World Cup audience stayed bipartisan despite Trump's prominent role, CNBC survey finds
Nearly half of registered voters watched the 2026 World Cup, with income and education shaping viewership more than party affiliation, the survey found.
The World Cup's massive global audience appears to have remained largely bipartisan, with a recent CNBC survey indicating that nearly half of registered voters in the United States tuned in to watch the event. This is notable given the prominent role played by US President Donald Trump during the tournament, which could have potentially polarized viewership along party lines.
The survey's findings suggest that factors such as income and education level had a greater impact on viewership than party affiliation. This is consistent with broader trends in sports consumption, where affluent and educated demographics tend to be overrepresented among sports fans. The World Cup's broad appeal across party lines may reflect the event's status as a widely popular and largely apolitical spectacle.
Looking ahead, it's worth watching how future major sporting events, such as the 2020 Olympics and the 2022 World Cup, are consumed by American audiences. Will the bipartisan viewership trend continue, or will other factors – such as politics or changes in media consumption habits – begin to shape audience demographics? Additionally, how will media companies and sponsors adapt to the evolving sports viewing landscape, and what implications might this have for the way that sports content is produced and distributed?
Originally reported by cnbc.com. ExpoNews adds analysis for finance & markets readers.