When aggregated, average audiences for reported Live/Repeat match broadcasts of the 2026 World Cup on Australian free to air broadcaster, SBS, have 47.451m, at an average of 499,000 per match broadcast (from 95 broadcasts).
Live broadcasts have delivered an aggregate of 45.471m at an average of 579,000 per game. (7 matches have not returned data). Matches involving Australia returned an aggregate audience of 10.255m at an average of 2.563m and an average reach of 4.009m This is almost double the audience for the last World Cup where the Socceroos exited at the same point.
Matches not involving Australia had an aggregate audeince of 35.463m at an average of 473,000 per match..
The Group Stage
SBS broadcast 70 matches across the group stage, with aggregate live audiences reach 34.772m at an average of 552,000 per match. Matches involving Australia delivered an aggregated average audience of 8.308m at an average of 2.769m per match, and an average audience reach of 4.34m per match. SBS said that
Cumulative Total TV reach for the tournament is now at 13.9 million
Matches not involving Australia had an aggregated average audience of 26.464m at an average of 441,000 per match. 7 live matches returned no data from various sources.
- Average audience (Start 1-5am AEST) - 343,000 (211,000 exc Aus)
- Average audience (start 5-10am AEST) - 514,000
- Average audience (start 10-2pm AEST) - 720,000 (508,000 exc Aus)
The highest rating game not featuring Australia in the group stage was Brazil v Morrocco (915,000 ave accordng to VOZ, 981,000 according to SBS, 1.846m rch).
According to SBS Media Release
The Round of 32
The Round of 32 matches delivered an aggregate audience of 10.946m at an average of 684,000 per game, and an average reach of 1.528m. Australias match against Egypt attracted an audience of 1.947m and a reach of 2.997m.
Matches not involving Australia had an aggregate audience4 of 8.999m at an average of 600,000 per game, with an average reach of 1.423m.
- Average audience (Start 1-5am AEST) - 555,000 (277,000 exc Aus)
- Average audience (start 5-10am AEST) - 767,000
- Average audience (start 10-2pm AEST) - 751,000
Highest rating match in the Round of 32 that didnt involve Australia was Portugal v Croatia (ave 1.092m, rch 2.124m).
Comparison to Matildas - 2023 Womens World Cup
In the 2023 Womens World Cup (in our own country and favourable viewing timezones), the Matildas had group stage audience aggregate of 5.942m on the Seven Network. Their round of 16 clash against Denmark drew 3.633m on free to air tv. The Matildas went on to have Quarter final audience of 4.013m before setting a record for Australian tv in the semi final with an average audience of 7.201m tuning in.
Notes
Its been reported that
SBS paid $30 million for the exclusive rights to the whole tournament - delivering close to an aggregate of 50m viewers, with several weeks left. The value for money to SBS would be enormous. They’ve paid $30m for what will end up more than 1/3rd of the AFLs total season audience (152.59m in 2025), for which the AFL received 530m in cash.
All data: VOZ overnights or SBS/Seven.
Thats just under 1/3rd of the 2025 AFL season in terms of viewship.
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