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World Cup Ratings Skyrocket on Fox
29 Jun
Summary
- Fox's pregame show viewership more than doubled from the 2022 World Cup.
- Combined viewership for matches exceeded 10 million viewers per game.
- Hosting the tournament in North America benefits viewership due to time zones.
Fox Sports is celebrating a significant ratings boost for the 2026 men's World Cup. The network's pregame show has seen its audience more than double compared to the 2022 tournament. Through the first 12 days and the second leg of the group stage, the show averaged over 2.4 million viewers, a 117 percent increase from the previous World Cup. This growth outpaces the percentage gain seen in match coverage itself.
Match coverage on Fox, FS1, and Tubi has also experienced substantial growth, drawing 5.62 million viewers for the initial group stage matches. This marks a 113 percent increase from the 2.64 million viewers in 2022. A key factor contributing to these higher ratings is the tournament's co-hosting by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
This North American hosting means pregame shows air in the late morning or midday ET, providing a more accessible viewing schedule for US audiences. In contrast, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar occurred in the fall with significant time differences and a crowded sports calendar. The combined audience for both Fox and Telemundo/Peacock has consistently exceeded 10 million viewers per match.
