By Staff Reporter
New York: The FIFA World Cup 2026 has gotten off to an extraordinary start, captivating massive audiences both inside the stadiums and on television across the three host nations.
More than one million fans have already attended matches live, while television viewership has reached unprecedented levels. Over 54 million viewers across Canada, Mexico, and the United States tuned in to watch their respective national teams’ opening matches, setting new records for the tournament.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino highlighted the significance of these figures:
“What we are witnessing here is truly historic. The United States’ opening match against Paraguay was the most-watched FIFA World Cup match ever broadcast in the United States, while more than 54 million people across Canada, Mexico and the United States watched their respective nations’ opening matches, shattering records and showing how football is truly uniting the world.”
Infantino added:
“These figures tell you everything about what this tournament means to these countries, this continent and the entire world. However, this is not just about numbers — this is about millions of people from every corner of the world coming together through football. The atmosphere, energy and passion I feel in these host countries is something incredibly special.”
Standout viewership highlights
United States The host nation’s opening victory over Paraguay drew an average audience of 27.5 million viewers across FOX and Telemundo — the most-watched FIFA World Cup match in US history.
- FOX delivered its highest-ever English-language FIFA Men’s World Cup audience and the most-streamed English-language USMNT match in tournament history.
- Telemundo achieved its most-watched US Men’s National Team FIFA World Cup match ever on Spanish-language television.
Mexico Mexico’s opening win against South Africa attracted an average of 23.4 million viewers, making it the country’s most-watched FIFA World Cup game of the 21st century. The match captured a remarkable 72.1% television market share, with nearly three out of every four TV viewers in Mexico watching El Tri. The game also drew approximately 20 million viewers in the United States, setting a new record for the most-watched Spanish-language FIFA World Cup opening match in US history.
Canada Canada’s opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on home soil attracted an average audience of 3.1 million viewers across English and French-language broadcasters, ranking as the third most-watched FIFA World Cup match featuring the Canadian men’s national team in the 21st century.
These record-breaking audiences underscore the tremendous excitement and engagement generated by the FIFA World Cup 2026, as fans across North America embrace a tournament that is already creating lasting memories both on and off the pitch.
