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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Alan Smith

England World Cup win over Croatia draws huge TV audience

Croatia England World Cup Thomas Tuchel Harry Kane Jude Bellingham
  • England commenced their World Cup 2026 Group L campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia on Wednesday, featuring goals from Harry Kane (two), Jude Bellingham, and Marcus Rashford, with manager Thomas Tuchel lauding the performance, particularly the second-half effort.
  • The match attracted a significant television audience, with ITV reporting a peak of 15.4 million viewers, making it the highest peak audience of 2026 and the largest since the Uefa Euro 2024 tournament.
  • ITV's broadcast of the game averaged 14.2 million viewers, with the entire programme from 8pm to 11.35pm BST averaging 10 million, though these figures do not account for streaming on personal devices.
  • Manager Thomas Tuchel specifically praised captain Harry Kane for his “complete performance” and exceptional commitment, noting his defensive contributions even in extra time.
  • Tuchel also highlighted Jude Bellingham's ability to thrive under pressure and his seamless integration into the team's ethos and tactical approach, despite it being “slightly different to his position in Real Madrid”.

IN FULL

England vs Croatia smashes highest peak TV viewership for 2026

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