2026 World Cup shatters US viewership records, and that matters for the business of sports betting and fan tokens

Soccer just had its coronation moment in America. The 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina pulled in 66.4 million US viewers, split between 38.9 million on FOX and 23.9 million on Telemundo, making it the most-watched soccer telecast in American history. The numbers tell a bigger story The final wasn’t the only match to break records. England vs. Mexico in the Round of 16 drew approximately 45 to 46.7 million combined viewers across English and Spanish-language broadcasts. The USA vs. Belgium Round of 16 clash pulled over 30 million English-language viewers alone, with some estimates placing total viewership as high as 50.1 million when Spanish-language audiences are included. These figures collectively represent some of the five most-watched soccer telecasts ever in the US. The previous benchmark of around 42 million viewers has been thoroughly dismantled. The 2026 tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, was the first World Cup to feature an expanded 48-team format. Matches featuring the US squad saw substantial viewership growth compared to prior tournaments. Why crypto should be paying attention Fan tokens, sports betting platforms b...