2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

20m - 73.3% of viewers last night watched ITV's coverage of England's @FIFAWorldCup semi-final match vs Croatia. That doesn't include the many 000s watching at public venues https://t.co/DSYC3PhVGB

— overnights.tv (@overnightstv) July 12, 2018

Youthful audience for #EnglandvsCroatia @FIFAWorldCup semi-final: 89.5% share of Kids 4-15, 82% of 16-24s and 84% of 25-34s and 35-44s.

— overnights.tv (@overnightstv) July 12, 2018

DigitalSpy poster (quoting source) says 5 minute peak of 26.54m (84.2%) at 21:30, 1 minute peak of 26.63m (84.0%) at 21.36.

If the 26.63m figure is true, then that means it's ITV's second highest audience ever just popped by Hilda Ogden leaving Corrie on Xmas Day 1987.

In the strangest scheduling of the World Cup so far, LCI, TF1's sister news channel is currently showing the World Cup Final of 1998, the last time France won.

That is a stunning figure to achieve in this multi-channel, online age!!

It is absolutely remarkable, isn’t it? Jesus H...

And of course I imagine a couple of million will have been watching in pubs or chucking beer about in front of big screens, so in reality it’s likely 30m+ we watching.

Just a shame we won’t see what a final could have managed, maybe next time?

The 2022 dates now confirmed as Mon 21st Nov to Sun 18th Dec so slightly shorter likely meaning more days with 4 games a day in the group stage and maybe 3 per day in Round 2.

You'd think Strictly and if still going The X Factor will finish up on the 20th Nov and I'm a Celebrity probably bought forward too.

Impacts on the usual SPOTY slot too as can't see it airing on World Cup Final day, so probably airing towards the end of that week.

Sporty will probably be postponed till after Christmas.
Seems madness to start on a Monday.

I think the 26.3m is a peak - so not comparable with average ratings which are usually used?

They'll likely truncate the live run of X Factor as they do with the Rugby World Cup.

One thing that shows how low key today’s game is, is that ITV have got Sam Matterface doing the commentary.

Clive Tyldesley has done all the tournament England games since he took over from Brian Moore

That might have something to do with the final being in Moscow tomorrow.