Football is the most popular sport worldwide, with a growing audience thanks to the accessibility provided by modern digital platforms. Despite challenges in accurately measuring viewership, especially in developing countries, certain matches consistently draw massive global audiences. Here are the top 10 most-watched football matches:
1. FIFA World Cup Final
The FIFA World Cup final is the most-watched football match globally. Held every four years, it captivates audiences worldwide. The 2018 final between France and Croatia attracted 516.6 million viewers, with the entire tournament watched by over 3.5 billion people. The 2022 final between France and Argentina set a record with 1.5 billion viewers.
2. UEFA Champions League Final
The UEFA Champions League final is the premier club football match, showcasing Europe’s best teams. The 2018 final in Kyiv drew 380 million viewers. The 2024 final at Wembley Stadium surpass 450 million viewers.
3. UEFA European Championship (Euros) Final
The Euros final is another major event. The 2016 final between France and Portugal was watched by an estimated 600 million people. The 2020 final between England and Italy had a global audience of 328 million and a cumulative live match audience of 5.23 billion.
4. Manchester Derby
The rivalry between Manchester United and Manchester City has become one of the most-watched football matches, with a broadcast reach to nearly a billion people in 189 countries.
5. El Clásico
El Clásico, featuring Real Madrid and Barcelona, is one of the most exciting league matches. Traditionally attracting 400 to 500 million viewers, its popularity has waned slightly with the departures of stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
6. Northwest Derby
The clash between Liverpool and Manchester United, known as the Northwest Derby, is the biggest fixture in English football, often drawing up to 700 million viewers.
7. Milan Derby
The Milan Derby between AC Milan and Inter Milan is Italy’s biggest football match. A 2017 match was watched by over 860 million people, largely due to favorable scheduling for Chinese viewers.
8. Der Klassiker
Germany’s most-watched football match is Der Klassiker, contested between Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. This fixture attracts millions of viewers from over 200 nations, especially when it influences the Bundesliga title race.
9. Derby d’Italia
The Derby d’Italia between Inter Milan and Juventus is one of the most-watched Serie A matches globally, with the 2021 fixture reaching 650 million viewers in over 200 countries.
10. AFCON Final
The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final is a major event in African football. The 2019 final had over 800 million viewers on beIN SPORTS, and the 2021 tournament saw extensive global engagement, particularly on social media platforms.
