The United States’ recent World Cup encounter with Bosnia‑Herzegovina has entered the record books as the most‑watched soccer telecast ever broadcast in English, drawing over 24.4 million viewers.
Record‑Breaking Audience
Nielsen data shows a peak audience of 31.8 million tuned in at the height of the match, surpassing the 22.3 million who watched the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final.
Played in Santa Clara, California, the game ended 2‑0 in favor of the U.S., delivering the team’s first knockout‑stage victory since 2002 and securing a place in the round of 16.
The broadcast was carried across multiple platforms, including FOX, FOX Deportes, Telepundo and the streaming service Tubi, underscoring the multi‑channel appetite for live soccer.
When measured against other major U.S. sporting events, the figure still stands out; the most‑watched Super Bowl in 2025 attracted an average of 127.7 million viewers, yet the soccer match’s 24.4 million represents a watershed moment for English‑language sports broadcasting.
Earlier in the tournament, the Mexico‑Ecuador fixture captured a combined U.S. audience of 29.3 million, the highest combined viewership for any World Cup game to date.
Analysts say the surge in viewership will likely accelerate investment in broadcast rights and grassroots development, shaping the future trajectory of soccer in the United States.