England vs. Argentina at World Cup 2026
A peak of 24 million viewers tuned in to see England’s heartbreaking from the World Cup at the hands of old rivals Argentina last night, according to early ratings figures.
TV ratings figures only account for domestic household settings so the true figures are inevitably significantly higher when accounting for the millions watching in pubs, bars and fan parks around the country.
BBC One’s coverage of the semi-final match, which the Three Lions lost 2-1 despite leading much of the second half through Anthony Gordon, averaged 22.1 million viewers on linear and iPlayer.
The number includes a record 1.8 million concurrent UHD streams on iPlayer, while the new second-screen ‘3D Experience’ was used 192,000 times during the game.
Alex Kay-Jelski, the BBC’s director of sport, said: “Last night may not have brought the result England fans were hoping for, but it was another occasion that united millions across the UK in support of the team. Audiences came together on the BBC to witness a World Cup semi-final that captured the emotion, drama and pride that football can deliver.
“Throughout this tournament, audiences have turned to the BBC not just for the live matches, but to share in the stories, the analysis and the moments that bring the nation together. The extraordinary reach of our coverage across TV, iPlayer, BBC Sounds, the BBC Sport website, app and socials, reflects the enduring power of major sporting events to create shared experiences on a remarkable scale.
“We’re incredibly proud to have been alongside audiences throughout England’s World Cup journey, bringing every moment to fans across the UK. While England’s campaign has come to an end, the story of this World Cup is not over. Sunday’s Final promises to be another unforgettable occasion, and we’ll be there to bring audiences every moment as Argentina and Spain battle to become world champions.”
England now face France in the bronze place match, airing on BBC One from 9.30pm on Saturday, while Argentina play Spain in the final, which will be broadcast on BBC One and ITV1 on Sunday night.
