​Fox Sports capped an unprecedented week in TV soccer viewership as Argentina’s 2-1 victory over England on Wednesday became the most-watched World Cup semifinal in English-language history, according to Variety. The match drew an average of 15.063 million viewers on Fox, a figure that dwarfed the previous day’s semifinal record when Spain defeated France 2-0 on Tuesday, which averaged 11.462 million viewers. The Argentina-England clash, featuring Lionel Messi against England and its star striker Harry Kane in Atlanta, peaked at 22.177 million viewers from 4:45 to 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
Fox’s overall average for the 2022 World Cup semifinals was 6.531 million viewers. The 2022 Qatar semifinal between France and Morocco drew 6.595 million viewers on Fox, setting the prior English-language broadcast record for World Cup semifinals until this week. Radio Times also noted that England’s Wednesday match was the most-watched live TV broadcast in the United Kingdom in 2026, peaking at 24 million viewers and averaging 22.1 million across BBC One and iPlayer. It stood as the most-watched match of the current World Cup in the UK, surpassing England’s quarterfinal win over Norway on ITV1 (with overnight figures peaking at 16.8 million). The broadcast marked BBC’s largest live audience since England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy in 2021.
Meanwhile, the wider sports and entertainment landscape carried a flood of headlines: United States live updates tracked the U.S. team’s exit, the fallout from Trump’s alleged meddling in the World Cup, and ongoing coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In the final, defending champion Argentina will face European champion Spain on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. England and France are set to meet in the third-place game on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The week’s dramatic television numbers come as Fox’s and other broadcasters’ coverage built on a trend of escalating interest in World Cup action, reflecting a global appetite for high-stakes soccer, star power, and national rivalries. The Argentina-England semifinal’s record-breaking viewership underscored how the tournament can captivate both casual fans and devoted soccer enthusiasts, driving robust numbers across multiple platforms and regions. As teams move toward the final stages, audiences will be keenly watching to see if the momentum continues, with Argentina pursuing another title shot, Spain seeking to cement its European prowess, and an eventful slate of matches that has already broken several viewership records this season.