The United States men's national soccer team’s World Cup knockout match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 2, 2026, delivered historic television ratings in the United States. Preliminary Nielsen data showed that Fox's English-language broadcast averaged 24.43 million viewers, peaking at 31.88 million late in the game. This made it the largest English-language soccer broadcast audience ever recorded in the U.S., surpassing the previous record held by the 2015 Women's World Cup final between the U.S. and Japan, which averaged 22.32 million viewers.
Telemundo's Spanish-language telecast added 9.1 million viewers, bringing the combined total to 33.53 million viewers, setting a new record for any soccer match broadcast in the United States.
The match was notable not only for its viewership but also for on-field drama. Star striker Folarin Balogun received a controversial red card, which forced the U.S. team to play the final 25 minutes with one fewer player and ruled him out of the upcoming Round of 16 match against Belgium.
Bosnia and Herzegovina had advanced from Group B as a third-place team and aimed to upset the U.S. on home soil. This World Cup has consistently broken ratings records since its start, reflecting growing interest in soccer across the country.
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