FOX Scores Most-Watched Day of FIFA World Cup™ Quarterfinals in Three Decades
Saturday’s Matches Average 5,664,000 Viewers on FOX
Croatia’s Dramatic Win Over Russia Averages more than 6 Million Viewers; Most-Watched Quarterfinal Match in English or Spanish since at Least 1990, Including U.S. Matches
NEW YORK & MOSCOW – Saturday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Quarterfinal matches averaged 5,664,000 viewers on the FOX broadcast network, making it the most-watched day of Quarterfinal action since at least 1990, according to Nielsen Media Research.
The viewership numbers are up +15% from the second day of the 2014 Quarterfinals (4,931,000), up +14% from the second day of Quarterfinals in 2010 (4,982,000) and up +26% from the second day of Quarterfinals in 2006 (4,490,000).
The Croatia-Russia thriller, which ended with Croatia defeating the host nation on penalty kicks, set the tone for the viewership milestone, averaging 6,317,000 viewers on FOX, making it the most-watched World Cup Quarterfinal match in English or Spanish since at least 1990, including U.S. matches.
The match was up +20% from the Netherlands-Costa Rica match in the corresponding 2014 window (5,260,000), up +28% from Paraguay-Spain in 2010 (4,936,000) and up +66% from Brazil-France in 2006 (3,815,000). Adding streaming sources, the match totaled 6,633,000 viewers.
Earlier Saturday, England eliminated Sweden 2-0, with the match averaging 4,763,000 viewers on the FOX broadcast network. The match was up +6% versus 2014’s corresponding Quarterfinal match, Argentina-Belgium (4,487,000). Adding streaming sources, England-Sweden delivered an audience of 5,026,000 viewers.
Twitter had its best day ever across FOX Sports accounts, with 13.7 million views, up +34% from the previous day’s record (10.3 million). The @FOXSoccer handle generated 13.1 million views, driven in large part by highlights around the Russia-Croatia match.
HE DOES IT AGAIN!
For the second game in a row, Rakitic wins the penalty shootout for Croatia. pic.twitter.com/H3aH1Em3DP
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 7, 2018
