2026 World Cup: 4.9 million viewers for France - Iraq on M6 despite a nearly two hours break

France - Iraq (3-0), on Matchday 2 of the 2026 World Cup group stage (Group I), drew an average of 4.9 million viewers on the private free-TV channel M6, on Monday 22 June 2026 (kick-off at 23:00 CET), according to data from the audience measurement institute Médiamétrie.

This figure represented an audience share of 63.1%. The first half drew an average of 8.9 million viewers on the channel, while the second half attracted nearly 3 million viewers, according to M6. The match was also broadcast live on the pay-TV channel beIN SPORTS 1, whose audience figures were not released. The match was suspended for nearly two hours at half-time due to weather conditions. The match ended at 2:48 CET.

France - Senegal (3-1), on Matchday 1, drew an average of 13.99 million viewers on M6 on Tuesday 16 June 2026 (kick-off at 21:00 CET). Audience share: 61.4% (Médiamétrie data). It is the best audience for a French national team’s opening match at a World Cup since 2014 (France - Honduras, 15.84 million viewers and an audience share of 57% on TF1, on 15 June 2014), according to M6. The match was also…