The United States' round‑of‑16 encounter with Belgium became the most‑watched soccer telecast in American history, drawing an average audience of 30 million viewers, according to Fox.
Record‑Breaking Audience
The broadcast reached a peak of more than 36.8 million viewers between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time, surpassing the previous record set by the U.S.‑Bosnia‑Herzegovina game, which attracted 26.4 million viewers.
Belgium secured a 4‑1 victory, advancing to the quarterfinals and eliminating one of the tournament’s three co‑hosts, a result that added to the match's dramatic appeal.
Fox, which aired the game, highlighted the milestone as evidence of growing interest in soccer across the United States, noting that the viewership numbers eclipsed all prior soccer broadcasts on U.S. television.
The numbers reflect not only the excitement of the match but also the increasing reach of soccer in a market traditionally dominated by other sports.