Washington d.c.: The FIFA World Cup 2026 has made an extraordinary start on and off the pitch, with opening matches involving the tournament's three host nations delivering record-breaking audiences across North America. While more than one million fans have already experienced the FIFA World Cup 2026 live inside stadiums, television audiences across the host nations have also reached unprecedented heights - and more than 54 million viewers tuned in to watch opening matches featuring Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
According to Emirates News Agency, FIFA President Gianni Infantino remarked on the historic nature of these broadcasts. The United States' opening match against Paraguay became the most-watched FIFA World Cup match ever in the country, with over 54 million people across Canada, Mexico, and the United States watching their respective nations' opening matches. Infantino highlighted the unifying power of football and its ability to bring people together globally.
The United States delivered its most significant television audiences in FIFA World Cup history. The host nation's opening victory over Paraguay attracted an average audience of 27.5 million viewers across FOX and Telemundo, marking a historic broadcasting achievement. FOX recorded the most-watched FIFA Men's World Cup match in the history of English-language broadcasting in the United States, while Telemundo delivered the most-watched UNMNT FIFA World Cup match ever on Spanish-language television.
Mexico's opening victory over South Africa also set new benchmarks. An average audience of 23.4 million viewers made the match the country's most-watched FIFA World Cup game of the 21st century. The match achieved a 72.1 percent television market share in Mexico and attracted approximately 20 million viewers in the United States, setting a record for the most-watched Spanish-language FIFA World Cup opening match in US television history.
Canada's opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina drew an average audience of 3.1 million viewers, becoming the third most-watched FIFA World Cup match featuring Canada's men's national team in the 21st century. The record audiences provide further evidence of the extraordinary engagement being generated by the FIFA World Cup 2026, with supporters across the three host nations embracing a tournament that is already making history both inside and outside the stadiums.
