As the remarkable World Cup draws to a close, the BBC expresses heartfelt gratitude to its audience. A staggering 42.8 million viewers engaged with the live match coverage, while digital streams on iPlayer, the BBC Sport app, and website reached a monumental 237 million times.

Key highlights include:

• 24 million viewers watched the thrilling England v Argentina semi-final.
• 9.1 million stayed up late for the nail-biting England v Mexico match.
• 2.4 million tuned in as Scotland triumphed over Haiti.
• A dedicated half a million caught the Iran v New Zealand match at 2am, witnessing a four-goal spectacle.

The BBC also thanks the millions who opted for morning highlights, leading to record-breaking numbers on iPlayer. The platform experienced its biggest day and week in history, showcasing the popularity of its eight-minute highlight packages.

In addition, 57.2 million unique browsers utilized the app and website, racking up 1.7 billion visits to view clips, interviews, and in-depth journalism. Topics ranged from the Trump-FIFA-Balogun scandal to insights on tactical trends and the US entry denial of referee Omar Artan.

The innovative 3D tool, allowing fans to experience the game as if they were stars like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, saw nearly five million uses. This feedback helps shape future offerings.

For those on the go, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds provided exhilarating match commentary, while the Football Daily podcast reached unprecedented audiences. The social media engagement was immense, with fans swiping over two billion times for behind-the-scenes content featuring stars like Harry Kane and Olivier Giroud.