ITV coverage of Mexico v South Africa draws average of 5.9m
ITV saw a peak of 7.7 million viewers for the opening game of the 2026 World Cup, across TV and streaming.
The game, which saw Mexico defeat South Africa 2-0 in Mexico City, had an average of 5.9m tuned in for the broadcaster’s overall coverage from 7.50pm to 10.35pm, with 6.6m watching during the match on ITV1 and ITVX. It was ITV’s biggest 16-34 audience this year with 861,000, and it was the highest peak audience of the year so far across UK commercial television and streaming.
The opening ceremony, the first of three which will take place across Mexico, Canada and the US, peaked with 4.2 million viewers.
ITV Sport Production, part of ITV Studios, produced the coverage, which continues on Saturday 13 June with Qatar v Switzerland on ITV1 and ITVX at 8pm. ITV is also showing the first England game of the tournament, when the Three Lions face Croatia at 9pm on Wednesday 17 June. That will be shown on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
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