via press release:
2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Final – U.S. Men’s National Team's Biggest Audience Outside the World Cup
Sunday’s 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup final live on ESPN from Ellis Park in Johannesburg, South Africa, – a 3-2 victory for Brazil over the United States – was the most-watched non-FIFA World Cup match featuring the U.S. Men’s Soccer National Team on the network, with an average of 3.945 million viewers. The telecast, aired Sunday, June 28, at 2 p.m. ET, was seen by an average of 2.556 million television homes, based on a 2.6 rating.
The match, in which Brazil, No. 5 in the FIFA World Rankings, overcame a 2-0 deficit in the first half to defeat the 14th ranked U.S. Team, also delivered the third largest audience for a U.S. Men’s National Team match on ESPN, trailing two World Cup matches – June 21, 2002, Germany vs. U.S., seen by 5.335 million viewers, and June 22, 1994, U.S. vs. Colombia, seen by 4.810 million viewers.
The five most-viewed U.S. Men’s Team matches:
|
Date |
Event |
Matchup |
Viewers (P2+) |
HH Imps |
Rating |
|
June 21, 2002 |
2002 World Cup-Qtr-final |
Germany vs. U.S. |
5,335,000 |
3,772,000 |
4.4 |
|
June 22, 1994 |
1994 World Cup-1st RD |
U.S. vs. Colombia |
4,810,000 |
2,686,000 |
4.3 |
|
June 28, 2009 |
FIFA Confed Cup-Final |
U.S. vs. Brazil |
3,945,000 |
2,556,000 |
2.6 |
|
June 22, 2006 |
2006 World Cup-1st RD |
Ghana vs. U.S. |
3,819,000 |
2,902,000 |
3.2 |
|
June 16, 2002 |
2002 World Cup-2nd RD |
Mexico vs. U.S. |
2,935,000 |
1,983,000 |
2.3 |
