The English- and Spanish-language broadcasts of the United States’ opening 1-1 tie with Wales at the World Cup was watched by 11.7 million people, a 5% increase over the Americans’ 2-1 victory over Ghana at the 2014 tournament.
The game, which began at 2 p.m., was watched by 8,306,000 people on Fox and 3.4 million on Telemundo, Telemundo digital, and Peacock, all of which are owned by Comcast Corp.’s NBCUniversal.
The match was watched by 563,000 people on streaming, according to Fox, the network’s highest group-stage viewership since taking over U.S. English-language rights for the 2018 tournament. The most-watched Spanish-language World Cup match received 1.0 million views on Telemundo and Peacock.
The 2014 United States opening in Brazil, which began on a Saturday in mid-June, was seen by 11.1 million on ESPN and 4.8 million on Univision.
Clint Dempsey gave the USA a lead just 34 seconds into the match in the 2014 game, but Ghana appeared to salvage a point in the 82nd minute when Andre Ayew beat Tim Howard.
John Anthony Brooks was the hero, in the end, scoring the winner in the 86th minute after he was left unmarked on a late corner kick.
2014 starting XI:
United States: Howard, Johnson, Cameron, Besler (Brooks 46′), Beasley, Beckerman, Jones, Bedoya (Zusi 77′), Bradley, Dempsey, Altidore (Jóhannsson 23′)
Goals: Dempsey (1′), Brooks (86′)
Ghana:Â Kwarasey, Opare, Mensah, Boye, Asamoah, Muntari, Rabiu (Essien 71′), J. Ayew (Boateng 59′), Atsu (Adomah 78′), A. Ayew, Gyan
Goals: A. Ayew (82′)