Soccer skeptics, take note. The United States Men’s National Team drew 15.9 million average viewers for its group stage match against Turkiye on June 25, 2026, according to preliminary data from Fox Sports. The peak hit 18.1 million, the kind of number that makes network executives very happy and shuts down the “Americans don’t watch soccer” argument for at least another news cycle.
For context, that is not a fluke. The USMNT’s earlier group stage match against Australia pulled 14.7 million average viewers with a peak of 19.1 million. Two matches in, and the pattern is clear: when the US plays in a World Cup, Americans show up.
The numbers in perspective
The match aired in approximately the 9 to 10 PM ET window, which is prime real estate for live sports.
The Australia match comparison is worth dwelling on. A 19.1 million peak for that game versus 18.1 million for Turkiye suggests the Australia fixture may have had a more dramatic finish or higher-stakes moment, while the Turkiye match sustained a slightly higher floor with 15.9 million average versus 14.7 million.
