More than one billion fans tuned in to watch the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, with the competition reaching a global in - home television audience of 3. 2 billion people, according to final figures from FIFA and Kantar Media.
An estimated 280 million people around the world watched matches online or on a mobile device, in a sign that more and more fans are embracing new technology for sports content.
The 2014 FIFA World Cup broke several TV audience records in key international markets, including the United States and Germany.
The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa was shown in every single country and territory on Earth, including Antarctica and the Arctic Circle, generating record - breaking viewing figures in many TV markets around the world. The in - home television coverage of the competition reached over 3. 2 billion people around the world, or 46. 4 per cent of the global population, based on viewers watching a minimum of over one minute of coverage. This represents an eight per cent rise on the number of viewers recorded during the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany.
Based on viewers watching a minimum of 20 consecutive minutes of coverage, the 2010 tournament reached nearly a third of the world population with 2. 2 billion viewers, or three per cent higher than in 2006, according to data compiled by Kantar Sport on behalf of FIFA.
The 2018 World Cup taking place in Russia is not going to get any less viewership, considering the excitement amongst people.