Qatar 2022: 7.23 million viewers for the opening match Qatar - Ecuador in the USA (+128%)

Qatar - Ecuador (0-2), the opening match of the 2022 World Cup (Group A), drew an average of 7.23 million viewers on the pay-TV channels of Fox Sports (English language) and Telemundo (Spanish language, owned by US broadcast group NBCUniversal) in the United States on Sunday, 20/11/2022 (kick-off at 11:00 Eastern Standard Time), according to data from the American institute Nielsen.

This is a 128% increase in audience compared to the opening match of the 2018 World Cup. The match drew an average of 4 million viewers on Telemundo, including 3.17 million on the Spanish-language channel Telemundo and 832,000 viewers on its various streaming channels (Telemundo Deportes' website and app and the OTT platform Peacock). The match was watched by an average of 3.23 million viewers on English-language channel FS1 and Fox Sports' streaming services (site and app).

During the 2018 World Cup, the opening match, Russia - Saudi Arabia (5-0, Group A), drew an average of 3.17 million viewers on Fox Sports and Telemundo's channels on Thursday 14/06/2018 (kick-off 10:30 EST).

• The US broadcasting group…