A record 4.84 million Australians choose SBS as the Socceroos advance at FIFA World Cup 2026
27 June, 2026
Media releases
Australia's third match, against Paraguay, achieved a Total TV reach of more than 4.84 million
A Total TV average audience of more than 3 million watched the match, with almost 47% tuning in on SBS On Demand
Almost half of all Australians have watched the tournament as cumulative reach hits 13.9 million
The Socceroos' third match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 has become the most-watched World Cup match in SBS history, attracting 4.844 million viewers* (VOZ Total TV reach) as the Australian team qualified for the knockout stage of the tournament by drawing 0-0 with Paraguay in San Francisco on Friday (26 June).
Cumulative Total TV reach for the tournament is now at 13.9 million, which means almost half of Australia's population has watched some of the tournament, with three weeks still to go.
The exciting young Socceroos team has captivated the nation, attracting a Total TV average audience of 3.086 million across linear television and digital streaming for their deciding Group D match, as almost 47% tuned in through SBS On Demand (see detailed breakdown below). The Socceroos will now play their next match in Dallas on 4 July at 4am (AEST) in the Round of 32.
Yesterday's match surpassed the ratings for Australia's match against T rkiye on 14 June (3.038 million, VOZ Total TV national average audience) and is now the second most watched broadcast in SBS history, behind the Socceroos' 2006 World Cup qualifier against Uruguay (3.416 million, national average audience, in the days before digital streaming).
SBS's World Cup broadcast dominated Friday's free-to-air ratings, as the Paraguay-Australia post-match program attracted 2.872 million viewers, and the pre-match program attracted 2.277 million viewers. In total, SBS had the top three programs of the day and five of the top ten between live matches and pre- and post-match shows.
World Cup matches have consistently ranked in the top ten programs of the day since the tournament began on 12 June (Australian time). So far, 27 Live matches have reached more than one million viewers each.
The World Cup broadcast has struck a particular chord with younger viewers, ranking No.1 on the VOZ daily ratings for 14 of the last 15 days in the 16-39 age group. On Friday (26 June), SBS had the top six shows for this age group.
SBS Director of Sport, Ken Shipp, said: This is a historic FIFA World Cup in many ways. In our 40 years of broadcasting the tournament, we've never seen national engagement at this level. Australians have embraced both the Socceroos' campaign and the wider tournament in extraordinary numbers, demonstrating the enduring passion for football in this country. We've already witnessed some unforgettable football, and with the knockout rounds about to begin, the tournament is entering its most compelling stage.
Paraguay v Australia Total TV Reach Total TV Average Audience % BVOD Contribution
Paraguay v Australia Pre 2,277,000 937,000 47.0%
Paraguay v Australia Live 4,844,000 3,086,000 46.8%
Paraguay v Australia Post 2,872,000 1,389,000 41.3%
Top Matches to 26 June Total TV Reach Total TV Average Audience % BVOD Contribution
Paraguay v Australia - Live 4,844,000 3,086,000 46.8%
Australia v T rkiye - Live 4,750,000 3,045,000 44.0%
USA v Australia Live 3,456,000 2,199,000 45.9%
Haiti v Scotland - Live 1,933,000 872,000 47.7%
Brazil v Morocco Live 1,932,000 981,000 62.6%
Watch live, free and exclusively on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand from 12 June to 20 July (AEST). Learn all the ways to watch, read and listen, including updating your SBS On Demand app (iOS or Android) and subscribing to SBS Sport newsletters here.
SBS Sport's social media platforms have had more than 369 million video views and 450 million impressions across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube.^
Follow SBS Sport across YouTube, TikTok, X, Instagram and Facebook for all the latest from the FIFA World Cup 2026 .
Broadcast schedule and more information here.
Hyundai, Hisense, Macca's, Rexona, bet365, Commonwealth Bank and Youi are commercial partners of SBS's broadcast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 .
Sources:
* Reach-To Date: VOZ National Total TV | Date: 11/06/2026 26/06/2026 | Data: When Watched, All WC content | Demo: Total People | Metric: Reach (Broadcast 1 min, BVOD 15 secs)
Average Audience: VOZ National Total TV | Overnight 12/06/2026 26/06/2026| Demo: Total People | Metric: Average Audience
^ Tableau, 1/4/2026 to 26/6/2026
Image caption: The Socceroos celebrate their victory over T rkiye. Image: Getty Images
For further information and interview requests please contact:
Nicole Jeffery | nicole.jeffery@sbs.com.au | 0439 246 625
For a PDF of this media release, click here.
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A record 4.84 million Australians choose SBS as the Socceroos advance at FIFA World Cup 2026 
