Record‑Breaking Audience
Fox announced that the United States' round‑of‑16 encounter with Belgium drew a record 30 million viewers, marking the highest audience ever for a soccer broadcast in the United States.
The game, which ended in a 4‑1 victory for Belgium, propelled the Belgian side into the quarterfinals while eliminating the last of the tournament’s three co‑hosts.
Viewership spiked dramatically during the half‑hour window from 9:15 to 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time, when the broadcast reached an estimated 36.8 million people, eclipsing the former record of 26.4 million set by the U.S.‑Bosnia‑Herzegovina match.
Analysts say the surge reflects growing appetite for soccer in the United States and underscores the impact of high‑stakes knockout matches on television ratings.