A peak audience of 16.3 million viewers tuned in across BBC platforms to watch England’s dramatic World Cup victory over DR Congo, making it the most-watched moment on BBC television so far in 2026.The match, which kicked off at 17:00 BST, averaged around 14 million viewers on BBC TV alone.In addition to traditional broadcasting, the game generated significant digital engagement, with 10.4 million streams recorded across BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website, and the BBC Sport app.

England’s win was dramatic, with Harry Kane scoring twice in the final 15 minutes to overturn an early deficit after DR Congo took the lead in the seventh minute.

Beyond live viewing figures, the match’s online coverage page exceeded 20 million global views, including 14 million from the UK, marking the biggest day ever for the BBC Sport website and app since the previous World Cup tournament.

The report also highlights strong overall interest in the competition, noting that the World Cup accounted for more than a third of all streaming hours on BBC iPlayer during the final week of the group stage.England’s earlier group matches also attracted large audiences, with peaks of 15.4 million and 13.76 million depending on the broadcaster and opponent.

BBC Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski described the figures as evidence that the BBC remains a central destination for major sporting events in the UK.

England will next face Mexico in the round of 16 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with an early-morning UK kickoff scheduled for 01:00 BST and coverage across BBC platforms.

England manager Thomas Tuchel also commented on the scheduling challenges for younger fans, suggesting they should be allowed to stay up late to watch the World Cup action.