See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy BOBBY MANZI, FOOTBALL REPORTER Published: 15:23 BST, 20 July 2026 | Updated: 15:56 BST, 20 July 2026
The BBC have declared victory over ITV in the World Cup ratings war - despite a difficult start to the tournament.Daily Mail Sport understands the BBC's peak audience share advantage during the final was 4 times greater than ITV, while its average audience share advantage was 4.06 times greater.By comparison, the BBC's lead over ITV’s viewership in the 2022 World Cup final was 3.25 times higher for peak audience share and 3.4 times higher for average audience share.It marks a significant increase in the BBC's competitive lead over ITV from the previous World Cup, with increased viewersLast night's FIFA World Cup Final, which saw Spain crowned champions, attracted a peak audience of 15.8million across BBC One and BBC iPlayer - giving the BBC 64% share of all TV viewing. The BBC ditched their work-from-home studio in Salford for the World Cup final, presenting from inside the stadiumAn average audience of 13.9 million tuned in across the BBC, with their coverage from inside the MetLife Stadium, while ITV were in their New York studio with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline.On BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app, the final was streamed 11.1 million times, including 2.4 million UHD streams on BBC iPlayer.Meanwhile, the BBC had exclusive rights for England’s exhilarating 10-goal bronze medal match against France.An average audience of 10.8 million tuned in as the Three Lions secured their best finish in a World Cup since 1966.Across the whole tournament, the BBC saw an overall reach of 42.8 million across TV viewing and audiences streamed World Cup matches 237 million times on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app, more than double the 2022 World Cup.
