Messi's Inter Miami keys early Club World Cup viewership on TNT

3BM4A9H Miami Gardens, Vereinigte Staaten. 24th June, 2025. Marcos Rocha (SE Palmeiras Sao Paulo, #2) spielt den Ball vor Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, #10) weg. FIFA Club World Cup: Inter Miami CF - SE Palmeiras 23.06.2025, FIFA Club World Cup: Inter Miami CF - SE Palmeiras im Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, USA/dpa/Alamy Live News

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Jon Lewis

Jon Lewis has been covering the sports media industry on a daily basis since 2006 as the founder and main writer of Sports Media Watch. You can contact him here or on the social media websites X (Twitter) or Bluesky.

Turkey's Kaan Ayhan (22) celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

USMNT, El Tri, wrap World Cup group stage with more viewership milestones

by Jon Lewis

1 month ago

The United States men's soccer team delivered another audience among the largest on record for the FIFA World Cup.

3ERY2GN Seattle, USA. 19th June, 2026. Alex Freeman (2nd L) of the United States celebrates a goal with teammates during the group D match between the United States and Australia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, the United States, June 19, 2026. Credit: Peng Ziyang/Xinhua/Alamy Live News

USMNT-Australia latest to rank among most-watched World Cup matches

by Jon Lewis

1 month ago

The second USMNT match of the World Cup delivered another milestone audience.

Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel (1) makes a save on the goal line during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

World Cup continues hitting high marks entering second week

by Jon Lewis

1 month ago

The FIFA World Cup continues to set or approach viewership marks as it enters its second week.

Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7) celebrates a goal iduring the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Saturday, June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Brazil-Morocco dominant viewership draw as World Cup continues hot start

by Jon Lewis

2 months ago

After milestone audiences for Mexico last Thursday and the United States on Friday, Brazil kept the momentum going into...

Comments 27

BG says:

1 year ago

Jon- any update from Round of 16 matches especially the Inter Miami vs PSG? That should easily be the highest rated game so far.
- Jon Lewis says:
  
  1 year ago
  
  I’ll hopefully have something to post on that front today.
Caleb says:

1 year ago

If it’s getting those numbers on TNT I wonder what numbers it’s achieving on DAZN
ESL says:

1 year ago

Thanks for these numbers, Jon. Impressive considering the “club World Cup” was never really promoted in this country (as a casual soccer fan, I was not aware of this tournament). The Messi factor will be big as long as Miami continues. As noted, the round of 16 game on Sunday between PSG and Miami should get a million. The further Miami goes, the better the viewership. The opportunity to see Messi on linear tv will help. He is “lost in the cloud” in MLS.
Regarding the US in the Gold Cup, the viewership of 1 million viewers last Sunday night is impressive, considering it was up against game 7 of the NBA finals. With no serious competition, this Sunday nights US game has an opportunity to be considerably higher and close to 2 million viewers. And just a note, Fox does a terrific job with their international soccer coverage. They really make these small tournaments feel like big events (and it would be better for the Club World Cup if it was on Fox.).
- gattaca says:
  
  1 year ago
  
  Casuals may like Fox’s soccer coverage of World Cup, Euros and Gold Cup.
  
  But core fans largely despise Fox in the same vein as NBA on ESPN. They can’t stand Lalas and Carli LLoyd for their hot takes approach and political leanings. Many of their PxP and match analysts just talk way too much and aren’t always informed about the teams. The coverage is too dumbed down.
  
