Move over basketball and baseball, because soccer may be establishing itself as America’s new pastime.
Or at least, that’s what’s supported by the ratings.
For comparisons sake, the 2014 NBA Finals averaged 18 million viewers and the 2013 World Series averaged 14.9 million viewers.
Even in 2010, the Round of 16’s U.S.-Ghana match scored a 6.3 household rating in the U.S., while at the same time set a U.S. record with 19.4 million viewers according to ESPN Media Zone, already defeating basketball and baseball.
In 2014, we see these numbers eclipsed once again.
The U.S. - Portugal match on June 22 turned in a staggering household rating of 9.1, as well as set a new record with 24.7 million viewers, easily surpassing both the NBA and MLB.
The following U.S. - Germany match also fared well, despite having a start-time not convenient for ratings(noon). U.S. vs Germany scored a 6.7 rating and had a viewership of 10.7 million on ESPN alone, making it the 2nd most viewed soccer match ever only to U.S. - Portugal.
With these numbers, one can only imagine how the numbers will look now that the U.S. has made it to the knockout stage, and even farther ahead, how these numbers will take off in subsequent World Cups.
The U.S. takes on Belgium on Tuesday, July 1st at 4pm.
