Portugal through to face Spain after VAR decision, Salah fit for Australia match

The opening match of the World Cup on Friday saw Australia’s Socceroos face Egypt, a game that drew record-breaking viewership in the United States. Fox Sports reported an average audience of 24.429 million viewers, making it the most-watched English‑language soccer broadcast in U.S. history, with a peak of 31.883 million at one point during the match. Telemundo, carrying the Spanish‑language rights, logged 9.1 million viewers over the entire game window.

Australia’s coach, Tony Popovic, prepared his squad for both scenarios regarding Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah, noting that the team had trained for the possibility of Salah playing and for the alternative if he were absent. “We have prepared for Salah playing, we’ve seen when he’s not on the pitch the players in those positions where he may play,” Popovic said, emphasizing the squad’s readiness to adapt to any lineup changes.

The match set a new benchmark for World Cup viewership in the U.S., underscoring the tournament’s growing popularity across both English and Spanish audiences. As the tournament progresses, broadcasters and teams alike will continue to monitor and respond to the high engagement levels that define this global event.