England’s historic victory over Norway in the FIFA World Cup 2026 has garnered the largest UK audience of the tournament so far. The thrilling match, which ended with a 2-1 triumph for England, drew in a peak of 16.8 million viewers, according to overnight Barb figures supplied by overnights.tv.
The match, which kicked off at 10 p.m. local time at the Miami Stadium, topped the previous peak of 15 million viewers for England’s opening match against Croatia last month. This achievement highlights the immense interest and enthusiasm for the World Cup among the British public, with many fans tuning in to catch every moment of the action.
ITV’s coverage of the match scored an impressive average of 12.7 million viewers, demonstrating the network’s commitment to providing high-quality coverage of major sporting events. The network’s dedication to broadcasting live sports has earned it a reputation as a trusted and reliable source of news and entertainment.
The game, which saw Jude Bellingham score a brace of goals to knock Norway out of the competition, has been hailed as one of the most exciting matches of the tournament so far. The victory has sent shockwaves of excitement throughout the country, with fans taking to social media to celebrate the team’s success.
While the viewing figures for this match are impressive, they pale in comparison to the previous World Cup quarter-finals featuring England. The 2022 game, which saw England beaten by France in Qatar, peaked with 21.3 million viewers, while the 2018 quarter-final in Russia was watched by a high of 20 million, when England beat Sweden 2-0.
However, the viewing figures for this match are still notable, particularly given the early hour at which the match took place. England’s frenetic 3-2 win over Mexico in the last 16 match of the 2026 World Cup was seen by 9 million Brits in the small hours of the morning, the biggest TV audience ever for a live UK broadcast between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.
The success of the World Cup has also been reflected in the country’s box office, with many fans opting to watch the matches in the cinema rather than at home. The latest figures suggest that the tournament has generated significant revenue for the film industry, with many cinemas reporting high levels of attendance for the matches.
As the tournament continues, fans will be eagerly anticipating the next match, with many hoping to see England progress to the final. With the team’s confidence boosted by their recent victory, anything seems possible, and fans will be holding their breath as they watch the action unfold.
