The Most Watched World Cup Matches
The final numbers of how many people watched the World Cup Final are not in yet (it takes a while to count a billion people), but there are some interesting numbers out regarding the most watched games of the first couple of rounds, as well as the countries that had the highest percentage of fans watching their team play. Not surprisingly, Brazil’s matches were popular around the world, but would you have guessed that Croatia would lead the way with the greatest percentage of people to watch all the games?
(Top 10 most watched matches)
1 Brazil v Croatia 160m
2 Brazil v Australia 144m
3 Spain v France 137m
4 Japan v Brazil 131m
5= Germany v C Rica 128m
5= Brazil v Ghana 128m
7 Portugal v Neth’lands 122m
8 Argentina v Mexico 121m
9 Japan v Croatia 117m
10 Germany v Poland 114m
14 Sweden v England 106m
(Up to and including second round)
* PARTISAN PASSION (Top nations by per cent of population who watch own games)
1 Netherlands 44.7
2 Argentina 43.2
3 Croatia 41.2
4 Brazil 33.5
5 Sweden 31.7
6 South Korea 31.4
7 Switzerland 30.6
8 Ecuador 30.5
9 Italy 30.1
10 France 30
17 UK 21.8
* LOVE OF THE WHOLE GAME
(Per cent who watch all games)
1 Croatia 16.4
2 Uruguay 16.2
3 Netherlands 14.7
4 Germany 14.1
5 Hungary 12.7
6 Serbia & Montenegro 12.5
7 Switzerland 12.2
8 Brazil 12.1
9 Ecuador 10.6
10 Bulgaria 10.3
16 UK 8.3
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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 62 comments.
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By nicko | July 12th, 2006 at 6:36 am 
actually from a US perspective I guess the big cup will be 2014 when Brazil gets it, that’s when games will be on in the evening US time, I really hope all the diving and violence we’ve seen this world cup is gone by then - but that may be wishful thinking 
Posted from 
Australia
By francesco | July 12th, 2006 at 6:57 am Zinedine is an idiot fo doing what he did, for someone having such magnitude, respect, needs to have anger control management. This isnt the first incident where Zisou has lost his cool. He did it to himself, the pressure built and he broke. Im glad, being an Italian - American I love celebrating Italys victory, watch out Brazil, were 1 behind you now. In 2010 S. Africa you will have our number and be chasing us, FORZA AZZURRI….
Posted from 
United States
By francesco | July 12th, 2006 at 7:03 am ITALIA CAMPIONE DEL MONDO… YOU CANT TAKE THE AWAY FROM THE ITALIANS FOR 4 MORE YEARS. THERE ARE LOTS OF HATERS, WHY, BECAUSE YOUR HOME TEAM SUCKS, DONT HATE THE BLUE. FORZA ITALIA, FORZA AZZURI, CHICAGO TI AMO MOLTO, PER 4 ANNI LA COPA E NOSTRA, VIVA ITALIA, VIVA ITALIA, …..OLE OLE OLE OLE OLE , OLE , OLE OLE, OLE , OLE , OL E, OLE !!!!!!!
Posted from United States
By mike . | July 12th, 2006 at 8:40 am Zidane is one of the alltime greats but FIFA is wrong in giving him the Golden Ball after his stupid action.
Posted from 
Canada
By No honor in your win | July 12th, 2006 at 10:16 am A bunch of divers, and 70M people around the world that exult in this win, you will never get any credit for this “win” from the other 99%. The enduring pictures from this world cup are a bleeding McBride and a disallowed goal from the US game, a 95th minute dive PK against Australia, clown Totti in an otherwise excellent semis, and of course the taunting Mothrfckerazzi deservedly drawing Zidane’s headbutt. The asterisk against your statistic of a win will forever be associated with an underhandedly-denied Zidane. And if you think you’re going to see a tourist bounce because of this, keep looking….And UEFA competitions are not going to miss your cheating Serie A clubs. FORZA ITALMERDA.
Posted from United States
By Observer | July 12th, 2006 at 11:10 am Italians dive, cheat, steal blah blah blah. You if you are so bias, hate-filled, perhaps even jealous of Italy to see that the Italians are not the only team that engages in unfair tactics then that is your own fault. Italy is no different than any other country in this respect. You can talk about all the diving but the real problems with this world cup were the terrible officating and the lack of goals. This was one of the lowest scoring world cups ever (average goals per game) and if this continues you will not only see even less people in countries where soccer is not big, like the US and Canada, watch but you’ll probably get less people watching generally. There were a real lack of classic goals, players, or teams in this tournament, and the quality of play has degraded in recent tournaments. There are no Maradonnas, Peles, Rossis, Rivas, etc which produce memorable goals, runs, or set-ups. Overall, it was a mediocre tournament with mediocre teams and players compared to other World Cups, particularly pre-1990.
Posted from Canada
By observer | July 12th, 2006 at 2:25 pm i agree with francesco and the observer from canada yu guys just sound jelous. VIVA ITALIA!!!!!!
Posted from United States
By luke | July 12th, 2006 at 2:36 pm hey mister n honour in your win. get a life. itaian divers, how about henri diving, the goal against brazil was casue he faked a hit in the fave, and zidane for me is the best player in the world but still no need to act like a fool. if materazzi did call him a terrorist which could be, great way of showing u aren’t by trying to seriously hurt someone. as i said before, i like hearing all this crap about italy casue at the end of the day we champions for another 4 years. so keep dissing. or else, dont hate, appreciate.
