🏆 2026 World Cup Rewrites Kinopoisk Viewing Records

The final clash between Spain and Argentina became the most-watched football event in the history of streaming platforms and traditional linear broadcasting.

Kinopoisk’s Digital Triumph

In Russia, the 2026 World Cup became the most popular event in the history of Kinopoisk’s sports section. According to the service’s press office, the tournament’s total audience (combining live broadcasts and on-demand replays) exceeded 8.7 million Yandex Plus subscribers. The primary viewing driver was the Spain vs. Argentina final, which drew more than 4.5 million subscribers to their screens. On average, each user watched nine matches over the course of the tournament.

The tournament’s audience demographic on the platform split nearly evenly, with men accounting for 52% and women comprising 48%. Portugal emerged as the most popular team among Russian fans, ranking highest in “favorite team” additions.

“We delivered high and consistent stream quality while offering Plus subscribers enhanced features—a notification bell for match kickoffs, ambient stadium audio track switching, and an updated ‘Insights’ mode providing real-time statistics and team lineups, tailored specifically for the 2026 World Cup by adding international stats. Additionally, those watching live could share reactions and discuss match developments with friends who were also tuned in on the platform,” stated Artem Potapov, Head of Sport at Yandex Personal Services.

All-Time Viewership Record in the US

The July 19 final registered historic viewership numbers in the United States, drawing a combined audience of over 62 million viewers. According to Nielsen data, the English-language broadcast on Fox attracted 38.9 million viewers, establishing an all-time record for a soccer match on American television.

Meanwhile, the Spanish-language broadcast on Telemundo and the Peacock streaming platform pulled in 23.9 million viewers, making the game the most-watched soccer match in US Spanish-language television history and surpassing the previous record set by the Mexico vs. England match on July 5.

Audience interest in the final surged by 132% compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and skyrocketed by 240% relative to the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The figures on Fox—which nearly doubled its audience—were further bolstered by highly favorable local broadcast time slots.

An additional factor driving viewership was the inaugural halftime show organized by FIFA and Global Citizen, curated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. The massive performance featured Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS, Shakira, and the New York Philharmonic.