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Just a day after Fox Sports’ coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals broke records, they did it again. Wednesday’s nailbiter between Argentina and England averaged 15.063 million viewers on Fox, making it the most-watched
FIFA Men’s World Cup semifinals match in English-language history.
That beat Tuesday’s faceoff between Spain and France, which averaged 11.462 million viewers and held the previous record — for a day.
The Argentina-England game ended up with a last-minute win by Argentina — which pulled off a 2-1 victory and heads to Sunday’s finals vs. Spain. The Argentina-England match, which took place in Atlanta, peaked with 22.177 million viewers from 4:45 to 5 p.m. ET.
It also repped Fox’s most-watched Wednesday afternoon telecast in Fox history. (Granted, Fox doesn’t normally broadcast in the afternoons — or at least, hasn’t regularly since it dropped Fox Kids in late 2001.)
The telecast was also up +131% vs. the FIFA World Cup 2022 semifinals telecast average on Fox (6.531 million viewers).
The semifinals game seemed to be a likely win for England, which scored in minute 55 thanks to Anthony Gordon, with an assist from Morgan Rogers. But then in the 87th minute, Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez got through, making the match even. Four minutes later, Lionel Messi passed to Lautaro Martinez, who put Argentina ahead 2-1.
That put defending World Cup champs Argentina back into the finals, while England’s dry spell — having not won since 1966 — continues.
Prior to this week’s matches, the previous most-watched FIFA Men’s World Cup semifinals telecast in English-language U.S. history was France-Morocco on 2022, when 6.595 million viewers watched on Fox. The match viewership was also up 76% vs. the FIFA World Cup 2022 semifinals telecast average on Fox (6.531 million viewers).
