More than 15 million US viewers tuned into Wednesday's World Cup semifinal clash between England and Argentina on Fox, setting a brand new record for English-language semifinal telecasts in U.S. history. That's a massive number, especially when you consider it went down in the middle of the workday, leaving a lot of us screaming at our screens while trying to look busy in a Zoom meeting. You just knew this game was going to deliver, and it did, but seriously, the kickoff time?
When The World's Biggest Game Kicks Off During Your Coffee Break
Look, the World Cup is the biggest sporting event on the planet, hands down. So when the two biggest games of the tournament so far, the semifinals, roll around and they're scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons? You gotta wonder what FIFA is thinking. One fan on X nailed it: "They wanna grow the World Cup and have their semifinals at 2 p.m. on a Wednesday? Makes a lot of sense." This isn't entirely new for those of us on the American continents, with Qatar and Russia also featuring afternoon semifinal matches. But back in '94, when it was last here, East Coast viewers got late afternoon and evening games. Much more convenient, right? It leaves you scratching your head, feeling like the biggest show on Earth, on our home soil, was scheduled when many of us were stuck behind a desk. FIFA's chief tournament officer for the United States, Manolo Zubiria, said they were "striking the right balance," considering everything from weather to player travel and home country times. He said they wanted "the more people you can bring to this game around the world, the better." Fair enough, but is that really the "right balance" for American fans?The Numbers Are Hard To Ignore For FIFA's Future
Despite the mid-day slot, the viewership numbers were wild. Tuesday's France versus Spain semifinal averaged 11.462 million U.S. viewers. Then Wednesday came, and England and Argentina absolutely smashed it with that record-breaking 15+ million on Fox. Across the pond, the England broadcast on BBC One also snagged an average of 15 million, and 20 million in France watched their team fall to Spain. Europe definitely tuned in. But here's the kicker: with 349 million people in the U.S., these record numbers for working-hour broadcasts scream "untapped market." Think about it: the NBA Finals Game 5, playing in prime time, easily pulled 33 million viewers in its closing moments, nearly double the World Cup's record. The World Cup happens during the slowest time on the U.S. sports calendar, giving it a wide-open lane for massive viewership. FIFA might have pulled record numbers for a weekday afternoon, but they're leaving a colossal amount of potential on the table. Imagine those semifinal numbers if they'd been in prime time, when everyone could actually watch. It's clear the passion for the beautiful game is huge here, and FIFA needs to recognize the opportunity they are missing out on for American fans.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.