  Fox is out of club football ex getting MLS for peanuts but don’t control matches shown. Looked like a good strategy but have been outbid by Netflix for WWC 2027 and 2031.
  - ESL says:
    
    1 year ago
    
    Surprised there is so much negativity towards Fox soccer coverage. As I noted, I think they do a tremendous job on their international coverage (I dont pay attention to their MLS since that is licensed and they have no investment in it). Regarding the studio cover, Lalas and Lloyd do a fin job and Rob Stone is a very good host. I also think their broadcast teams are very good and informative.
    - ds says:
      
      1 year ago
      
      I suspect part of the issue is the partial overlap between people who follow national games and people who follow club games. The national game audience tends to peak at higher numbers while being far more fickle/casual than the club game audience. For someone who enjoys EPL Saturdays on NBC and mid-week UCL on Paramount+, FOX’ coverage could be infuriating. Much of FOX’ peak audience may need a refresher on offside, and coverage is geared towards casual, occasional fans. FOX are also extreme homers for USMNT and USWNT. It is all probably good business decisions given FOX’ 2025-2026 soccer properties, but it also alienates some core soccer fans
- JONATHAN MENDOZA says:
  
  1 year ago
  
  Thank you so much for providing these articles on football (the real one) and not on American football or racing or golf. For me, I am a hardcore football or soccer fan rooting for Seattle, but was one of those watching on TUDN in Spanish for Inter Miami since I have the Spanish plan on YouTube TV. Unfortunately, Fifa has been rooting for Miami from the get-go and there was no national TV networks for Seattle or for LAFC only on DAZN and I don’t have access to this on my laptop since my browser can’t be updated. However, I really like to know how many more we’re watching on TUDN considering Miami is literally full of Spanish language and Latin Americans let alone the team full of Argentines and South Americans so TUDN delivers may perhaps deliver a more better approach among the Latin American communities especially with soccer or football being a super popular sport (as for me and my dad).
- Nate Johnson says:
  
  1 year ago
  
  I’m late but seeing this discussion reminds me of what I think of NFL and College Football. It seems to be terrific for casuals, but a bypass to me on most personalities (or vice versa).
  
  FOX has done terrific with FIFA coverage, but it’s something about 2014 Men’s FIFA where I thought ESPN/ABC did a phenomenal job and the bar high. I don’t think FOX has had coverage compared to that, but then again FOX has never had the deck of cards that ESPN/ABC got in 2014. In 2018 when the USMNT was not a participant in FIFA, I thought they did a terrific job which let me know they earned their credibility on covering the event. They of course have shifted since from an analysis standpoint, but the way FOX covers FIFA doesn’t question me if they’re taking it granted like ESPN/ABC takes the NBA (to a certain point) and MLB for granted.
NaBUru38 says:

1 year ago

Meanwhile in Spain’s Telecinco:
* Inter Miami vs Porto averaged 1.38 M viewers and a 12.9% share.
* Real Madrid vs Pachuca averaged 3.0 M viewers and a 27.1% share.
* Atlético Madrid vs Botafogo averaged 1.89 M viewers and a 18.7% share.

Source: Fórmula TV
- scott says:
  
  1 year ago
  
  thanks for this but where’s this ??
ds says:

1 year ago

Thank you for sharing English-linear soccer data. Univision used to be very vocal about its soccer viewership, but seems significantly quieter in the past few years. Any idea whether that is declining TUDN soccer viewership or greater corporate circumspection or something else?
- Jon Lewis says:
  
  1 year ago
  
  I hope to have something to report re: Univision soon. Honestly it might just be different approaches rather than anything to do with lower ratings.
  - ds says:
    
    1 year ago
    
    FYI, Univision released select Spanish-language US soccer viewership numbers: Mexico-Costa Rica group stage (2.2 million total, 1.0 million A18-49), US-Costa Rica QF (1.9 million total, 0.9 million A18-49), and PSG-Inter Miami R16 (0.8 million total, 0.3 million A18-49).
    - Jon Lewis says:
      
      1 year ago
      
      Thanks — hadn’t seen that.
    - BG says:
      
      1 year ago
      
      That give us almost 1.5 million on Linear TV with English and Spanish audience. We don’t have DAZN numbers- so, maybe over 2 million with all formats is not out of reach.
ljc says:

1 year ago

This tournament exceeded expectation in terms of viewership and even with the original high costs, attendance. Seeing clubs from South America, Asia and Africa play these huge European teams is great. The fans are really enjoying themselves. I would love to see it as a biannual event so international football can dominate the mid-June to mid-July calendar (if they can get the world cup for that time as well).
- ds says:
  
