The United States men’s national team delivered a powerful message on the field and across television screens with a dominant triumph over Paraguay in their first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Record audience figures were seen across the country, with the 4-1 result matched in front of a sold-out crowd at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Nearly 25M Watch USMNT Open World Cup Match in Historic Broadcast
The game drew a combined audience of 24.886 million viewers in the United States, as confirmed by broadcast data released shortly after the match. That figure includes English-language coverage on Fox and its streaming services, which averaged nearly 16 million viewers, plus another 8.9 million who watched on Spanish-language Telemundo and related digital outlets, as reported by Awful Announcing.
The English-language broadcast set a new record, becoming the most-watched telecast of a US men’s national team match in World Cup history. It also broke the record for most English-language matches in the group stage. Viewership hit a high point late in the game, coming close to 19 million viewers at a brief peak window.
Spanish coverage also set historic numbers. The match had the largest-ever audience for a US World Cup game on Spanish-language television. Also, it was the most-watched group-stage game in that category that did not feature Mexico, a country known for its strong viewing figures.
Record Audiences Highlight Rapid Growth of Soccer Popularity in the US
The rise in interest is a remarkable increase from previous tournaments. The crowd for this game was more than double the figures during the United States’ opener in the 2022 World Cup. Analysts point to the tournament’s hosting on home soil and the growing enthusiasm for soccer in the country as major contributors to the spike.
Comparisons with other major sporting events point to the magnitude of the success. The crowd for this one World Cup game was more than the recent average for championship series in basketball, baseball, and hockey, a sign of soccer’s growing role in the American sports scene.
Industry observers also say new measurement techniques, including more comprehensive streaming data, are a factor in the higher reported numbers. Even with that change, many consider the numbers to be a watershed moment for the sport in the US.
There is growing anticipation of even larger crowds as the tournament moves forward. The US team will play Australia in its next group-stage match, and more good play could increase interest even more, attracting viewers who do not normally watch the sport.
The tournament is already shaping up to be a defining moment for soccer growth in the United States with success on the field and record viewership.