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Ashleigh Hallam, an English-as-a-second-language teacher based in Indiana, has unexpectedly become a Spanish learner—thanks to the World Cup.

For her and an increasing number of Americans, the global football tournament has turned into a surprising cultural and linguistic connection point.

Hallam represents a growing segment of English-speaking viewers across the United States who have made an unusual choice: they are watching World Cup matches with Spanish commentary on Telemundo, even though many understand little to none of the language.

“I can’t really understand everything they’re saying on Telemundo because they’re speaking in Spanish,” Hallam explained. “But you can still follow what’s happening.”

This trend stands out considering the country’s demographics. While around 20 percent of the US population is Hispanic, Nielsen ratings reveal that nearly half of all World Cup viewers in the United States have watched at least part of the coverage in Spanish. Fans can choose from multiple platforms: English broadcasts on Fox or FS1, Spanish coverage on Telemundo or Universo, and streaming options such as Fox One and Peacock.

Fans cite several reasons for preferring the Spanish-language broadcasts. Many are drawn by legendary commentator Andrés Cantor’s unforgettable “¡goooooool!” call. Others appreciate that Telemundo does not cut away for advertisements during hydration breaks, unlike Fox, allowing uninterrupted coverage of key moments.

Some viewers simply find the Spanish broadcasts livelier and more exciting. For others, cost plays a role—Peacock, which includes Telemundo content, often comes at a lower price than Fox One.

The phenomenon highlights football’s unique power to cross linguistic boundaries, becoming a truly universal language. Jackson Braunius, a Michigan native, watched a US match at a steakhouse in Miami Lakes. Although his Spanish vocabulary barely extends beyond “cerveza,” he says that hasn’t stopped him from enjoying Telemundo’s coverage.

“I figured out the science here,” Braunius said. “When they’re quiet, nothing’s happening. When they get louder, something might happen. And when they get really loud, it’s probably a goal.”

Comedian Trevor Noah, who hosts World Cup watch parties on YouTube, also switched to the Spanish feed, pointing to the absence of commercials during hydration breaks as a key reason.

“We’re seeing the players on the pitch talking about what’s going on. You can tell which coach is more stressed, see players patting each other on the back. That’s part of the game,” Noah commented during one of his streams.

“When you cut to ads, you lose that — the tension, the excitement, the buildup. So, hats off to Telemundo: really, really fantastic coverage.”

Telemundo responded to the positive feedback by publicly thanking its English-speaking audience and Noah for their support and appreciation.

The strong appeal of both English and Spanish broadcasts suggests vibrant viewership across the board. Analysts believe this could spark a competitive bidding process for the 2030 World Cup rights, with discussions that English and Spanish TV rights could be bundled together in future deals—unlike the current arrangement.

Recent ratings underline just how massive football’s popularity has become in the US. Fox Sports reported that the Belgium–US match reached a peak audience of about 41 million, setting a record as “the most-watched football broadcast in US history.”

The US team’s final match in the tournament drew higher numbers than any event since the Super Bowl, with an average of about 45 million viewers across Fox (33 million) and Telemundo (roughly 12 million). By comparison, the most recent Super Bowl attracted an average of around 125 million viewers.

William Kennedy from Miami, who is married to a Colombian woman, knows just enough Spanish to order food. Still, he consistently opts for Telemundo’s coverage of World Cup matches, even after Colombia’s exit from the tournament.

“When the American commentators are doing the game, I don’t know what game they’re watching,” Kennedy said. “I prefer the Spanish commentary because it’s full of energy. They start talking faster, louder, and suddenly you know something big is happening—even if you don’t know exactly what.”

Hallam, who uses the World Cup as a way to connect with her Spanish-speaking students, became a committed football fan only a few years ago when her daughter joined a local recreational league. After coaching her daughter through secondary school, she is now fully immersed in both the sport and Spanish-language coverage. She plans to keep watching in Spanish long after the tournament ends.

“It’s just so comforting,” Hallam said. “We’ve really enjoyed it, and I hope we can keep it going. For the next World Cup, we’ll definitely be watching the same way.”