World Cup 2026: USMNT shatters viewership record with 24 million viewers for Round of 32 matchup vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

As the United States men’s national team continues its best run in decades, they’re pulling more and more eyes their way.

Fox Sports announced Thursday that 24.429 million viewers tuned in for the USMNT’s Round of 32 matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, shattering the team’s previous viewership record. The USMNT had previously set that record with more than 18 million viewers for their group stage opener against Paraguay.

Fox says that the number makes U.S.-Bosnia and Herzegovina the most-watched English-language telecast of a soccer game in U.S. history.

The U.S. rode to a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, picking up the victory despite a late red card to Folarin Balogun, who also scored the first goal. Balogun will have to miss the USMNT’s Round of 16 match on Monday as a result of the red.

The win marked the first time in 24 years that the United States has won a knockout game in the World Cup, a streak of disappointment dating back to 2002. That year, the U.S. made it to the quarterfinals in its best-ever finish at the tournament.

In terms of energy and talent, this USMNT has a chance to make it back to that point, and possibly even go further. Next up will be the Round of 16 against Belgium, who beat the U.S. 5-2 in a friendly in March — though this time, the stakes and the environment will be different.