The early elimination of the United States and Mexico from the 2026 FIFA World Cup has done little to affect the commercial success of U.S. broadcasters Fox and Telemundo, with both networks continuing to benefit from record audiences and strong advertising revenues.
Fox, which holds the English-language rights, and Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo both recorded historic soccer viewership throughout the tournament. Although the U.S. and Mexico were knocked out in the Round of 16, both teams progressed further than many had expected, helping the broadcasters exceed their audience targets.
One of the tournament’s biggest commercial drivers has been the hydration breaks, which created additional advertising opportunities. Fox reportedly generated approximately $200 million in advertising revenue from commercials aired during hydration breaks in the group stage alone, while its total World Cup revenue is expected to reach around $450 million.
In addition to traditional advertising sales, both broadcasters have also benefited from retransmission fees paid by cable and distribution partners.
Beyond the financial results, the tournament has further strengthened soccer’s place in American popular culture. The growing interest in the sport is expected to increase the value of future media rights, with bidding for the 2030 FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights in the United States projected to start at more than $1 billion.