Baker's TakeSpain Defeats France in Record-Breaking World Cup Semifinal as Viewership Tops 11.4 Million
By
Mr Bagel
Spain defeated France in the 2026 World Cup semifinal on Tuesday, advancing to the final in a match that drew a record 11.462 million viewers on Fox, according to Variety. The figure marks the most-watched FIFA Men's World Cup semifinal telecast in U.S. English-language TV history, surpassing all previous semifinal broadcasts. The tournament, which began with 48 countries, has now been narrowed down to four teams: France, Spain, England, and Argentina.
PCMag described the semifinals as "two nail-biting matches this week to decide who will make it to the finals." The first of those, between France and Spain, delivered on that drama. Spain emerged victorious and will now await the winner of the England-Argentina semifinal to determine their opponent in the championship match.
"setting a new record as the most-watched FIFA Men's World Cup semifinal telecast in U.S. English-language TV history."
That record may be short-lived. Variety noted that the England-Argentina semifinal "could potentially surpass these numbers," given the star power and global interest in both teams. The viewership milestone underscores the growing appetite for live soccer in the United States.
ShortSingh reported that this year's tournament also introduced "the first-ever official World Cup halftime show," adding a new entertainment element to the broadcasts. Fans still have multiple ways to catch the remaining matches, with streaming and television options available across several platforms.
PCMag reminded viewers that the semifinals continue with the England-Argentina match, and the final will follow. For those without cable, free streaming options remain a possibility, making the tournament accessible to a wide audience as it heads toward its climax.
The reporting
7 outlets covered this story. Each links to the original.
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