Sport: Soccer Country: Mexico Category: Scores & Results

Mexico tops South Africa in World Cup opener, sets viewership record

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 15, 2026, 9:16 PM

Last updated Jun 15, 2026

Mexico tops South Africa in World Cup opener, sets viewership record

Summary

The World Cup opener featuring Mexico and South Africa attracted 7.1 million viewers in the United States on June 15. Mexico won the match 2-0, making it the most-watched English-language broadcast for a World Cup opening match. This event also set a record for any English-language group-stage match not involving the U.S. Previously, 2.8 million viewers watched Qatar play Ecuador in 2022. The match peaked at 9.1 million viewers on Fox and streaming platforms, highlighting growing interest in the tournament.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Mexico wins 2-0 against South Africa in World Cup opener.
•Match draws 7.1 million viewers, setting a record for opening matches.
•Previous record for a group-stage match was 2.8 million in 2022.
•The match peaked at 9.1 million viewers across multiple platforms.
•Match highlights the growing interest in soccer in the U.S.

Latest Updates

9:16 PMYahoo Sports — World Cup opener between Mexico and South Africa sets English-language viewership record

What they're saying

"
The World Cup game between host Mexico and South Africa drew 7.1 million viewers, making it the most-watched opening match for an English-language broadcast in the United States. Mexico's 2-0 win on Thursday on Fox, Fox One and Tubi also was the most-watched English-language broadcast in any World Cup group-stage match not involving the U.S., Fox announced Monday.
— Yahoo Sportsby The Associated Press

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Soccer