The UEFA EURO 2020 final, which saw Italy triumph over England in a dramatic penalty shootout, has become the most-watched European Football Championship match ever broadcast in the United States. A staggering average audience of 6,488,000 viewers tuned in to ESPN to witness the enthralling conclusion of the tournament on Sunday.
This landmark viewership represents a 43 percent increase compared to the EURO 2016 final, highlighting the growing popularity of European soccer in the U.S. The previous record was held by the EURO 2012 final between Spain and Italy, which drew 4,567,000 viewers. The Euro Final’s success also marks it as the most-viewed soccer telecast in the United States since July 2019, further solidifying its impact on American audiences.
The peak of Sunday’s broadcast occurred during the nail-biting penalty shootout, reaching a crescendo of 8,199,000 viewers as fans were gripped by the tension and drama unfolding on the screen.
UEFA EURO Final Viewership in the U.S.:
| Date | Matchup | Network | Viewers (P2+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 11, 2021 | Italy vs. England | ESPN | 6,488,000 |
| July 1, 2012 | Spain vs. Italy | ESPN | 4,567,000 |
| July 10, 2016 | Portugal vs. France | ESPN | 4,538,000 |
| June 29, 2008 | Germany vs. Spain | ABC | 4,133,000 |
Audience figures reflect match windows.
The overall UEFA EURO 2020 tournament across ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 also experienced remarkable growth. An average audience of 1,363,000 viewers watched the 51 matches, a 31 percent increase from the 2016 tournament, which averaged 1,039,000 viewers on ESPN and ESPN2.
Looking at the tournament round by round, the viewership increases are consistently impressive:
- Group Stage: 36 matches averaged 870,000 viewers, a 23 percent increase from EURO 2016.
- Round of 16: Eight matches averaged 1,816,000 viewers, a 38 percent increase compared to 2016.
- Quarterfinals: Four matches averaged 2,018,000 viewers, a 16 percent increase from 2016.
- Semifinals: Averaged 2,561,000 viewers, a substantial 37 percent increase from 2016.
The following table showcases the top-10 most-viewed EURO matches since ABC/ESPN began broadcasting the UEFA European Championship in 2008, with the EURO 2020 final claiming the top spot:
| Date | Matchup | Network | Viewers (P2+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, July 11, 2021 | Italy vs. England (Final) | ESPN | 6,488,000 |
| Sun, July 1, 2012 | Spain vs. Italy (Final) | ESPN | 4,567,000 |
| Sun, July 10, 2016 | Portugal vs. France (Final) | ESPN | 4,538,000 |
| Sun, June 29, 2008 | Germany vs. Spain (Final) | ABC | 4,133,000 |
| Sun, June 24, 2012 | England vs. Italy (Quarterfinal) | ESPN | 3,103,000 |
| Wed, July 7, 2021 | England vs. Denmark (Semifinal) | ESPN | 2,661,000 |
| Sun, June 17, 2021 | Belgium vs. Portugal (Round of 16) | ABC | 2,653,000 |
| Sat, July 3, 2021 | Ukraine vs. England (Quarterfinal) | ABC | 2,534,000 |
| Tue, July 6, 2021 | Italy vs. Spain (Semifinal) | ESPN | 2,461,000 |
| Fri, July 2, 2021 | Belgium vs. Italy (Quarterfinal) | ESPN | 2,368,000 |
The record-breaking viewership of the EURO 2020 final and the entire tournament underscores the growing appetite for international soccer among U.S. audiences and the continued success of ESPN’s soccer programming.
