Kansas City’s 2026 World Cup Matches Tipped for Super Bowl-Level Audience by FIFA President
The Chiefs’ loss in Super Bowl LIX set a record with 127.7 million U.S. viewers across television and streaming platforms.
But as FIFA president Gianni Infantino noted this week, those numbers won’t come close to the viewership expected for the 2026 World Cup final. More than a billion people watched Argentina’s win over France.
But Infantino thinks those Super Bowl TV numbers will be seen on each day of the tournament leading up to the final.
“I mean, look at the Super Bowl, which is fantastic, right? It has what, 120, 130 million viewers, right?” Infantino said on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd.” “The World Cup has 6 billion viewers. So, a World Cup is 104 Super Bowls in one month. It’s three Super Bowls a day. And this happens from here, and this can happen every week if you have the best league in the world.”
The Chiefs’ loss in Super Bowl LIX set an impressive record, drawing in a staggering 127.7 million viewers across both television and streaming platforms in the U.S.
However, FIFA president Gianni Infantino highlighted this week that such numbers will pale in comparison to the viewership anticipated for the 2026 World Cup final. To put it into perspective, more than a billion people tuned in to witness Argentina’s thrilling victory over France in the previous World Cup.
Infantino is hopeful that the amazing viewership numbers from the Super Bowl will continue each day as the tournament progresses toward the grand final.
“Infantino pointed out how impressive the Super Bowl is, claiming it draws in around 120 to 130 million viewers. During his appearance on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” he contrasted that with the World Cup, which attracts an astounding 6 billion viewers worldwide.
So, in essence, one World Cup is equivalent to 104 Super Bowls in just one month. That breaks down to around three Super Bowls worth of viewers every single day during the tournament. This kind of attention can happen continually if you have the best league in the world.”
Infantino’s remarks underscore the immense global reach of the World Cup compared to homegrown events like the Super Bowl, showcasing soccer’s status as a universal sport.
