FOX's coverage of both the Euro 2024 and Copa America Final on Sunday saw strong viewership numbers. However, the European Championship Final outshone its American counterpart, despite a series of off-field issues that marred CONMEBOL’s showpiece contest.
The first game of the day was between Spain and England, with Spain emerging victorious after an 88th-minute goal from Mikel Oyarzabal. This match attracted an average of 6.43 million viewers on FOX, making it the most-watched game of the tournament.
In contrast, Argentina's victory over Colombia in extra time during the evening slot drew in slightly fewer viewers at around 6.019 million people tuning into FOX for this match.
Factors influencing viewership numbers
Several factors contributed to the viewership figures of both the Euro 2024 and Copa America finals. Firstly, England's participation in the Euro 2024 final significantly boosted viewership numbers, with their progression to the final building on strong audiences from previous matches featuring Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Secondly, timing issues impacted the Copa America Final's viewership; initially scheduled for an 8 p.m. start - a prime slot for American viewership - fans barging through stadium entrances caused a delay, pushing kickoff back by 82 minutes to 9:22 p.m., which is considered late for many American audiences.
Lastly, political interruptions also played a role; President Joe Biden addressing the nation following a tumultuous political weekend in America led some fans to switch channels temporarily during his speech before returning to FOX after it ended. Despite these challenges, both games still managed to attract large audiences and set new records for their respective tournaments' group-stage games' viewership figures.
Record-breaking combined viewerships
The combined English- and Spanish-language coverage of Copa America also broke records with FOX and Univision attracting a total audience of approximately 11.2 million – equivalent to this past season’s NBA Finals five-game average. This success bodes well for FOX as it prepares for the 2026 World Cup matches, which is also expected to break viewership records.
Despite the Copa America's off-field issues and timing setbacks, both tournaments enjoyed strong viewership figures. The Euro 2024 final's superior performance underscores European soccer’s growing popularity in the United States, setting a new benchmark for future tournaments.
