The United States' World Cup match against Belgium on Monday drew an unprecedented television audience in the U.S., with preliminary ratings indicating 30 million viewers tuned in. This figure surpasses all previous soccer telecasts in American history, including the U.S. team's previous game against Bosnia-Herzegovina, which had held the record at 26.4 million viewers. The peak viewership for the match reached over 36.8 million.

Belgium ultimately defeated the U.S. 4-1 in Seattle, advancing to the quarterfinals and ending the co-hosts' tournament run. While the U.S. team was eliminated, the game's viewership numbers significantly outpaced other major sporting events. For context, the most-watched Super Bowl averaged 127.7 million viewers, and the recent NBA Finals averaged 20.6 million.

The record-breaking viewership for the U.S.-Belgium game underscores the growing popularity of international soccer within the United States. Despite the team's exit from the tournament, the massive audience suggests a strong and expanding fan base for the sport.