2026 FIFA World Cup: ITV’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Match Coverage Peaks with 7.7 Million Viewers

Opening Clash at Estadio Azteca secures the highest peak audience of the year across Commercial TV and Streaming

A peak of 7.7 million viewers watched ITV’s coverage of the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 across TV and streaming, which saw tournament co-hosts Mexico secure a 2-0 win against South Africa at the historic Estadio Azteca.

Produced by ITV Sport Production, part of ITV Studios, the peak audience across ITV1 and ITVX is the highest peak audience of the year so far across UK commercial television and streaming.

It is also ITV’s biggest 16-34 audience this year with 861K.

From kick off to final whistle, an average of 6.6 million viewers watched the match across ITV1 and ITVX, with an average 5.9 million viewers watching the coverage from 7.50pm to 10.35pm.

ITV’s coverage of the first of the opening ceremonies peaked with 4.2 million viewers.

ITV Sport’s coverage continues tomorrow, Saturday 13th June, with Qatar v Switzerland on ITV1 and ITVX at 8pm (UK).

ITV will broadcast England’s first match of the tournament on Wednesday 17th June, with kick off at 9pm (UK), as Thomas Tuchel’s men face Croatia in Group L on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.

ITV Sport’s rights portfolio includes all England Men and England Lionesses tournament qualifiers, UEFA Nations League fixtures and friendlies, the Men’s FIFA World Cup 2026, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027, Men’s UEFA EURO 2028 and the Men’s FIFA World Cup 2030, as well as the Guinness Men’s Six Nations Championship, Nations Championship, PREM Rugby, the NHL, ITV Horse Racing, World Series of Darts, British Touring Cars, FIA Formula E, the English Football League and the Carabao Cup, among many other sporting highlights.