JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — The United States’ 2-1 loss to Ghana in extra time, which eliminated the Americans from the tournament in South Africa, was the most-watched men’s World Cup game ever in the United States.
The Nielsen Co. said Saturday afternoon’s game was seen by an estimated 14.9 million viewers on ABC. An additional 4.5 million people watched on the Spanish-language Univision.
Nielsen said only the 1999 Women’s World Cup final, featuring the United States and China and played at the Rose Bowl, had more viewers for a soccer game on an English-language network in the United States. That game averaged just fewer than 18 million viewers. The U.S.-Ghana game was also the third highest-rated men’s World Cup game on record.
Sports, Pages 15 on 06/28/2010