Booming Viewership for World Cup Coverage Shows Soccer’s Growing Popularity in the U.S.

The U.S. broadcasts of the World Cup have hit record viewership levels. Fox Sports, responsible for the English broadcasts, reported an average of 5 million viewers per group stage match across 72 games. Meanwhile, Telemundo’s Spanish language coverage accounts for nearly half of all U.S. viewers tuning in.

A recent match saw the U.S. men’s national team eliminate Bosnia and Herzegovina’s team with a two-nil victory. Fans at Café Brasil in Culver City, California, celebrated with Giselle Rosas and her mother Graciela Reyes. They joined in on Telemundo’s announcer Andrés Cantor’s famous “Goooooool” calls. “It’s the best part for everybody,” stated Reyes.

Rosas expressed how the immigrant community has bolstered soccer’s popularity in the U.S. “We enjoy the game more in Spanish,” she said. “The excitement, the atmosphere, it’s a clear difference.”

This enthusiasm is evident, with Telemundo and Peacock streaming services averaging 4.6 million viewers per match. Miguel Lorenzo, a senior vice president at Telemundo Deportes, noted this is the most-watched World Cup in Spanish in the U.S. “Half of the country watches in Spanish, even though just 20% of the population is Hispanic,” he said.

Nielsen ratings showed that 20% of Telemundo’s viewers primarily speak English. Lorenzo mentioned a 122% increase in viewership since the 2022 World Cup. Top performances from Mexico and the U.S. are key viewing draws. Additionally, the network’s social media engagement surpassed one billion views.

“Many viewers don’t speak Spanish,” said Lorenzo. “Yet, they prefer Telemundo for the excitement. Some even hope to learn Spanish by the end of the World Cup. Joy and drama are universal.”

Telemundo differs from Fox by keeping cameras on the field during hydration breaks. Comedian Trevor Noah praised this approach. “Watching the players and coaches enriches the experience,” he shared. “Ads take away from the stress and anticipation. Telemundo’s coverage is truly outstanding.”