Telemundo reported a staggering 122% increase in TV ratings during the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage compared to the 2022 event, as stated by Joaquín Duro, executive vp sports for NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises. This impressive boost comes as soccer's biggest tournament is hosted in North America, attracting a larger audience.
According to Duro, "I was expecting to see our numbers grow. Was I expecting 122 percent over 2022? Probably not." The group stage averaged 9.65 million viewers per match, a significant jump from the 4.71 million viewers in Qatar.
Record Audience Numbers for World Cup Matches
The audience for the 2026 World Cup was split fairly evenly between English and Spanish-language broadcasts. English-language telecasts on Fox and FS1 averaged 5.05 million viewers, compared to 2.64 million in 2022. Meanwhile, Telemundo, along with its streaming service Peacock, attracted 4.6 million viewers per game, an increase from 2.07 million in the previous tournament.
Notably, all three of Mexico's group stage games exceeded 10 million viewers across platforms, with the June 18 match against South Korea garnering a record-setting 14 million viewers for any Spanish-language soccer broadcast in the U.S.
Streaming Impact and Viewer Engagement
Duro highlighted the importance of streaming in boosting ratings, noting that Peacock accounted for a remarkable 44% of the audience for Spanish-language telecasts during group play. This is significantly higher than NBC's 19% share from the NBA playoffs and 13% from Sunday Night Football last season.
“Hispanic viewers over-index in viewing of streaming on mobile devices,” Duro said, emphasizing how this trend contributed to the 2 million viewers per match on Peacock, especially for afternoon games.
Telemundo's Strategic Planning and Execution
After the challenges faced during the 2022 World Cup, Telemundo implemented comprehensive plans to enhance viewer engagement. This included hiring commentators from various Spanish-speaking countries and collaborating closely with FIFA to secure key on-pitch positions.
Duro expressed satisfaction with the results, stating, "I am very satisfied looking at the linear numbers in what is supposed to be a declining business." He noted that Telemundo's on-air ratings for the World Cup are up 73% compared to 2022, with an average of 2.6 million viewers compared to 1.5 million previously.
- 122% increase in ratings over 2022
- Average of 9.65 million viewers per match
- 14 million viewers for Mexico vs. South Korea
- 44% of viewers on Peacock
- 73% increase in linear ratings
🤖 This article was rewritten by Feed and Figures' editorial AI from a report originally published by Hollywood Reporter. Facts and quotes are preserved from the original; the rewrite focuses on clarity and structure. For the unedited original, see the source link below.
