SBS Scores Big with Record-Breaking FIFA World Cup 2026™ Quarter-Finals Viewership

The business of sports broadcasting in Australia has reached new heights as SBS’s exclusive coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ continues to deliver blockbuster ratings, underscoring the immense commercial value of premium live sports content.

Over the weekend, the quarter final showdown between Norway and England attracted a staggering 3.7 million viewers (VOZ Total TV reach) on Sunday morning, with an average audience of 2.1 million. This marks the largest audience for a non-Australian match and the fourth highest of the tournament, highlighting the broad appeal of international football among Australian viewers.

The momentum carried through to the Argentina vs Switzerland match, which saw 3.19 million in Total TV reach and an average audience of 1.72 million. Notably, six matches during the tounament have now surpassed the three million viewer mark, a testament to the sustained engagement SBS has achieved.

SBS dominated the VOZ daily ratings on Sunday, securing the top six programs of the day, including the Norway-England post-match show, which also exceeded three million viewers.

The cumulative reach for the tournament has soared to 12.1 million Australians, demonstrating the unparalleled draw of the FIFA World Cup and the strategic advantage for SBS and its commercial partners. 

Key sponsors such as Hyundai, Hisense, Macca’s, Rexona, bet365, Commonwealth Bank, and Youi are benefitting from extensive brand exposure across SBS’s broadcast, digital, and social platforms.

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