The BBC has emerged victorious over ITV in the viewing figures battle for the World Cup final, attracting an average audience of 13.9 million viewers to witness Spain's triumph over Argentina.

The BBC reported a peak viewership of 15.8 million across BBC One and iPlayer, capturing a 64 percent share of total TV viewing. This success followed the broadcaster’s strategic decision to delay sending its studio team to the United States until the semi-finals, with Gabby Logan hosting the final live from MetLife Stadium, accompanied by pundits Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, and Micah Richards.

Notably, the BBC's choice to present the early stages of the tournament from Salford proved fruitful as England reached the semi-finals, drawing over 24 million viewers for their match against Argentina, likely the most-watched broadcast of the year.

In a comparative analysis, the BBC increased its viewership share from 58 percent during the 2022 final against France to 64 percent this year. Data from Digital-i indicated that ITV's viewership peaked at 3.4 million.

Hosting responsibilities for the BBC were shared among Logan, Kelly Cates, and Mark Chapman, marking their first major tournament without Gary Lineker, who departed the broadcaster last year after a social media incident. Meanwhile, ITV showcased its coverage from an extravagant rooftop studio in Brooklyn, featuring star pundits Gary Neville, Roy Keane, and Ian Wright, but could not turn the tide in this ratings contest.

The BBC also captured several memorable moments, including Harry Kane losing his voice after a match and Wayne Rooney critiquing the half-time show as "crap," both becoming standout TV moments of the year.