World Cup 2026: France’s victory over Paraguay attracts record 12.2 million TV viewers

France’s 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the World Cup Round of 16 attracted 12.2 million viewers, giving broadcaster M6 its largest audience ever for a programme shown after 11 p.m.

The viewing figures underline the continued popularity of Les Bleus during the tournament, with supporters across France tuning in to watch Didier Deschamps’ side secure their place in the quarter-finals.

According to figures released by M6, the knockout match also dominated television viewing on Saturday night, reinforcing the national team’s appeal during major international competitions.

M6 records historic audience

The broadcaster said the match captured 76% of the audience share, leaving rival channels well behind during the late-evening broadcast.

The figure represents a new benchmark for M6 for programmes aired after 11 p.m., highlighting the strong public interest generated by France’s World Cup campaign.

As the only free-to-air broadcaster showing matches from the tournament in France, M6 is televising 54 of the 104 games scheduled during the competition.

The latest audience numbers continue a trend that has seen France’s matches deliver some of the biggest television audiences of the tournament.

France matches continue to attract millions

Les Bleus have consistently drawn large audiences since the start of the World Cup on 19 June.

France’s opening 3-1 victory over Senegal was watched by 14 million viewers, while the team’s 3-0 win against Iraq attracted an audience of 4.9 million.

Their final group-stage match against Norway, a 4-1 defeat, was viewed by 13.7 million people.

France’s 3-0 Round of 32 victory over Sweden also generated strong interest, with 10.23 million viewers tuning in.

The latest figure of 12.2 million for the Paraguay match represents another significant audience as the tournament enters its knockout stages.

World Cup boosts M6 performance

The success of France’s matches has contributed significantly to M6’s overall performance during the competition.

The broadcaster said its World Cup coverage helped make it the third most-watched national television channel in France during June.

With more knockout fixtures still to come, M6 will continue to benefit from its coverage of one of football’s biggest tournaments.

The channel remains responsible for broadcasting more than half of the World Cup’s total matches, ensuring viewers continue to have free-to-air access to key fixtures.

Interest grows as France progress

France’s progress to the quarter-finals is likely to maintain strong public interest as the tournament continues.

The latest viewing figures demonstrate the level of support for Didier Deschamps’ side and the enduring attraction of major World Cup matches on free-to-air television.

As Les Bleus continue their pursuit of another World Cup title, broadcasters will be hoping audience numbers remain just as impressive in the rounds ahead.