Mahmoud Laouta

Friday, July 10, 2026 14:37 | 1 minute read

Over 16 million viewers on average watched the French team's 2-0 victory over Morocco on French channel M6 on Thursday evening, despite its late timing (from 10:00 PM to midnight), according to figures published by Mediametrie on Friday.

The figure recorded by the 2026 World Cup quarter-final match is a record in France since the start of 2026. It also achieved a viewing share of 72.8%, meaning more than 7 out of 10 viewers were watching it.

The semi-final match of 'Les Bleus' on July 14 against Spain or Belgium is expected to attract even more viewers, especially as it airs at a more favorable time starting from 9:00 PM French time.

M6 is the only French channel broadcasting the World Cup for free, alongside its broadcast on the paid channel beIN Sports. Since the start of the competition on June 11, the matches have ensured high viewership ratings for the channel, especially those of the French team.

According to the same channel, about 12.2 million viewers on average (with a 76% viewing share) watched France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the round of 16 on July 4, despite its scheduling at 11:00 PM. That was considered a 'historical record' in viewership for that time slot.

This match, along with other matches broadcast during the week from June 29 to July 5, allowed M6 to reach record levels of viewership during that period.