Soccer Viewership Is Exploding Ahead of the 2026 World Cup: Is Your TV Setup Ready?
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicking off across North America in less than 100 days, soccer fever in the United States is reaching an absolute boiling point. Record-breaking soccer viewership numbers prove the beautiful game is officially taking over our screens.
If it feels like everyone you know is suddenly waking up early on weekends to watch the Premier League or tracking Lionel Messi’s every move, the data backs it up.
According to recent viewership metrics, the number of Americans watching non-U.S. soccer matches has skyrocketed to 50.3 million. That’s a massive 60% jump over the last six years. And the domestic game is thriving right alongside it. The 2025 MLS Cup shattered records by drawing 4.6 million viewers, with 70% of that audience under the age of 45.
Where to watch the top soccer leagues
But here’s the challenge for new fans. Unlike the NFL or NBA, which are centralized leagues, global soccer is scattered across a chaotic maze of TV networks and streaming services.
As a lifelong soccer fan and a daily TV reviewer, I know exactly how incredibly frustrating it is to track down your favorite club on a Saturday morning. I’ve spent years juggling several subscriptions just to keep up with domestic, continental, and international competitions.
| Competition | Primary TV networks |
|---|---|
| English Premier League | NBC, USA Network, Peacock |
| Major League Soccer (MLS) | Apple TV, FOX, FS1 |
| Liga MX | Univision, TUDN, ViX |
| La Liga | ABC, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+ |
| UEFA Champions League | CBS, CBS Sports Network, Paramount+ |
| Bundesliga | ABC, ESPN, ESPN+ |
| Serie A | CBS Sports Network, Paramount+, DAZN (Spanish) |
| Ligue 1 | beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS CONNECT |
NBC, Peacock, and USA Network currently hold the keys to the Premier League’s record-breaking audiences. Over on ESPN and ESPN+, La Liga just posted its most-watched season ever in the U.S. (with a staggering 5.4 billion minutes viewed). Meanwhile, Liga MX continues to dominate the charts as the most-watched soccer league on U.S. television via TelevisaUnivision networks.
Getting ready for the 48-team World Cup
All of this league play is just the warm-up act for the main event on June 11. For the first time, the FIFA World Cup will feature an expanded 48-team format.
The U.S. Men’s National Team will have to navigate a grueling three-match group stage against Paraguay, Australia, and a UEFA playoff winner in Group D. After that initial round concludes, the top two teams in each of the 12 groups and the eight best third-place teams will advance to a massive, single-elimination Round of 32.
WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE @USMNT IN ACTION AT THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP 🇺🇸
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 4, 2026
The Stars and Stripes kick off their campaign 100 days from today vs Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12th, 2026! pic.twitter.com/T8OHFfKas2
To tune in, you can watch English-language coverage across FOX and FS1, with FOX One ($19.99 a month) also streaming every game. Complete Spanish-language coverage will air on Telemundo and UNIVERSO, but a Peacock Premium subscription will unlock that same coverage for as low as $10.99 a month.
I recommend double-checking your current TV setup right now to make sure it carries the channels you need. If you’re missing something, check out my guide to the Best Streaming Services for Sports to upgrade your lineup before kick-off.
