2026 World Cup Semifinals Shatter Broadcast Records

Record‑Breaking Viewership Across Languages

The 2026 World Cup semifinals set new benchmarks for both English and Spanish language broadcasts. NBC Universal reported official numbers that show the Argentina‑England clash topped Spanish‑language viewership with 11.4 million total fans on Telemundo and Peacock. In the English segment, FOX recorded an average of 15.063 million viewers and a peak of 22.177 million, the highest for a U.S. World Cup semifinal ever.

Spain’s 2‑0 victory over France also made history, pulling in 9.8 million Spanish‑language viewers and 11.462 million on FOX. Combined, the two semifinals averaged 10.6 million Telemundo viewers, a 136 % jump from the 2022 edition, which averaged 4.5 million.

The overall tournament continues to draw massive audiences, with an average of 6 million fans tuning into Telemundo for each match through the semifinals. This figure represents a 147 % increase compared to the same stage in 2022, when only 2.4 million viewers tuned in per game. The expanded 48‑team field generated a record 104 matches, fueling higher cumulative ratings.

Argentina’s Dominance in Spanish Broadcast

Lionel Messi’s squad delivered a 2‑1 win over England, a game that became the most‑watched Spanish‑language World Cup semifinal in history. The match earned 11.4 million total viewers on Telemundo and Peacock, surpassing the 2022 semifinal audience of 6.2 million when Argentina faced Croatia. This surge highlights Messi’s continued appeal and the growing popularity of Spanish soccer coverage in the United States.

The victory propelled Argentina into the final, where they will face Spain. The team’s strong performance has kept Telemundo’s average viewership above the 6 million mark for each match so far.

England’s Strong English‑Language Showing

England’s semifinal against Argentina on FOX attracted an average of 15.063 million viewers, a new high for English language World Cup semifinals in the United States. The broadcast peaked at 22.177 million viewers, underscoring the game’s national excitement. Despite the loss, the Three Lions’ performance contributed to the record‑breaking overall English‑language ratings for the tournament.

Fox’s coverage of the Spain‑France clash added another 11.462 million viewers, reinforcing the robust appetite for World Cup soccer in English across the country.

Spain’s Solid Performance and Broadcast Impact

Spain’s 2‑0 defeat of France not only secured a place in the third‑place match but also logged 9.8 million Spanish‑language viewers on Telemundo and Peacock. The English broadcast attracted 11.462 million viewers on FOX, reflecting strong cross‑language interest. Spain’s consistent play has helped maintain high viewership levels for both language streams throughout the knockout rounds.

With the third‑place match between France and England and the final Argentina‑Spain still ahead, Telemundo expects viewership to remain above 6 million per game, continuing the upward trend from previous years.

Iconic Moments captured on camera

With the third‑place match between France and England and the final where Argentina takes on Spain still to play, an average of 6 million fans have tuned into Telemundo and its associated properties each match of this World Cup. This is a boost of 147 % compared to the 2022 World Cup through the semifinals, which saw an average total audience of 2.4 million fans per match.

The tournament features an expanded field of 48 teams, creating a record 104 matches in total. Telemundo’s high ratings extend beyond soccer; the network previously set a Spanish‑language Super Bowl halftime record in February, drawing an average of 4.8 million viewers for Bad Bunny’s performance.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 World Cup semifinals set Spanish language viewership record.