The USA vs Belgium match is the highest revenue and viewership in World Cup history.

Monday, July 13, 2026 13:46 | 2 minutes read

The USA vs Belgium round of 16 match in the 2026 World Cup saw unprecedented demand, with ticket prices soaring in both secondary and open markets, ranging between $1,700 and $7,000.

While FIFA has not yet released full official financial figures for the tournament, record television viewership exceeding 42 million viewers contributed to making it the most profitable match in World Cup history hosted in North America.

The match between the United States, one of the three host nations of the 2026 World Cup, and Belgium is the highest-grossing match in World Cup history held at a host stadium in North America during the round of 16, setting records for attendance and revenue in tournament history.

Mon, 13 2026

Viewership for the match reached 42 million in the United States alone, with global audiences contributing to a record 11.53 billion views during the first 96 matches, according to FIFA statistics.

Stadiums typically hold over 80,000 fans (such as the record 80,824 in Mexico City or 70,649 in Dallas), yet US viewership reached 42 million (via Fox, Telemundo, and Peacock), making it the most-watched match in American football history.

The entire tournament achieved 11.53 billion views before the quarterfinals, becoming the most profitable in history, with projected revenues exceeding $3 billion from ticket and hospitality sales.

Mon, 13 2026

Total global viewership during the first 96 matches (through the quarterfinals) was 11.53 billion, while FIFA's estimated total revenue from hosting the 2026 World Cup is $13 billion, according to forecasts.

Regular ticket prices surged due to massive demand, with premium hospitality packages and premier seats for the upcoming final reaching $2.6 million.

Stadiums operated at near-perfect occupancy of 99.7%, attracting over 6.25 million fans in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Earlier in the tournament, the US vs Bosnia knockout match drew an additional audience of 36.2 million viewers on Fox and Telemundo.

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