Telemundo and Peacock’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ Coverage Kicks-Off with Record Breaking Results Averaging 13.4 Million Viewers for Mexico v. South Africa Opener

Telemundo’s Spanish-language coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ opening match featuring host-nation Mexico v. South Africa last Thursday broke all records with a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 13.4 million viewers across Telemundo, Peacock and Telemundo Deportes’ digital platforms, a +229% increase over the tournament’s opening match in 2022.  The match was the most-watched FIFA World Cup™ opening game in history, regardless of language, and the most-watched Men’s game in Spanish-language television history. 

On linear television, Mexico v. South Africa averaged 7.6 million total viewers, with a peak of 9.3 million viewers, becoming the highest rated telecast in Telemundo’s history.  The match also ranked as the #1 program, regardless of language, on Thursday.   

Across Peacock and Telemundo’s digital streaming platforms, the game delivered an Average Minute Audience (AMA) of 4.9 million viewers, representing 36% of the total audience and ranking as the most streamed Mexico match in FIFA World Cup™ history.  This also represents a +485% increase in AMA when compared to the 2022 opening match in Qatar. 

Over the first two games on day one of this year’s tournament (Mexico v. South Africa and South Korea v. Czechia,) Telemundo, Peacock and Telemundo’s streaming platforms delivered a TAD of 10 million viewers, a +289% increase over the first two-game average of the 2022 tournament. 

In addition, the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Opening Ceremony averaged 3.1 million viewers on linear, the best performance for an Opening Ceremony since 2014 and a +235% increase from 2022’s edition. 

When combined with all its complementary World Cup™ programming beginning at 8am on June 11^th, Telemundo delivered its most watched day ever on linear television with an average audience of 2.6 million viewers in Total Day. 

Additionally, FIFA World Cup 2026™ on Telemundo turned record reach into measurable results for marketers. On Thursday and Friday, viewers were +34% more likely to search for advertisers, reinforcing the platform’s ability to drive action in real time. Brand impact also outperformed 2022 benchmarks, with advertisers seeing +20% higher memorability, +14% higher likeability, and +25% higher purchase intent, underscoring the power of Telemundo to translate scale into meaningful brand impact. 

How to Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™   

Telemundo will deliver more than 700 hours of World Cup programming from June 11 to July 19, 2026—the most ever for a Spanish-language presentation in the United States—including all 104 matches live. A total of 92 matches will air on Telemundo and 12 on Universo, marking the most FIFA World Cup™ matches ever broadcast on a U.S. network, regardless of language. Every match will stream live on Peacock and the Telemundo App, with on-site production at all 104 matches across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, providing unmatched access and real-time storytelling from every host venue.  

As the streaming home of Telemundo, Peacock will deliver Telemundo’s comprehensive coverage of all 104 FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches live in Spanish, enhanced by Dolby Atmos® immersive sound and Peacock’s industry-leading interactive features. Fans can explore a new Spanish-language World Cup Hub featuring live matches alongside popular Peacock features like Multiview, Catch Up with Key Plays, Can’t Miss Highlights, Live Picks and Trivia – available in Spanish for the first time. Complementing this are new features such as Visión de Campo and Tu Bracket for select matches, transforming viewing into active participation and extending engagement beyond the live match.  

Source: Nielsen Big Data + Panel, L+SD, match window for TAD; Adobe Analytics; 6/11/26; EDO; Market Cast – Ad Performance