FIFA World Cup spikes U.S. internet traffic and streaming viewership

Data from U.S. broadband operators shows that matches of the FIFA World Cup generate the largest traffic peaks on networks, with Fox Sports traffic spiking during U.S. games and dipping at halftime and during hydration breaks. The surge reflects the tournament’s global reach, which FIFA estimates will involve roughly six billion people.

In the United States, Spanish‑language streaming on NBCUniversal’s Peacock and Telemundo platforms accounted for 44% of the tournament’s digital audience during the group stage. The average minute audience on these services reached about 2 million, a 251% increase from 2022. The Mexico‑South Korea match set a record for Spanish‑language streaming with 6.1 million average viewers, and a total of 12 games attracted three million or more streaming viewers, while 37 group‑stage games exceeded two million.