The eight UEFA EURO 2020 Round of 16 matches on ABC and ESPN from June 26-29 (Sat–Tues) delivered an average audience of 1,816,000 viewers, a 38 percent increase compared to 1,317,000 viewers for the same matches in 2016.

Through 44 EURO 2020 matches (Group Stage and Round of 16), the average audience across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 is 1,063,000 viewers, a 29 percent increase over 822,400 viewers for comparable matches in 2016.

Sunday’s Belgium-Portugal Round of 16 match on ABC is the most-viewed match of the tournament so far with 2,653,000 viewers – the fifth most-watched UEFA European Football Championship match since ESPN and ABC began airing the competition in 2008. Belgium’s 1-0 victory over the reigning European champions was only surpassed by the three EURO finals in 2012 (4,567,000 viewers), 2016 (4,538,000) and 2008 (4,133,000), and the Italy-England quarterfinal match from EURO 2012 (3,103,000).

The top five EURO 2020 Round of 16 matches delivered more viewers than any match in this round in 2016. Additionally, all Round of 16 matches delivered an average audience of at least 1.2 million viewers.

 

ABC/ESPN’s Round of 16 Matches for EURO 2020:

Date
Match
Network
Viewers (P2+)
Sun, Jun 27
Belgium vs. Portugal
ABC
2,653,000
Sat, Jun 26
Italy vs. Austria
ABC
2,077,000
Mon, Jun 28
France vs. Switzerland
ESPN
1,958,000
Tue, Jun 29
England vs. Germany
ESPN
1,861,000
Sun, Jun 27
Netherlands vs. Czech Republic
ESPN
1,696,000
Tue, Jun 29
Sweden vs. Ukraine
ESPN
1,655,000
Sat, Jun 26
Wales vs. Denmark
ESPN
1,464,000
Mon, Jun 28
Croatia vs. Spain
ESPN
1,236,000

***The audience in this report reflects match windows

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.