Rrecord 3.572 billion people watched the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia on TV or on digital platforms, FIFA said on Friday.
France’s 4-2 victory in the final, which gave them their second World Cup title following their triumph in 1998, was the most watched game of the competition. It was seen live by a combined 1.12 billion viewers worldwide, FIFA said in a statement, revealing their data for the World Cup. It was followed by England’s semi-final defeat to Croatia and the other last-four clash between France and Belgium. The competition was broadcast live in every territory around the world between June 14-July 15, according to the statement.
“A combined 3.572 billion viewers — more than half of the global population aged four and over — tuned in to world football’s ultimate competition, according to audience data for official broadcast coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup,” it said. Over the 64 matches, the average live audience was 191 million, it added. FIFA also said: “The global in-home TV audience watching at least one minute of coverage totalled 3.262 billion, while a further estimated 309.7 million people watched no coverage in home but caught the action on digital platforms, in public viewing areas or in bars and restaurants, boosting the total audience by 9.5 percent.”
