Canada's World Cup quarterfinal loss to Morocco on July 6 drew a record Canadian television audience, Bell Media announced Tuesday. The match, which ended 2-1 in favor of Morocco, averaged 14.2 million viewers across CTV, TSN, and RDS, making it the most-watched soccer game in Canadian history.
Record-breaking viewership
The previous record was set during Canada's group stage match against Belgium earlier in the tournament, which drew 12.1 million viewers. The quarterfinal audience peaked at 16.8 million viewers during the second half, according to Bell Media. The game was also streamed live on TSN.ca and the TSN and RDS apps, with digital viewership up 40% compared to the Belgium match.
"This was an incredible moment for Canadian soccer," said Shawn Redmond, vice-president of programming at TSN. "The country rallied behind the team, and the numbers reflect that passion."
Canada's historic run
Canada's performance in the 2026 World Cup marked the nation's best-ever finish, as the team advanced past the group stage for the first time. They defeated Croatia and drew with Belgium before topping Group F. In the round of 16, Canada beat Portugal 3-2, setting up the quarterfinal clash with Morocco.
"We made history," said Canadian captain Alphonso Davies after the match. "We showed the world what Canadian soccer can do."
Impact on Canadian soccer
The record viewership underscores growing interest in soccer in Canada, fueled by the national team's success and the country's co-hosting of the 2026 tournament. Canada Soccer reported a surge in membership and youth registration during the World Cup. The team's run also generated significant economic activity, with fans packing watch parties across the country.
"This is a turning point for the sport in Canada," said Nick Bontis, president of Canada Soccer. "The support we've seen is unprecedented."
