Argentina’s win over England gives Fox a World Cup ratings record
Variety reported Fox averaged 15.063 million viewers for Argentina’s 2-1 semifinal win, the biggest English-language U.S. men’s World Cup semifinal telecast.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
Argentina’s late 2-1 escape against England did more than send Lionel Messi and company to another World Cup final. It handed Fox a new U.S. television record.
Wednesday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal averaged 15.063 million viewers on Fox, Variety reported, making it the most-watched FIFA Men’s World Cup semifinal ever on English-language television in the United States.
The mark lasted even less time than an England lead. One day earlier, Fox’s Spain-France semifinal averaged 11.462 million viewers, which Variety reported had briefly stood as the English-language U.S. record for a men’s World Cup semifinal.
Argentina’s victory over England was played in Atlanta and drew its largest audience late in the match. Variety reported the telecast peaked at 22.177 million viewers between 4:45 p.m. and 5 p.m. ET.
A late Argentina surge
England moved in front in the 55th minute, according to Variety, when Anthony Gordon scored off an assist from Morgan Rogers.
Argentina pulled level in the 87th minute through Enzo Fernandez. Four minutes later, Lionel Messi found Lautaro Martinez, who scored the winner to put Argentina ahead 2-1.
The result sends defending champion Argentina into Sunday’s final against Spain. England, whose last World Cup title came in 1966, was eliminated.
Fox stacks up another record
Variety reported the Argentina-England broadcast was also Fox’s most-watched Wednesday afternoon telecast in the network’s history.
The audience was far above Fox’s 2022 World Cup semifinal average. Variety reported Wednesday’s telecast was up 131% from the network’s 2022 semifinal average of 6.531 million viewers.
Before this week’s back-to-back record setters, the top English-language U.S. audience for a men’s World Cup semifinal was Fox’s France-Morocco telecast in 2022, which drew 6.595 million viewers, according to Variety.
The new ratings mark adds another layer to a semifinal already packed with marquee names and late drama. Fox had the record for Spain’s win over France on Tuesday, then saw Argentina and England blow past it Wednesday afternoon.
Argentina now moves on to face Spain in Sunday’s final, with Fox coming off two straight record-setting semifinal broadcasts in the United States.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.