Telemundo captures record US World Cup viewership as non‑Spanish speakers tune in

During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Telemundo and Fox split the U.S. broadcasting rights and together attracted an average 16.9 million viewers in the round of 16. Telemundo accounted for 44 % of that audience, drawing about 7.4 million viewers, and its coverage of the Mexico‑England match reached a record 23.2 million total viewers – the most‑watched Spanish‑language soccer broadcast ever in the United States. Nielsen data showed that roughly 20 % of Telemundo’s World Cup audience are English‑only speakers who prefer the network’s lively commentary, lack of commercials during FIFA’s “hydration breaks,” and the iconic calls of announcer Andrés Cantor. Telemundo senior vice‑president Miguel Lorenzo said the figures are “unbelievable,” while NBCUniversal chairman Cesar Conde called soccer’s U.S. audience “critical mass,” noting the growing appeal to non‑Spanish speakers. The network has deliberately courted this new viewership with targeted advertising and occasional English‑language thank‑you messages, prompting fans such as former teacher Meghan Dyer Pavs and comedian Trevor Noah to champion the Spanish broadcast as the most exciting way to watch the tournament.