England's Record-Breaking FIFA World Cup Semi-Final Victory Draws Massive UK Audience
England's journey to the FIFA World Cup semi-final attracted a record UK audience, with Jude Bellingham's two goals securing a 2-1 victory over Norway. The match drew a peak of 16.8 million viewers on ITV1, with an average of 12.7 million viewers tuning in, according to overnight Barb figures. This marked the largest audience of the tournament so far, surpassing the previous peak set during England's opening match against Croatia.
The game, held at the Miami Stadium and kicking off at 10 p.m. local time, captivated viewers across the UK. While the viewing figures for the quarter-final were impressive, they fell short of previous World Cup quarter-finals involving England. The 2022 quarter-final against France in Qatar attracted a peak of 21.3 million viewers, while the 2018 quarter-final in Russia, where England defeated Sweden 2-0, drew a high of 20 million viewers.
In the 2026 World Cup, England's thrilling 3-2 victory over Mexico in the last 16 match garnered a record audience of 9 million viewers in the early hours of the morning. This marked the largest TV audience ever for a live UK broadcast between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.
In conclusion, England's journey in the FIFA World Cup has captured the attention of millions of viewers, with each match drawing significant audiences and creating memorable moments for fans across the UK.