The Biggest Sporting Event North America Has Ever Hosted

FIFA World Cup 2026™ is the largest global tournament ever staged on North American soil.

The FIFA World Cup 2025™ final alone reached 1.5B unique viewers globally, delivering an audience 10x larger than the Super Bowl, and interest in U.S. soccer has surged by 400% among first‑time fans since the last tournament.

That scale matters for brands. The FIFA World Cup 2026™ generates cultural gravity that few moments can match, with $7.5B in reported revenue during Qatar 2022, signaling both global attention and commercial impact.

In 2026, that momentum lands squarely in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, creating an extended, multi‑week moment where fandom becomes part of everyday life. So now’s the perfect time to tap into trusted voices, reach built-in audiences, and scale your message when you partner with iHeart.

Our audio advertising offering allows you to work with voices that connect with every fan, from bilingual soccer insiders to athletes who know the pitch and history and culture experts who live the game.

Why Soccer Fans Represent the Future of Consumer Marketing

Soccer fans are shaping the next generation of consumers.

In the U.S., 76% of soccer fans are Millennials or Gen Z, and 68% of all U.S. soccer consumption comes from Hispanic audiences, making this one of the most multicultural and influential fan bases in sports.

The audience is also growing fast. More than 62M Americans already follow soccer every month, with an expected 62% surge in audience momentum leading into the World Cup.

Most importantly for brands, soccer fans are open to partnership. 67% say sponsors of soccer feel more appealing, reinforcing that brand messages delivered in the right context are welcomed, not tuned out.

Live audio is uniquely positioned to meet this audience where they already are, during moments when attention and emotion are at their peak.

Extending the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Beyond Screens Through Live Audio

Through the iHeartMedia and FOX Sports partnership, fans can listen to every FIFA World Cup 2026™ match live, powered by FOX Sports commentary, across both streaming and broadcast radio.

iHeartMedia will operate a dedicated 24/7 FIFA World Cup 2026™ streaming station, featuring live matches, commentary, and on‑demand access throughout the tournament. All 104 matches will stream live on iHeartRadio, giving fans constant access whether they are at home, in the car, or on the move.

In addition, iHeartMedia will air 30 live matches on national broadcast radio, including high‑profile games and weekend matchups. This makes iHeart the only way to listen to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ on U.S. broadcast radio, extending reach into environments where screens are not always available.

This combination of streaming and broadcast delivers live connection at scale, grounded in trusted voices and real‑time storytelling.

A Full‑Funnel Sports Ecosystem Built for Live Moments

FIFA World Cup 2026™ coverage sits inside a much broader iHeartSports ecosystem designed to reach fans across platforms and throughout the funnel.

iHeartSports delivers:

• Broadcast sports radio leadership, with programming across 800+ stations nationwide.
• 57M monthly sports podcast downloads, led by hosts dedicated to commentary, analysis, and fan culture.
• 60+ sports streaming stations, available on demand across North America.
• 250+ sports commentators and influencers, creating content that lives across audio, social, video, and live experiences.  

For marketers, this means FIFA World Cup 2026™ messaging does not live in isolation. It can be reinforced through surrounding content, trusted personalities, and adjacent sports conversations that keep brands top of mind before, during, and after match play.

How Brands Can Activate During Live Match Moments

The FIFA World Cup 2026™ is emotional, communal, and live. Brand messaging works best when it respects and matches that energy.

Through this partnership, brands can activate with:

• Co‑branded promotional media across iHeart platforms, aligned with FIFA World Cup 2026™ coverage
• Host‑led or brand‑led messaging during commercial breaks, placed between match play, pre‑game, halftime, and post‑game moments
• Surround sound across streaming and broadcast environments, ensuring consistent presence wherever fans are listening

These are moments where listeners are fully tuned in, emotionally invested, and connected through shared experience.

iHeartSports Is a One-Stop Shop for U.S. Soccer Fans

Brands want partners who know the marketing ecosystem and that’s what iHeartMedia is built for. iHeart is the largest broadcast and podcast media company, with the #1 digital radio app and a massive social footprint. Our hosts can craft the right marketing message for the right moment

iHeartSports will be a central hub for consumers as the FIFA World Cup 2026™ kicks off this summer. Our network of over 250 sports commentators will be creating content that lives across channels including broadcast radio, podcasts, streaming, social, live experience, and more!

• Social: Reach millions of fans with talent-led content across platforms.
• Broadcast radio: iHeart is #1 in sports radio with more than 800 stations with national and local programming.
• Podcasts: Our network of podcasts see over 57M monthly downloads across multiple sports networks and include popular titles led by hosts who are dedicated to impactful sports commentary.
• Streaming: With more than 60 sports streaming stations, soccer fans can find available on-demand content from anywhere in North America.
• Live: Expect tentpole events and live + local on-site programming of the biggest sports event of the year.
• Audience: Reach millions of fans with targeted messaging on iHeart’s O&O platforms.

FAQs

Why is audio so powerful during the FIFA World Cup 2026™?
Live audio allows fans to stay connected anywhere, especially when screens are unavailable. It delivers trusted voices, real‑time emotion, and shared moments at scale.

How extensive is iHeart’s FIFA World Cup 2026™ coverage?
All 104 matches stream live on a dedicated iHeartRadio FIFA World Cup 2026™ station, with 30 matches airing on national broadcast radio, making iHeart the only U.S. broadcast destination for listening to the tournament.

How can brands get involved?
Brands can still participate through co‑branded promotional media and brand‑led messaging during commercial breaks, aligned with live match coverage and high‑attention moments.

Bring Your Brand Into the World’s Biggest Live Sports Moment

FIFA World Cup 2026™ will define sports culture for an entire generation. Through iHeartMedia and FOX Sports, brands can show up where fandom is live, trusted, and shared in real time.

Connect with our team today to explore the right opportunity for your brand during iHeartMedia FIFA World Cup 2026™ coverage.