2026 Men's World Cup Shatters U.S. TV Records With 62.8 Million Final Audience

Q: With Zlatan gone, will Fox's soccer coverage become more insightful, or did it just lose its most valuable player?

Fox probably lost its biggest on-air attraction, not its deepest source of insight. Ibrahimović was Fox’s breakout World Cup studio star. His swagger, sharp one-liners and willingness to spar with Thierry Henry and Alexi Lalas made the show feel event television. Fox executives clearly saw him as premium talent, and viewers responded. In that sense, his exit is a real blow: he drove buzz, clips and attention in a way few analysts can. But the evidence suggests his value was weighted more toward entertainment than sustained analysis. Critics praised his charisma and occasional elite striker’s perspective, yet some also argued he lacked detailed knowledge on many teams and players and leaned heavily on personality. That is why some observers believed Fox was strongest when Rebecca Lowe steered the discussion and Henry supplied more measured tactical insight. So Fox’s coverage could become more insightful if it uses Ibrahimović’s departure to rebalance the desk. Lowe remains the stabilizing force, widely regarded as the backbone of the studio. Henry is respected for clear, credible football analysis, and Fox also has strong match commentators such as Stu Holden. A less combustible panel could produce more coherent discussion. Still, Fox now has a harder problem: replacing Ibrahimović’s magnetism. Insight can be rebuilt from its existing bench. Star power is rarer. If Fox wants both, it will need another personality who can command attention without overwhelming the analysis.

3 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Jul 22

62.8 million U.S. viewers watched the July 19 final across Fox, Telemundo and Peacock, capping a tournament that repeatedly reset soccer TV records from the June 11 opener onward.
14.04 million viewers per match across 104 games underscored the scale of the surge, with Fox audiences up 116% from 2022 and Telemundo/Peacock up 143%.
North American hosting put most matches in afternoon and evening U.S. windows, a major ratings advantage over recent World Cups, while Nielsen measurement changes added a smaller lift.
66.4 million watched the final match alone, crushing the previous U.S. soccer telecast record of 26.7 million for the 2015 Women's World Cup final; only three Super Bowls and the 2024 presidential debate have drawn more since 2024.