Wednesday, November 11, 2026

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

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

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.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

West Wind Mahjong

Mahjong Mania Has Come for College Sports

Bespoke retailers are cashing in with officially licensed mahjong sets.

Are the USMNT and Pochettino Headed For A $10 Million Breakup?

Pochettino could take over flailing Manchester United.

College Football’s Loaded Saturday Sets Up Huge Day for ABC, ESPN

The networks will broadcast five top-25 matchups Saturday.

Can MLS Capitalize on Son-Mania?

Korea and Tottenham fans alike have flocked to LAFC’s away matches.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

11/11/26 – 24-Team CFP Fallout, Brees Eyes ‘MNF,’ Sportsbooks Get Crushed

0:00

Featured Today

Pickering High School North

High School Athletic Directors Say They’re Running ‘Mini Colleges’

ADs are managing a growing list of demands from athletes and parents.
October 30, 2026

How Injuries Hit Pro Marathoners in the Wallet

Staying healthy can get expensive—quickly.
Football - NFL - Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - October 18, 2026 The necklace of a Jacksonville Jaguars fan outside the stadium before the match
October 21, 2026

Die-Hard Sports Fandom Has Reached the Afterlife

Will fans pay $6,000 to memorialize their team loyalty?
October 20, 2026

Why Europe Is Pumping Out NBA Superstars

The NBA and NCAA have an increasingly European flavor.
October 15, 2026

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.

Mike Tomlin Knows Coaching Talk Is ‘Going to Come Up’ Soon

The ex-Steelers coach is “enjoying” his NBC Sports role.
Nov 8, 2026; Madrid, ESP; A general overall view of the 2026 NFL Madrid Game at an empty Bernabeu Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
November 11, 2026

NFL Network’s Europe Games Average a Record 6.9M in First ESPN Season

NFL Network games this season also stream on the ESPN app.
Dianna Russini BetUS
November 11, 2026

Russini’s Return Hits 45-Minute Delay, Sidesteps Vrabel Scandal

Russini did joke about memes that have been made about her.
Sponsored

How Jeremy Bloom Is Reinventing the X Games

Jeremy Bloom discusses transforming the X Games into a global brand.
Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees on the field prior to the start of a week 6 NFL football game between New York Giants and New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Exclusive
November 11, 2026

Drew Brees Wants to Succeed Troy Aikman on Monday Night Football

Greg Olsen and Tony Romo are other potential candidates.
Feb 10, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Dianna Russini appears on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors awards presentation at YouTube Theater. Mandatory Credit:
November 10, 2026

10 Burning Questions About Dianna Russini’s Sports-Media Comeback

Plenty of questions remain ahead of Russini’s upcoming return.
November 9, 2026

‘We Believe in Sports’: Skydance Combining HBO Max, Paramount+

Those services have rights to the NFL, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, and more.
November 9, 2026

Dianna Russini Announces New Show With Offshore Sportsbook

BetUS announced ‘The Russini Report’ on Monday.