A peak audience of 16.3 million people tuned in to watch England defeat the Democratic Republic of Congo in the World Cup, according to the BBC. The figures, achieved on BBC One and iPlayer, make it the broadcaster's biggest live audience of 2026.
Match Details and Viewership
The thrilling match on Wednesday night saw captain Harry Kane secure the men's national football team a spot in the round of 16 after scoring two second-half goals. The match averaged 14 million viewers and was the most-watched moment on the BBC this year, with 10.4 million streams across iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app.
3D Experience and Fan Engagement
The BBC's new 3D experience was used 285,000 times during the game alone, and has been used 3.1 million times across the tournament so far. The feature allows fans to relive and view matches in real time from every angle, offering an alternative way to watch the World Cup.
Celebrity Reactions and Fan Atmosphere
Wednesday night's match saw a number of stars celebrate the victory, including Sir Keir Starmer, Sir David Beckham and EastEnders actor Ross Kemp. Pop star Harry Styles played the start of the match on the big screens at Wembley Stadium for fans ahead of his 10th night at the arena. He was seen on the floor of the stadium jumping around and cheering following Kane's first goal.
The match in Atlanta ended with England fans belting out a rendition of Oasis' Wonderwall, with the national team singing it back to their supporters. Oasis singer Liam Gallagher posted on X: "Cmon England cmon Wonderwall".
Next Match
England will next face co-hosts Mexico on Monday July 6 at the Mexico City Stadium.
