QATAR 2022: Almost 12 million Americans saw USA, Wales match

Photo: USA striker Christian Pulisic on the ball in the game against Wales…photo courtesy AP.

By George Aluo

A record 11.7 million Americans are reported to have watched the USA versus Wales Qatar 2022 World Cup match going by the figures released by Fox and NBC.

The match which ended 1-1 was the first the USA was playing at the mundial in eight years since after Brazil 2014.

In the U.S., FOX has the English broadcasting rights, while NBC-Telemundo has the Spanish language broadcasting rights and they’ve both released their viewership ratings after the very thrilling encounter.

FOX reported that their broadcast averaged 8.3 million viewers during the game while Telemundo said they averaged 3.4 million viewers when adding up their linear, digital and streaming audience.

This was the most streamed Group Stage match ever for FOX, averaging 563,000 minute audience viewers.

The viewership peak was in the final minutes of the game, as 9.34 million viewers were watching simultaneously.

Viewership numbers are a relief for FOX, who four years ago had to navigate through having the World Cup broadcasting rights, but the USMNT not playing due to their poor qualifying stage in CONCACAF.

FOX is expecting that the match between the United States and England at the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup will be the most watched men’s soccer game in U.S. history, a record that is currently held by the Portugal vs United States match at Brazil 2014, which drew 18.2 million viewers in the nation.

The USA, England Group B clash comes up on Friday at the Al Bayt Stadium with Venezuelan referee Jesus Valenzuela taking charge.