The Global Build-Up to the FIFA World Cup 2026
The Global Build-Up to the FIFA World Cup 2026
Using 12 months of global television schedules, ITVR analyzed which World Cup nations devoted the most airtime to soccer programming before the tournament kicked off.
| Rank | Country | Soccer Minutes | Airtime Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 3.0M | 8.20% |
| 2 | Portugal | 2.5M | 7.83% |
| 3 | Norway | 1.0M | 5.80% |
| 4 | Netherlands | 1.2M | 5.68% |
| 5 | France | 1.6M | 5.42% |
| 6 | Spain | 1.7M | 4.59% |
| 7 | Belgium | 1.1M | 3.58% |
| 8 | England | 1.6M | 2.38% |
| 9 | Czechia | 506K | 2.33% |
| 10 | Germany | 810K | 1.97% |
| 11 | Argentina | 783K | 1.81% |
| 12 | Mexico | 674K | 1.74% |
| 13 | Switzerland | 1.2M | 1.44% |
| 14 | Austria | 499K | 1.24% |
| 15 | USA | 422K | 1.16% |
| 16 | Brazil | 232K | 0.65% |
| 17 | Ecuador | 187K | 0.50% |
| 18 | Canada | 348K | 0.39% |
| 19 | Sweden | 71K | 0.38% |
| 20 | New Zealand | 14K | 0.30% |
| 21 | Colombia | 97K | 0.23% |
| 22 | Australia | 70K | 0.23% |
Source: ITVR Audience Analytics
Analysis Period: June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026
Soccer Airtime Share represents the percentage of total scheduled television minutes, based on TV listings data, attributed to programs classified under the Soccer genre across ITVR-tracked channels in each market. Programming includes live matches, previews, highlights, magazine shows, documentaries, films, series, and other soccer-related content. Channel coverage varies by market.
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