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. The thrilling conclusion to the tournament captivated audiences, setting a new viewership record and underscoring the growing popularity of soccer in America.
Euro 2020 Final Shatters Viewership Records in the U.S.
Sunday’s final match, broadcast on ESPN, drew an average audience of 6,488,000 viewers, marking it as the most-viewed EURO final in U.S. history. This figure represents a significant 43 percent increase compared to the 2016 final, and it surpasses the previous record of 4,567,000 viewers set during the EURO 2012 final. This remarkable viewership confirms the EURO 2020 final’s place as a landmark event in U.S. soccer broadcasting. Furthermore, this final was the most-watched soccer telecast in the United States since July 2019, highlighting the immense interest generated by this high-stakes match.
Viewership Peaks During Nail-Biting Penalty Shootout
The intensity of the Italy versus England final was reflected in the viewership numbers, which reached their peak during the decisive penalty shootout. As fans tuned in to witness the dramatic conclusion, the audience swelled to an impressive 8,199,000 viewers. This peak viewership underscores the captivating nature of the final moments of the match and the widespread engagement with the EURO 2020 tournament.
EURO 2020 Tournament Sees Overall Viewership Surge
The success of the EURO 2020 final was part of a broader trend of increased viewership throughout the tournament. Across all 51 matches broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, UEFA EURO 2020 averaged 1,363,000 viewers. This represents a substantial 31 percent increase in viewership compared to the EURO 2016 tournament, which averaged 1,039,000 viewers across ESPN and ESPN2. This growth in viewership demonstrates the expanding audience for European football in the United States and the success of ESPN’s coverage.
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 |
The audience in this report reflects match windows
The EURO 2020 tournament witnessed increased viewership across all stages, indicating growing interest from the group stage through to the final rounds:
- Group Stage: The 36 group stage matches averaged 870,000 viewers, a 23 percent increase compared to EURO 2016.
- Round of 16: The eight matches in the Round of 16 averaged 1,816,000 viewers, a 38 percent increase from 2016.
- Quarterfinals: The quarterfinals drew an average audience of 2,018,000 viewers, a 16 percent increase over 2016.
- Semifinals: The two semifinal matches averaged 2,561,000 viewers, a significant 37 percent increase from the previous tournament.
Top-10 EURO Matches on ABC/ESPN (Since 2008):
| 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 |
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