USA vs. Belgium draws another huge American TV World Cup audience

Author:
Richard Deitsch
Publish date:
Jul 2, 2014

The United States World Cup team has left a historic mark on American broadcasting.

End of the Road: USA's World Cup run ends with dramatic loss to Belgium

Belgium’s 2-1 overtime win over the U.S. on Wednesday averaged 16,491,000 viewers, making it the second most-viewed men’s soccer match on ESPN ever, behind the 18.22 million viewers that viewed the U.S.-Portugal 2-2 draw on June 22. Univision said it had 5.1 million viewers for the U.S-Belgium match, the most for that network for a round of 16 match. Thus, the total combined television viewing for the game was 21.6 million viewers.

As far as the digital platforms, ESPN said its WatchESPN averaged 3.5 million unique viewers, a record for the platform. Univision broke a company record for digital watching with 1.8 million viewers. Univision's previous record was the U.S.-GermanyGroup Stage game.

The ESPN and Univision viewership numbers do not count the many watch parties across America as well as the hordes of people viewing in bars and restaurants. The actual number of people watching the game in America is probably closer to 30 million. ESPN said the match peaked on its airwaves between 5:30-6 p.m. when it averaged 19.543 million viewers.

At this point in the tournament through 56 matches, ESPN said ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 have combined to reach more than 99 million people with its World Cup coverage (Univision said its number is 70.9 million.) Washington, D.C., ranks as the highest-rated television market on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC followed by New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orlando, Hartford/New Haven, Miami/Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Richmond and Boston.

USA exits World Cup with defiance, on Jurgen Klinsmann's playing terms

ESPN’s top-10 markets for the U.S.-Belgium game were, respectively: New York (which registered a monster 15.0 rating), Hartford/New Haven, Washington, D.C., Richmond, Boston, West Palm Beach, Baltimore, Cincinnati, San Diego, Columbus, Norfolk and Orlando. Univision said its top markets for the game were Miami, Houston and Los Angeles and that it beat ESPN in total viewers in L.A., New York, Miami, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Phoenix and Sacramento.

The ESPN telecast was the third most-watched soccer match in the U.S. on English-speaking television behind the U.S.-Portugal game and the 1999 Women's World Cup final between U.S. and China (17,975,000).

The U.K.-based Digital Sky reported that the game was watched by 8.1 million viewers on BBC One. As for social media, Twitter said there were 9.1 million Tweets sent during the U.S. vs. Belgium match, the fourth-most tweeted match during the World Cup.

GALLERY: Shots from Belgium 2, USA 1

U.S. vs. Belgium

Belgium 2, U.S. 1

Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty Images Text: Morgan Wolf

American teammates Matt Besler and Jermaine Jones challenge Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini in the first half.

Belgium 2, U.S. 1

American goalkeeper Tim Howard is tested early on in the match against Belgium.

Belgium 2, U.S. 1

Lars Baron - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images Text: Morgan Wolf

Head coaches Jurgen Klinsmann and Belgium's Marc Wilmots greet each other before kickoff.

Belgium 2, U.S. 1

Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images Text: Morgan Wolf

Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini and U.S. defender DaMarcus Beasley jockey for position as they chase after the ball.

Belgium 2, U.S. 1

Belgium fans soak up the atmosphere prior to the game against the U.S.

Belgium 2, U.S. 1

Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Text: Morgan Wolf

U.S. fans cheer during the game.

Belgium 2, U.S. 1

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Text: Morgan Wolf

United States' Fabian Johnson and Belgium's Daniel Van Buyten go up for a header.

Belgium 2, U.S. 1

Francisco Leong/AFP/Getty Images Text: Morgan Wolf

American defender Geoff Cameron tries to hold off Belgium's Eden Hazard.

Belgium 2, U.S. 1

usa belgium 451574304_10.jpg — Robert Cianflone/Getty Images Text: Morgan Wolf

American goalie Tim Howard saves Belgian defender Vincent Kompany's shot in the second half.

Belgium 2, U.S. 1

usa belgium 451574884_10.jpg — Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images Text: Morgan Wolf

Tim Howard makes a save in extra time of the U.S.-Belgium Round of 16 match in the World Cup at Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil. The American goalie made a total of 16 saves on the night, setting a new record for the most saves in recorded World Cup history.

Belgium 2, U.S. 1

usa belgium 451577616_10.jpg — Michael Steele/Getty Images Text: Morgan Wolf

Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne (#7) scores for his country in the first half of extra time, breaking the 0-0 deadlock.

Belgium 2, U.S. 1

usa belgium 451574988_10.jpg — Francisco Leong/AFP/Getty Images Text: Morgan Wolf

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku shoots and scores his country's second goal of extra time against the U.S.

Belgium 2, U.S. 1

usa belgium 451575342_10.jpg — Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Text: Morgan Wolf

Belgian goalie Thibaut Courtois looks behind him as American substitute Julian Green's shot goes in to make the score 2-1.

Belgium 2, U.S. 1

usa belgium 451575446_10.jpg — Alex Livesey - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images Text: Morgan Wolf

U.S. substitute Julian Green (#16) celebrates his extra time goal that made the score Belgium 2-1 United States. Unfortunately the U.S. couldn't capitalize on the momentum Green's goal created and eventually lost the game.