U.S.-Belgium World Cup Match Draws 42 Million Viewers

The U.S. vs Belgium match in the World Cup Round of 16 drew an average of 42 million viewers, split between 30 million on Fox’s English broadcast and 12 million on Telemundo/Peacock’s Spanish feed. This tally eclipsed the 39.2 million viewers that the NFL’s January 2026 divisional round attracted.

The U.S. team's early exit, reportedly hampered by political interference, has raised questions about future ratings. If the side had progressed, viewership could have approached 100 million, underscoring soccer’s growing mainstream presence in America. rocore.sbs