Cup coverage ignores Qatar’s human rights record.
November 21, 2022

Fox, Telemundo, and Peacock will have another opportunity to score high ratings when Team USA plays the Netherlands on Saturday at 10 a.m. ET.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Ryan Field Construction
exclusive

First Look Inside Northwestern’s $862 Million New Ryan Field

Five big things FOS learned on our exclusive stadium tour.

Barstool-Fox Deal Shows NFL’s Portnoy Cold War Is Thawing

The Barstool-Fox alliance is a signal of how times have changed.
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy looks up at the scoreboard Saturday, May 17, 2025, during a game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Chicago Sky, 93-58.

Barstool’s Dave Portnoy Announces Fox Sports Deal

FS1 canceled “Breakfast Ball,” “The Facility,” and “Speak” this week.
Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.

Featured Today

2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.
Rimouski, QC - JUNE 1: Final Game of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Medicine Hats Tigers and the London Knights on June 1, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc.
July 11, 2025

CHL Is Facing a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of Questions Amid NCAA Talent Departure

As players defect to college, the Canadian Hockey League won’t cede ground.

Netflix Beats Projections Again—and Plots Big Holiday Sports Slate

The streaming giant again beats analyst projections in every respect.
Jul 15, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; National League designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a home run in the swing off of after the 2025 MLB All Star Game ended in a tie at Truist Park.
July 16, 2025

MLB All-Star Game Viewership Dips Despite Historic Swing-Off

Game viewership falls 3% despite late dramatics in the unique tiebreaker.
July 17, 2025

ESPN Bidding Against NBC, Apple for MLB Rights Package

The league continues to negotiate with multiple media-rights bidders.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 15, 2025

MLB Home Run Derby Draws 5.7M Viewers on ESPN, Up 5%

ESPN reverses the trend from last year and registers audience growth.
July 15, 2025

WNBA Hits Fourth-Highest ABC Viewership With Clark-Bueckers Duel

Clark missed the first Fever vs. Wings game with an injury.
Brittney Griner and Caitlin Clark
exclusive
July 15, 2025

‘Good Morning America’ Will Air From WNBA All-Star in First

The All-Star Game’s relevance has exploded with the league in recent years.
NBC Sports
exclusive
July 14, 2025

NBC Hiring Ex-Hawks Exec Grant Liffmann As NBA Front Office Insider

Liffmann spent the last three years with Atlanta after covering the Warriors.