M6 closed out its coverage of the final weekend of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with another weekend of strong ratings, even without setting new audience records. An average of 8.5 million viewers tuned in to Saturday's third-place match between France and England despite the late 11 p.m. start, giving M6 an audience share of 66.5 percent. Although France finished fourth after an impressive tournament, M6 stayed on the ball through the final. Sunday's championship match between Spain, fresh off eliminating France, and Argentina attracted 12.2 million viewers, while M6's audience share climbed to 59.2 percent.
Audience share reaches 73 percent
After posting strong audience shares throughout both the group stage and knockout rounds for matches involving France, M6 reached a new tournament high with its broadcast of the semifinal between France and Spain. The match drew 20.2 million viewers and achieved a 73 percent audience share. Only once before in the broadcaster's history has M6 attracted a larger audience, and that, too, was thanks to the beautiful game. The UEFA Euro 2016 final between host nation France and Portugal was watched by 20.8 million viewers. It remains not only M6's all-time audience record but also the second-highest television audience ever recorded in France across all programs and genres.
M6 secured the rights to broadcast 54 of the 106 matches of the FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the US. For the first time in the broadcaster's history, it also aired the tournament final. M6 had already acquired the broadcast rights for these matches in March 2024, along with the rights to the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
