The Uefa Euro 2020 tournament captivated audiences across the United States, culminating in record-breaking viewership for the final match between Italy and England. The thrilling final, which saw Italy triumph in a penalty shootout, became the most-watched European Football Championship match ever broadcast in the U.S., averaging a remarkable 6,488,000 viewers on ESPN.
This figure represents a 43 percent increase compared to the UEFA EURO 2016 Final, highlighting the growing popularity of European soccer in the American market. The final match’s viewership even surpassed the previous high of 4,567,000 viewers set during the EURO 2012 Final featuring Spain and Italy, solidifying UEFA EURO 2020’s place in U.S. sports broadcasting history. Notably, the EURO 2020 Final also stands as the most-viewed soccer telecast in the United States since July 2019, underscoring its widespread appeal.
During the nail-biting penalty shootout, viewership peaked at an impressive 8,199,000 viewers, demonstrating the intense engagement and excitement surrounding the tournament’s climax.
UEFA EURO Final Viewership in the U.S.: A Historical Comparison
| 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 |
Note: Audience figures reflect match windows.
The overall UEFA EURO 2020 tournament, broadcast across ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, also witnessed a significant surge in viewership. Across all 51 matches, the tournament averaged 1,363,000 viewers, marking a substantial 31 percent increase compared to the EURO 2016 tournament, which averaged 1,039,000 viewers on ESPN and ESPN2. This consistent growth throughout the competition underscores the expanding interest in UEFA EURO 2020 among U.S. audiences.
UEFA EURO 2020 Viewership Growth Across Tournament Stages:
- Group Stage: The 36 group stage matches shown on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2 averaged 870,000 viewers, a 23 percent increase from the 707,000 viewers for the EURO 2016 Group Stage.
- Round of 16: The eight matches in the Round of 16, broadcast on ABC and ESPN, averaged 1,816,000 viewers, representing a 38 percent increase compared to the 1,317,000 viewers in 2016.
- Quarterfinals: The four quarterfinal matches on ABC and ESPN attracted an average audience of 2,018,000 viewers, a 16 percent increase from the 1,737,000 viewers in 2016.
- Semifinals: ESPN’s coverage of the semifinals averaged 2,561,000 viewers, a 37 percent jump from the 1,876,000 viewers in 2016.
Top-10 Most-Watched 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 |
UEFA EURO 2020’s impressive viewership figures underscore the tournament’s growing significance and appeal to sports fans in the United States, marking it as a landmark event in the landscape of U.S. soccer broadcasting.
