The U.S. men’s national soccer team (USMNT) may have exited the 2026 World Cup, but they left a historic mark in television viewership. Their round of 16 match against Belgium on July 6, 2026, drew an average of 30 million viewers on Fox, setting a new record for English-language soccer broadcasts in U.S. history, as seen in a trending post on r/soccer. Telemundo added another 12 million viewers, making it the most-watched USMNT game in Spanish-language television history.
Why it matters: The staggering viewership numbers highlight the growing popularity of soccer in the U.S. The combined audience of approximately 40 million is expected to surpass any single-game U.S. sports broadcast this decade, except for the NFL.
- The match peaked at 36.895 million viewers between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m. ET, indicating a strong engagement from fans eager to see the U.S. team advance.
- This match broke the previous record of 26.4 million viewers set just five days earlier during the U.S. victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Fox's five U.S. matches in the tournament averaged over 21 million viewers, demonstrating consistent interest in the USMNT's performance.
Driving the news: The U.S. team suffered a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Belgium, ending their World Cup run. The match was marred by controversy as FIFA lifted a red card suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun just before kickoff, allowing him to play.
- U.S. Soccer threatened legal action against FIFA over the officiating decision that led to Balogun’s ejection in the previous match.
- President Donald Trump reportedly contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to discuss the suspension, highlighting the political dimensions surrounding the team's performance.
- With the U.S. elimination, all three World Cup co-hosts—Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.—have exited the tournament.
State of play: The match saw Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere score twice, with additional goals from Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku. Malik Tillman scored the only goal for the U.S., briefly leveling the score at 1-1.
- Belgium dominated the match, holding a 2.15 to 0.67 edge in expected goals, illustrating their offensive effectiveness compared to the U.S.
- U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese made a costly mistake that led to one of Belgium's goals, prompting criticism from fans and analysts alike.
- Midfielder Tyler Adams acknowledged the team's shortcomings, stating, "There were a lot of things we could have done, and when you concede goals that easily against a team of that quality, you’re going to lose."
The big picture: The high viewership numbers signify a growing interest in soccer and indicate the potential for future tournaments. The final ratings for this match are expected to rise as additional data becomes available.
- Viewership for the tournament has been substantial, with the U.S. match against Bosnia and Herzegovina drawing over 26 million viewers, marking a record for English-language soccer broadcasts.
- Telemundo's Spanish-language coverage has also set records, with England's 3-2 victory over Mexico drawing 23.1 million viewers, the largest Spanish-language soccer audience in U.S. history.
- The 2026 World Cup has benefited from being hosted in North America, leading to increased accessibility and interest among U.S. audiences.
What they're saying: Analysts and fans alike expressed mixed feelings about the match. Many celebrated the record viewership but lamented the team's performance.
- Andrew Marchand noted that the ratings show the popularity of soccer in the U.S., even if the result was disappointing.
- Belgium coach Rudi Garcia praised the U.S. team for their efforts, stating, "They had a great World Cup, regardless of this last game."
- Fans took to social media to express their disappointment, with one user commenting that the team "folded like wet cardboard" against Belgium.
By the numbers: The U.S. men's national team has had a tumultuous World Cup history, with this latest exit marking a familiar pattern.
- This marks the fourth time in five World Cups that the U.S. has exited at the round of 16 stage, having last reached the quarterfinals in 2002.
- The U.S. opener against Paraguay attracted an audience of 18 million, a 132% increase from their first match in the 2022 World Cup.
- Fox's ratings for the tournament have consistently exceeded expectations, with many matches drawing over 10 million viewers, even without the U.S. team competing.
What's next: As the World Cup progresses into the quarterfinals, the absence of the U.S. team may affect viewership numbers for remaining matches.
- Belgium is set to face Spain on July 10, 2026, continuing their pursuit of the championship.
- The U.S. Soccer Federation will likely evaluate the team's performance and coaching staff, with discussions about Mauricio Pochettino's future expected soon.
- Fans and analysts are already speculating about potential changes needed for the U.S. team to improve in future tournaments.
This article is grounded in a discussion trending on Reddit. Claims from the original post and comments may not reflect independently verified reporting.