  1 year ago
  
  Club World Cup sought $4 billion of media rights and planned to sell out NFL-size stadiums at hundreds of dollars per seat. After a more or less failed auction, Infantino got DAZN to pay $1 billion (DAZN does not have much cash, thus sub-licensing). Many stadiums have been well over half empty despite, in many cases, very low ticket prices. FIFA I am sure will tout this as a great success – FIFA never lack for confidence and never let reality cloud their public statements – but CWC has so far drawn about as much US interest as 2024 European club friendlies. Knockouts should do better I would think, and there may be long-term potential for Club World Cup if FIFA can generate and monetize interest from South America, Middle East, Asia, etc. Biannual would be hard and would have to work around men’s/women’s World Cup, Copa, Euro, Olympics, etc.
  - Rick James Bible Owner says:
    
    1 year ago
    
    South American teams, really, the other Federations teams always treated smaller, Winter iterations of the Club World Cup with more reverance and importance. The European representatives? Less so, complaining of fixture congestion even with the bye to the Semis of the 6 or 7 team versions. Yeah, Mr. Eyebrows though he could get similar crowds to those (mid to late) July Charlie Stilitano-led (whom I’m not a fan of) prestige friendlies at the Rose Bowl, Michigan Stadium or the Hard Rock of the late 2010s in order to help fund the prize money they had to give out to get more (European) teams to participate in this expanded CWC. No Cristiano Ronaldo hurt this tournament as well. It’s got potential, but like the Four Nations Cup in hockey, it can really only exist to fill the void when no other International events are ongoing.
  - Mike says:
    
    1 year ago
    
    Exactly, I wouldn’t really call the ratings a success either, considering that they only show a few matches on tv and that’s it.
  - ljc says:
    
    1 year ago
    
    one person posted the numbers in Spain. If they are getting 1m+ there, I wouldn’t be surprised if the numbers were solid in France, Portugal and Germany. I wouldn’t expect much from England and Italy.
    
    As reported by the BBC, millions are watching the games in Brazil due to the success of the 3 Rio based clubs. The same goes for Japan, Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa and of course Saudi Arabia whose team Al Hilal reached the round of 16. The money for the tournament will remain with or without the US.
  - BG says:
    
    1 year ago
    
    Remember, this tournament was reset and with more teams. The next one will get more traction and more will bid for the rights. TNT sports is getting good numbers when we know we have free streaming with DAZN and also on Spanish. The 2029 version will get bigger and FIFA will learn from certain mistakes. The big games have sold out and they should start get numbers going into the knockout rounds
    - Rick James Bible Owner says:
      
      1 year ago
      
      “The 2029 version will get bigger and FIFA will learn from certain mistakes.” Not if this expanded Club World Cup in 2029 goes back to the Winter in Qatar. A month with no (or limited) League play for the European clubs involved. Less U.S. exposure (and possible new $) as the CWC will be enveloped by Lords Football (NFL & College) like December versions were in the past. At least Mr. Eyebrows won’t have to no-bid the TV rights to the next CWC like this did the 2026 World Cup to Fox. And as a dress rehearsal to next year’s World Cup, it’s been a mixed bag at best. No amount of prize money can turn these glorified “prestige friendlies” into something prestigious. Ask Javier Mascherano & Inter Miami.
    - Richard says:
      
      1 year ago
      
      The 2029 CWC is far more likely to go to Spain/Portugal/Morocco or Brazil and be held in the summer of 2029 (the heat, ironically, wouldn’t be as much of a concern in Brazil, where it would be winter, especially in southern Brazil).
NaBUru38 says:

1 year ago

It’s “Pachuca”. Beware that your typo rhymes with a dirty word…
- Jon Lewis says:
  
  1 year ago
  
  Thanks for catching that.
BG says:

1 year ago

Thanks Jon- i think this Sunday Round of 16 between PSG and Miami should pull at least 1 million viewers on TNT. The Spanish numbers and DAZN streaming numbers could mean over 2 million very easily.