The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina drew huge television audiences across major markets, underscoring the tournament’s enduring appeal even after many home teams had been eliminated, according to a report yesterday in entertainment news outlet Variety.

While broadcasters saw their biggest viewership spikes when national teams remained in contention, the July 19 final still delivered strong ratings across Europe and the US., reinforcing the World Cup’s status as a major live television and cultural event.

Spain’s 1-0 victory produced the country’s biggest World Cup audience ever and the second most-watched television event in Spanish history. (https://variety.com/2026/tv/global/world-cup-ratings-show-final-big-draw-home-teams-beaten-1236816547/bt_ee=vfUcLzIvwkFtwtyz07WtLGbRw3Duujoi%2FZt12znCEQ76oMJOzFU5s6WS74C4HXxJ&bt_ts=1784562900533#recipient_hashed=316b470051f34361281b4a0177d04f4d6d15dd7dbaa1786df54683bb738bec1d&recipient_salt=d07f02cb99b6078fe37148ce662887c65c867761cbcfc0c0552a168b84337069&utm_medium=email&utm_source=exacttarget&utm_campaign=intlnewsalert&utm_content=World%20Cup%20Final%20Ratings%20Skyrocket%20Across%20Europe,%20Despite%20England%20and%20France%20Losses,%202026-07-20%2008:49:03_07-20-2026_&utm_term=089abb73-43d8-451a-95ca-29258698aa46)

The final averaged 15.7 million viewers and an 87.1 percent audience share across RTVE’s La 1, 3Cat, La 2 and DAZN, reaching a cumulative 20.1 million people. Spain’s media also hailed the triumph as reflecting the country’s diversity, identity and ability to unite fans, Variety stated.

Viewership dropped sharply in countries whose teams had bid good-bye before the final.

France’s audience fell from 20.2 million viewers and a 73 percent share for the Spain-France semi-final to 12.24 million viewers and a 59.2 percent share for the final.

In the U.K., England’s semi-final against Argentina averaged 22.1 million viewers and peaked at 24 million, while the final still averaged 13.9 million viewers, peaking at 15.8 million and recorded a 64 percent audience share across BBC One and iPlayer.

ITV’s coverage reportedly peaked at 3.4 million viewers, Variety said.

Italy, despite not qualifying for the tournament, also recorded strong interest in the final, which attracted about 12.5 million viewers on RAI-1 with an average 65 percent audience share that climbed to 74 percent during extra time.

The tournament’s strong US performance on Fox has also intensified attention on the next cycle of FIFA media rights. According to the Variety report, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said Disney-owned ESPN is interested in bidding for the next World Cup rights, amid reports that Netflix, YouTube and Apple could also enter the race.

Fox, which paid $485 million for the 2026 rights, and Spanish-language partner Telemundo are expected to generate about $850 million in advertising revenue from the tournament, with Fox reportedly earning as much as $250 million from hydration-break commercials.

Meanwhile, audience data for the India market, where Zee Entertainment had the media rights, are not available yet. (Image courtesy FIFA website)