The 2026 FIFA World Cup didn’t just make history on the pitch—it also became the most-watched World Cup ever in Canada.

According to Bell Media, 30.5 million Canadians—roughly 75% of the country’s population—watched the tournament, making it the largest television audience ever for a FIFA World Cup in Canada.

Across all 104 matches, the tournament averaged 1.6 million viewers per game, an increase of more than 50% compared to the 2022 World Cup.

The biggest audience came during Sunday’s dramatic final, when Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time. The match attracted an average audience of 6.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched FIFA World Cup match in Canadian history. At its peak, more than 9 million Canadians were watching as Spain lifted the trophy.

Canada’s unforgettable run to the Round of 16 also helped fuel record-breaking viewership.

The knockout match against Morocco averaged 5.4 million viewers, becoming the most-watched non-final World Cup match ever in Canada. Canada’s 6-0 victory over Qatar drew 5.3 million viewers, while the Round of 32 win over South Africa attracted 5.2 million.

The excitement extended beyond television.

Canadians streamed more than 400 million hours of live World Cup coverage—an increase of nearly 160% over the 2022 tournament. TSN also reported massive engagement across its digital platforms, generating more than 1.2 billion video views, 2.5 billion social media impressions, and over 91 million YouTube views throughout the tournament.

With Canada hosting FIFA World Cup matches for the first time, a historic run by the men’s national team and record-breaking audiences from coast to coast, the 2026 tournament marked a defining moment for soccer in Canada.