Fox Sports “Summer of Soccer” was a ratings success. From mid-June to mid-July, the network televised the Euro Cup (UEFA European Championship) from Germany and the Copa América hosted by the United States. Because of the time difference of host nations, there was no conflict between the start times of the matches. The Euro Cup aired earlier in the day followed by Copa América.

Despite the excess of live international soccer matches over one month (78 over 30 days), ratings across Fox, FS1, FS2 were noticeably higher compared to the most recent Euro Cup and Copa América tournaments in 2021. This is yet another indication of the impact and popularity that live sports has been having on linear television. With more viewing options than ever before, (in June 2024, streaming generated a record high audience share of 40.3%), only live sports have been able to sustain or even grow audiences on broadcast and cable television networks.

2024 Euro Cup

In total, the 24-team Euro Cup 2024 tournament averaged 1.68 million viewers on Fox and FS1, up 34% from 2021 (1.25 million) on ESPN. The tournament became the most-watched Euro Cup on English-language television. (Fox had sublicensed several lower rated matches to Fubo, which is also not measured by Nielsen.)

Finals: Spain’s 2-1 victory over England in the Euro Cup championship game on July 14, averaged 6.43 million viewers on Fox. The network says it was the largest audience for a Euro Cup game on any one English-language television network. Audience peaked at 8.47 million viewers at 4:30-4:45 p.m. (ET) quarter-hour. The average audience delivery was a 6% increase from the 6.07 million from the 2021 Euro Cup (Italy vs. England) on ESPN. (In 2021 when ESPN2’s coverage was added, the average audience grew to 6.49 million.) This was Spain’s fourth Euro Cup victory, more than any other nation.

In addition, the Euro Cup final averaged three million viewers on Univision, a 13% increase from the 2021 finale. The game was also the most watched Euro Cup final on any U.S. Spanish language network. Collectively, the 2024 finale averaged over nine million viewers similar to 2021. Univision’s subscription based ViX Premium, streamed every Euro Cup match in Spanish. Nielsen does not measure ViX.

Semifinals: Ratings for the semifinals remained strong on Fox. On Tuesday, July 9, Spain’s defeat of France averaged 3.19 million, the most watched Euro Cup semifinal on any U.S. English-language network. The audience peaked at 4.2 million viewers. The following day, England’s defeat of the Netherlands averaged 2.97 million viewers, the second most watched semi-final match. The two semifinals on Fox averaged 3.08 million viewers. Besides setting a record high audience for the Euro Cup semifinals, the audience was a 33% increase from the two semifinal matches from 2021.

Quarterfinals: The four quarterfinal matches aired either on a holiday (July 5) or on a Saturday (July 6). As a result, the ratings were actually higher than the two semifinal matches. Collectively, the four quarterfinal matches averaged 3.6 million viewers, an increase of 89% from the 2021.

The early game on July 5 saw Spain eliminate host country Germany. The match was the least watched among quarterfinal games averaging 3.16 million viewers. Later that day France defeated Portugal, the match averaged 4.28 million viewers, the most watched English-language Euro Championship quarter final telecast to date. Both matches more than doubled the audience from the corresponding games of 2021.

On the following day, England’s victory over Switzerland averaged 3.33 million viewers. Later that day Netherlands victory over Türkiye averaged 3.46 million viewers. Through the quarterfinals viewing to the 43 Euro Cup matches on Fox Sports averaged 1.5 million viewers, an increase of 42% from 2021.

Round of 16: The two most watched matches in the Round 16 were both played on Sunday June 30 and involved the two eventual finalists Spain and England. Spain’s victory over Georgia, averaged 2.87 million viewers on Fox, an increase of 19% from the corresponding game in 2021 and setting yet another Euro Cup audience record for an English-language network. Earlier in the day, England’s narrow defeat of Slovakia in extra time averaged 2.54 million viewers, a nearly 70% increase from the corresponding game of 2021.

In total, the Round of 16 matches on Fox Sports averaged nearly two million viewers, an increase of 18% from the Round of 16 matches in 2021. Through the Round of 16, the Euro Cup averaged 1.25 million viewers on Fox Sports, an increase of 27% compared to 2021.

2024 Copa América

The smaller Copa América tournament involved ten teams from South America and six from North America. The tournament averaged 1.42 million across the Fox Sports, an increase of over 350% from the 2021 tournament. Similar to the Euro Cup, the soccer tournament set a viewing record for English-language television networks on Fox. Also, for the entire tournament, Univision had an average audience of 1.86 million viewers, exceeding Fox by 31%.

Finals: The championship game on Sunday July 14 (same day as the Euro Cup championship) between Argentina and Colombia averaged 6.02 million viewers on Fox, setting another record viewing for an English language network. Viewing on Fox peaked at the 10:45-11:00 p.m. quarter hour at 7.07 million.

The average audience for the championship match on Univision and TUDN was even greater, averaging 6.35 million viewers (over half the viewers were age 18-49). Univision’s audience peaked at 6.66 million from 11:00 -11:15 p.m. (ET) time period. The game delivered the largest audience on Univision since the 2014 FIFA Men’s World Cup final from Brazil. In addition, the game could mark the end of the international career of soccer great Lionel Messi. With the 37-yeqr old Messi injured during the game, Argentina won in extra time 1-0, capturing their second straight Copa América championship and record 16th overall.

Semifinals: In the two Copa América semifinals, Univision averaged a higher audience than Fox. On Tuesday July 9 the Argentina and Canada match averaged 1.99 million viewers on FS1 and 2.7 million on Univision and TUDN. On July 10 Colombia defeated Uruguay averaged 2.15 million viewers on FS1 and 2.9 million on Univision and TUDN.

Team USA: With games involving the United States, the audience delivery for Fox was strong. For example, Team USA’s opening match on Sunday, June 23, versus Bolivia averaged 3.19 million viewers on Fox. (Univision and TUDN averaged 1.5 million viewers for the match.) The team’s second match on Thursday, June 27 versus Panama averaged 2.47 million viewers on Fox. On July 1 Uruguay defeated the USMNT eliminating Team USA from advancing to the quarterfinals. The match averaged 3.78 million viewers on FS1. The three matches on Fox and FS1 averaged 3.15 million viewers, more than doubling Team USA’s ratings from 2016 Copa América.

Looking ahead, viewers can anticipate more “Summer of Soccer” on Fox Sports. Next year, Fox Sports will televise the Women’s Euro Cup from Switzerland. Fox Sports will be airing the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup with the United States, Canada and Mexico hosting the newly expanded tournament. The following year Fox Sports will televise the newly expanded Women’s FIFA World Cup from Brazil. In 2028 Fox Sports will televise the Men’s Euro Cup with the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland as host nations.