The United States and Belgium met on the world stage in a match that would rewrite the record books for American soccer viewership.
Fox announced that 30 million people tuned in to watch the game, with the audience spiking to more than 36.8 million viewers between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Audience surge at prime time
The broadcast not only eclipsed the previous high set by the U.S.-Bosnia-Herzegovina encounter, which attracted 26.4 million viewers, but also demonstrated the growing appetite for soccer among U.S. audiences.
Belgium's 4-1 victory secured a spot in the quarterfinals and eliminated the last of the tournament's three co-hosts, adding a dramatic storyline to the match.
The game's timing, landing in a prime evening slot, helped capture a broad cross-section of viewers, from families gathering around the television to sports bars filling with fans.
Analysts note that the record-breaking numbers could influence future scheduling decisions, with broadcasters likely to place high‑stakes matches in similarly prime time windows.
As the tournament progresses, the United States' record‑setting audience serves as a benchmark for the sport's expanding footprint on American media platforms.