FOX reports massive, record-shattering ratings for 2026 FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina
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41'
Yellow card Lisandro MARTINEZ (Argentina) is booked by
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52'
Yellow card Leandro PAREDES (Argentina) is booked by
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82'
Yellow card Enzo FERNANDEZ (Argentina) is booked by
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90'+2'
Yellow card Cristian ROMERO (Argentina) is booked by
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90'+3'
Red card Enzo FERNANDEZ (Argentina) is booked for
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105'
Yellow card Lionel SCALONI (Argentina) is booked by
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106'
Goal Ferran TORRES (Spain) scores!!
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Yellow card Alexis MAC ALLISTER (Argentina) is booked
Spain squad
- Selected
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8 Fabian RUIZ Midfielder
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10 Dani OLMO Forward
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12 Pedro PORRO Defender
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14 Aymeric LAPORTE Defender
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15 Alex BAENA Midfielder
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16 RODRI C Midfielder
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19 Lamine YAMAL Forward
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21 Mikel OYARZABAL Forward
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22 Pau CUBARSI Defender
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23 Unai SIMON Goalkeeper
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24 Marc CUCURELLA Defender
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1 David RAYA Goalkeeper
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2 Marc PUBILL Defender
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3 Alex GRIMALDO Defender
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4 Eric GARCIA Defender
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5 Marcos LLORENTE Defender
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6 Mikel MERINO Midfielder
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7 Ferran TORRES Forward
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9 GAVI Midfielder
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11 Yeremy PINO Forward
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13 Joan GARCIA Goalkeeper
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17 Nico WILLIAMS Forward
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18 Martin ZUBIMENDI Midfielder
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20 PEDRI Midfielder
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25 Victor MUNOZ Forward
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26 Borja IGLESIAS Forward
Argentina squad
- Selected
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3 Nicolas TAGLIAFICO Defender
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4 Gonzalo MONTIEL Defender
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6 Lisandro MARTINEZ Defender
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7 Rodrigo DE PAUL Midfielder
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9 Julian ALVAREZ Forward
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10 Lionel MESSI C Forward
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13 Cristian ROMERO Defender
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15 Nico GONZALEZ Midfielder
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20 Alexis MAC ALLISTER Midfielder
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23 Emiliano MARTINEZ Goalkeeper
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24 Enzo FERNANDEZ Midfielder
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1 Juan MUSSO Goalkeeper
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2 Marcos SENESI Defender
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5 Leandro PAREDES Midfielder
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8 Valentin BARCO Midfielder
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11 Giovani Lo Celso Midfielder
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12 Geronimo RULLI Goalkeeper
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14 Exequiel PALACIOS Midfielder
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16 Thiago ALMADA Forward
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17 Giuliano SIMEONE Forward
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18 Nico PAZ Forward
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19 Nicolas OTAMENDI Defender
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21 Jose Manuel LOPEZ Forward
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22 Lautaro MARTINEZ Forward
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25 Facundo MEDINA Defender
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26 Nahuel MOLINA Defender
Fox reported record-breaking US television ratings for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, drawing 38.9 million viewers, the largest audience the network has recorded for the tournament. The result undercuts pre-tournament scepticism that hosting the World Cup in the United States under President Donald Trump would depress international interest and viewership.
Spain won the final in extra time, capping a tournament that organisers and broadcasters are now citing as evidence of strong domestic appetite for football despite earlier doubts. The match's aftermath also drew attention for a brawl between Spanish and Argentine players, while Lionel Messi returned to Argentina to rest following the defeat.
In short
- Fox's 2026 World Cup final drew a record 38.9 million US viewers.
- Spain beat Argentina in extra time to win the tournament.
- Ratings defied predictions that US hosting would hurt viewership.
Explained simply
The FIFA World Cup is an international football tournament held every four years, with national teams competing to become world champions. The final is the tournament’s last match, and Spain and Argentina are two of its most prominent teams.
In 2026, the United States co-hosted the tournament with Canada and Mexico. Broadcasters measure how many people watch matches to gauge interest, and audience figures can shape decisions about future coverage and advertising.
There had been doubts about how much interest the tournament would attract in the United States. The reported audience figure is being discussed as a sign of domestic interest, though one match’s ratings do not by themselves establish how Americans viewed the tournament as a whole.