Egypt vs Iran Sets MENA Viewership Record at the 2026 World Cup

2/7/2026
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By EgyScores
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Egypt's dramatic 1-1 draw against Iran has made history off the pitch after becoming the most-watched match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far.

A total of 107.4 million viewers across the Middle East and North Africa watched the Group G encounter, making it the biggest television audience of the tournament to date and setting a new regional World Cup viewing record.

A Match That Captivated Millions

The encounter delivered everything football fans could ask for. Egypt took the lead before Iran equalized, while the closing minutes produced one of the tournament's most dramatic moments.

Iran believed it had scored a stoppage-time winner, only for the goal to be ruled out after a lengthy VAR review for a rare offside offence. The decision preserved Egypt's second-place finish in Group G and set up a Round of 32 showdown with Australia.

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The dramatic finish kept millions of viewers glued to their screens and helped turn the match into the tournament's biggest television event so far.

A Tournament Milestone

The record audience underlines the enormous popularity of the Egyptian national team across the Arab world and highlights the growing excitement surrounding the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With Egypt now preparing to face Australia in the Round of 32, interest is expected to grow even further as the Pharaohs continue one of the most memorable World Cup campaigns in their history.