WEALTH July 1, 2026 0 Comments

How RTÉ’s World Cup Streaming Surge is Rewriting the Playbook for Digital Media Dominance

Who would’ve thought that Irish fans streaming the FIFA World Cup would blow last year’s entire digital numbers out of the water well before the tournament’s even over? RTÉ’s crushing it with a staggering 9.2 million streams on their Player platform in just a couple of weeks—a figure that surpasses the whole 2022 competition already. That’s not just some quiet Sunday garden party; it’s a signal flare! People are ditching the old-school TV habits and diving headfirst into online platforms to catch every goal, every tackle, every nail-biting moment. And here’s the kicker: while RTÉ2 and RTÉ2+1 still pull in nearly 3 million unique TV viewers, the real game-changer is how digital is reshaping the way Ireland consumes sport—turning casual fans into engaged, on-the-go viewers. Think of it: England vs. Croatia not only commanded a 51% TV audience share but also became the tournament’s most streamed match. Talk about capturing eyeballs and wallets in equal measure! If you’ve ever wondered how live sports and digital platforms can fuse into an unstoppable combo, RTÉ’s World Cup coverage is your blueprint. LEARN MORE

RTÉ has reported record digital audiences for its coverage of the FIFA World Cup, with streaming figures already exceeding those achieved during the entire 2022 tournament as Irish viewers increasingly turn to online platforms to follow the action.

The national broadcaster said FIFA World Cup matches generated 9.2 million streams on RTÉ Player between 11 and 28 June, surpassing the total streaming audience recorded during the 2022 competition before this year’s tournament has even concluded.

Across television, RTÉ2 and RTÉ2+1 reached 2.9 million unique viewers during the same period, underlining the continued appeal of live sport for broadcasters and advertisers alike.

The strongest-performing fixture so far was England’s group-stage clash with Croatia on 17 June.

The match attracted an average television audience of 615,000 viewers and secured a 51% audience share on RTÉ2.

It also became the tournament’s most-streamed game, generating a further 404,000 streams on RTÉ Player.

England’s match against Ghana was another standout performer, reaching an estimated 500,000 television viewers with a 43% audience share, while attracting an additional 334,000 streams online.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s meeting with South Africa drew 484,000 viewers on RTÉ2, achieving a 41% audience share, alongside 364,000 streams on RTÉ Player.

Matches involving football’s traditional powerhouses, including France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and England, consistently delivered strong audiences throughout the group stages.

The tournament has also driven significant engagement across RTÉ’s digital and social media platforms.

RTÉ Sport reported 23 million video views across its social channels to date, including more than four million views of highlights and analysis on its YouTube channel.

Coverage extends beyond television, with RTÉ Radio 1’s Inside Sport, Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport providing analysis and updates from the tournament in North America.

The broadcaster has also expanded its digital offering through Up All Night, featuring The Young Offenders actors Dominic MacHale and Shane Casey, alongside the RTÉ Soccer Podcast hosted by Raf Diallo.