Posted from 
Malta
By EL CHEMO | July 12th, 2006 at 2:59 pm CHINGA SU MADRE ITALIA ARRIVA LA RAZA 100% BROWN PRIDE
Posted from United States
By Ilse | July 12th, 2006 at 4:57 pm I am so happy that Italy that Italy, my favorite Country, won the worldcup!!!
Posted from United States
By dino | July 12th, 2006 at 5:27 pm Zidane is a disgrace to the GAME,his nation,team,sons,children,and fans. He needs his brain examined. Justice was done-FRance lost. Cannavaro should have been given the award. No one is above the game. What an idiot.
By joseph the dolphin | July 12th, 2006 at 7:04 pm 1. Fanatism is pernicious and dangerous. Stop cursing the darkness of the world cup. Please, light up a candle so you can see and reason.
2. By the way, even though the Americans are eliminated by the Black Stars of Ghana, their World Cup campaign should not be seen as a failure.Remember the memorable 1-1 draw with Italy? Don’t you remember them pushing the Czech Republic all the way in a 3-0 loss in Munich?)
Of course America needs to go further but the big winner out of all of this has been American soccer.
In a few months a sport, which was the number four sport has leveled up with the other sports to almost become number one.
And people are concerned. They want to know how to build on this for the future, for the upcoming generation who must be the future.
It would be damaging if American soccer goes down and doesn’t capitalize on the momentum from this World Cup.
3. I am sorry to say there weren’t any big stars there. Stop bluffing. You know who you are and what you’re worth. Nevertheless, good will and determination were there.
4. America needs to rebuild or build with new bloods: adolescents 16-21 years of age. Anyone who is over 29 shouldn’t be part of the new “Team America” for 2010 and the future.
5. Thank you Germany(Team and country)! Great spirit! Great job!
6. Congratulations Italia. ole! ole! ole! Number one!
Congratulations France. Vive la France!
Posted from United States
By nan | July 12th, 2006 at 8:27 pm it was always great to watch croatia!
and france, brasil, spain!!
and ZIDANE IS A JEDI!!!!
By Herman Contract | July 13th, 2006 at 1:27 am To Nan :
Zidane is a looser.
Posted from 
France
By Brian | July 13th, 2006 at 2:36 am I think Italy deserved to win. The semifinal against Germany was the best game that I saw in the tournament. I think the penalty goal that France scored at the beginning of the final was the most costly dive of the entire tournament. The replay showed that he wasn’t even touched by the two defenders. It set the tone for the rest of the game, and it hurt France. The Referee felt obliged to not call real fouls for the rest of the game. Italy scored the only true goal in the entire game, and they deserved to win. I really think they need to get rid of penalty kicks as a tie-breaker.
Posted from United States
By Dylan | July 13th, 2006 at 5:06 am Okay, Italy is the World Champion for the next four years. Congratulations! But who will bet on Italy or France playing in the finals for European Champion in two years?
Posted from United States
By Dylan | July 13th, 2006 at 5:09 am I do agree with Brian that the Italy-Germany game was the best game of the tournament, and Italy deserved to win that one!
Posted from United States
By steve | July 14th, 2006 at 6:01 am i love zidane but i hate french people
they suck
Posted from United States
By Danny | July 14th, 2006 at 7:38 am Best games were Italy-Germany and Argentina-Mexico.
Posted from United States
By Danny | July 14th, 2006 at 7:39 am Hey Steve whats wrong with French people?
Posted from United States
By Kruman | July 15th, 2006 at 4:26 am Summary of the WC Final:
70th minute. Zidane’s shoulder is dislocated after an egregious foul. Ref fails to red-card the Italian defender.
102nd minute. Zidane almost scores on a header. Buffon saves but the Itlian team is scared to death. They know they are going to loose.
Half time of overtime. A ploy is conjured to provoke Zidane.
108th minite. Materazzi pinches Zidane on the chest and utters obscenities. As Zidane walks past he continues sledging.
108th minute. Zidane shows who’s the lion on football field. He turns around and levels Materazzi.
108th miniute. Zidane is given the redcard. He walks out withoug even casting a glance on the World Cup trophy. He set an example for manking: honor and human values are more improtant than the glitter of gold.
A DAYS LIFE OF A LION IS BETTER THAN A THOUSAND DAY LIFE OF A JACKAL.
Zidane is the hero of mankind. There is nothing more noble than defending the honor of women, espeically your mother and sister’s.
Long live the lion Zidane! Materazzi gave up his honor for blinding glitter of gold.
Posted from United States
By Kruman | July 15th, 2006 at 4:42 am Best games of the world cup were:
France vs Brazil
France vs Spain
Italy vs Germany
Posted from United States
By Herman Contract | July 20th, 2006 at 11:11 pm Zidane lost 37 balls and won only 11 duels… Besides his nice head shot he was inexistant on the field. He didn’t show us what being a lion was, he showed us what a sore-loser (or one who senses he’s going to become one)…feels!
Italy’s got the **** and they deserve it.
Posted from France
By Jay | September 14th, 2006 at 3:22 pm Beckham is the best all round most popular player that ever played the game !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By peter | August 31st, 2007 at 1:02 pm 2006 Italy team was the best the world has ever known. What a lineup of all star players and substitutes with a legendary goalie and coach. only one goal was scored on us against the US and it was an own goal at that. The second was the final and it was a penalty which shouldn’t have been called. (remember, it barely made it in). what a great dive.
Also, we had a true 2nd goal which was dissallowed and we hit the crossbar. Things never went our way and we still managed to win the world cup.
Posted from United States
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