Kansas City Leads U.S. in FIFA World Cup TV Ratings

WHO:

Awful Announcing - Kansas City is referred to as “the Soccer Capital of America.”

KSHB 41 Kansas City - FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the host countries.

WHAT:

Awful Announcing - Kansas City had an average household rating of 4.89 and a share of 20 during the FIFA World Cup, leading the U.S. in viewership.

KSHB 41 Kansas City - The top 15 local markets for FIFA World Cup viewership included Kansas City (4.89/20), Boston (3.91/16), Austin (3.91/20), San Francisco (3.84/21), Dallas (3.77/17), San Diego (3.66/18), Atlanta (3.51/16), St. Louis (3.45/13), Providence (3.35/14), West Palm Beach (3.33/12), Seattle (3.25/19), Richmond (3.25/19), Washington D.C. (3.24/16), Denver (3.14/18), and Los Angeles (3.12/13).

KSHB 41 Kansas City - The total audience for the Spain-Argentina final across Fox and Telemundo was estimated at 66.4 million viewers, surpassing the previous record of 26.7 million viewers from the 2014 final.

KSHB 41 Kansas City - Attendance at the World Cup was nearly 7 million spectators, with over 6 billion people estimated to have watched from home.

PhillyVoice - Philadelphia's average viewership for the group stage was 22.7 million minutes watched per match, a 31% increase from the previous World Cup.

PhillyVoice - In the round of 32, Philadelphia averaged 39.2 million minutes watched per match, and in the round of 16, it averaged 54.7 million minutes, a 133% increase over the 2022 round of 16.

PhillyVoice - The group stage match between Brazil and Haiti on June 19 recorded 36.5 million total minutes watched, which was 61% higher than the average group stage viewership in Philadelphia.

PhillyVoice - The round of 16 match between France and Paraguay on July 4 recorded 66 million minutes viewed, which was 21% higher than the average for the round.

PhillyVoice - The average viewership for the Spain-Argentina final peaked at 58.69 million, according to Fox.

PhillyVoice - The total audience for the Spain-Argentina final across Fox and Telemundo was estimated at 66.4 million viewers, surpassing the previous record of 26.7 million viewers from the 2014 final.

PhillyVoice - Fox paid $485 million for U.S. rights to the World Cup in 2026, with projected advertising revenue of about $850 million for the broadcasters.

Awful Announcing - Kansas City had an average household rating of 4.89 and a share of 20 during the FIFA World Cup.

KSHB 41 Kansas City - The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina was watched by approximately 60 million viewers in the U.S.

KSHB 41 Kansas City - The final match drew 38.937 million viewers on Fox, peaking at 51.685 million, making it the most-watched English-language soccer telecast in U.S. history.

KSHB 41 Kansas City - Fox averaged 7.737 million viewers for the 104 broadcasts of the World Cup, an increase from 3.588 million in 2022 and 2.77 million in 2018.

KSHB 41 Kansas City - Attendance at the World Cup was nearly 7 million spectators, with over 6 billion people estimated to have watched from home.

WHERE:

Awful Announcing - Kansas City is identified as the leading market for World Cup viewership in the United States.

KSHB 41 Kansas City - The World Cup was hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

WHEN:

KSHB 41 Kansas City - The World Cup final occurred on a Sunday, with specific matches mentioned, including a knockout-round game on July 4.

WHY:

KSHB 41 Kansas City - The strong ratings and attendance were attributed to the popularity of star players like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland, as well as the overall success of the tournament.

HOW:

KSHB 41 Kansas City - Fox averaged 7.737 million viewers for the 104 broadcasts of the World Cup, an increase from 3.588 million in 2022 and 2.77 million in 2018.

KSHB 41 Kansas City - Fox broadcast all 104 games in English on its platforms, and Nielsen expanded its out-of-home measurement system to provide more accurate viewership numbers.

(UPDATED July 25, 2026 01:25 UTC)

Kansas City led the nation in FIFA World Cup viewership with an impressive average household rating of 4.89 and a share of 20. The total audience for the thrilling Spain-Argentina final across Fox and Telemundo reached an astonishing 66.4 million viewers, shattering the previous record of 26.7 million from the 2014 final. Overall, the World Cup attracted nearly 7 million spectators in person, while over 6 billion people tuned in from home, with Fox averaging 7.737 million viewers for its broadcasts, a significant increase from previous tournaments.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 19:28 UTC)

The viewership for the World Cup in Philadelphia has seen remarkable growth, with an average of 22.7 million minutes watched per match during the group stage, marking a 31% increase from the previous tournament. In the knockout rounds, the average soared even higher, reaching 39.2 million minutes in the round of 32 and 54.7 million minutes in the round of 16, a staggering 133% increase over 2022. The final match between Spain and Argentina peaked at 58.69 million viewers, contributing to a total audience of 66.4 million across Fox and Telemundo, which shattered the previous record of 26.7 million viewers from the 2014 final.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 17:28 UTC)

Kansas City has been dubbed “the Soccer Capital of America” as it emerged as the leading market for FIFA World Cup viewership in the United States, boasting an impressive average household rating of 4.89 and a share of 20. The World Cup final, which featured Spain and Argentina, attracted around 60 million viewers nationwide, with the match peaking at 51.685 million viewers on Fox, making it the most-watched English-language soccer telecast in U.S. history. Overall, the tournament saw nearly 7 million spectators in attendance, with over 6 billion people estimated to have watched from home, driven by the star power of players like Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé.