Argentinian Matches Draw Most Israeli Viewers in World Cup Despite Late Hours

Israeli satellite provider yes released viewing data summarizing the group stage of the 2023 World Cup. The data indicates that late broadcast times significantly affected overall viewership, with 71% of Israelis watching at least part of one group stage match, down from 80% in the 2022 World Cup. However, the opening match between Mexico and South Africa saw a 22% increase in viewers compared to the 2022 opener between Qatar and Ecuador.

Unlike the previous tournament where team quality was the main driver of viewership, this year the timing of matches had a stronger influence. Games broadcast at 8:00 PM attracted higher ratings than those played late at night. The most-watched group stage match was Argentina versus Austria, aired during prime time. Other top-viewed matches included Mexico vs. South Africa, Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, France vs. Senegal, and the Netherlands vs. Sweden. Among late-night games, Brazil vs. Morocco had the highest viewership.

Regarding individual player popularity, Lionel Messi's Argentina drew the largest Israeli audience, followed by France and Spain. Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal ranked fourth in viewership. Additionally, despite ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran, viewership for Iran's matches remained consistent with levels seen in the 2022 World Cup, indicating no significant impact from the conflict on Israeli viewers.

The yes data highlights how scheduling and star players influence Israeli World Cup viewership patterns, with prime-time matches and Messi's team attracting the most attention. The tournament continues with knockout rounds, where viewership trends will be closely monitored.