A peak audience of 24 million viewers tuned in to witness England's defeat against Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, marking it as the most watched live television event in the past five years.

The match, which aired on BBC One and iPlayer, attracted the largest audience for a broadcaster since the Euro 2020 final between England and Italy in 2021. England's 2-1 loss in Atlanta averaged 22.1 million viewers on BBC One and iPlayer, complemented by an additional 12.6 million streams on the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

Key moments from the match included:

• Anthony Gordon scoring early in the second half for England.
• Enzo Fernandez equalizing for Argentina with five minutes remaining.
• Lautaro Martinez clinching the victory with a stoppage-time header.

The match propelled Argentina into a second consecutive World Cup final, where they will face Spain in New Jersey on Sunday at 20:00. Meanwhile, England will compete against France for third place in Miami on Saturday at 22:00 BST.

BBC Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski remarked, "Last night may not have brought the result England fans were hoping for, but it was another occasion that united millions across the UK in support of the team."

He emphasized the extraordinary reach of their coverage, stating, "We're incredibly proud to have been alongside audiences throughout England's World Cup journey, bringing every moment to fans across the UK. While England's campaign has come to an end, the story of this World Cup is not over."