Canadian World Cup TV audience doubles hockey's Stanley Cup Final
Canada's World Cup opener drew 3.9 million viewers — more than double the Stanley Cup clincher between Carolina and Vegas.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Canadian TV audiences delivered record numbers for the FIFA World Cup, with the sport dramatically outpacing hockey's biggest championship this year.
Canada's World Cup opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday, June 12 drew 3.9 million viewers on TSN and CTV. That's more than double the 1.8 million who watched the Stanley Cup Final clincher on Sunday, June 14, when the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights on Sportsnet and CBC. Streaming numbers were not included.
The disparity reflects both the World Cup's global spectacle and a Stanley Cup matchup that lacked Canadian appeal. The Golden Knights and Hurricanes have no major Canadian fan bases, unlike the Edmonton Oilers, who carried national intrigue in 2024 and 2025. The World Cup timing—launching midway through the Finals—also fragmented viewership.
Canada's opener ended in a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, giving the country its first-ever World Cup point. Beyond the Canada match, other group-stage games drew strong Canadian viewership: Brazil vs. Morocco pulled 2.33 million, Haiti vs. Scotland 1.97 million, and Netherlands vs. Japan 1.86 million.
Canada's next group-stage match is Thursday, June 18 against Qatar in Vancouver.