TV ratings in USA still down from four years ago

World Cup English-language ratings in the United States remained down from 2014 through the quarterfinals but improved from earlier in the tournament.

The four games in Russia last weekend averaged 4,892,000 viewers on Fox and FS1, according to Nielsen Media Research. That was down 12 percent from an average of 5,582,000 for the 2014 quarterfinals in Brazil on ABC and ESPN and up 13 percent from the 4,337,000 average in South Africa on ABC and ESPN in 2010.

Coverage of this year’s tournament on Fox and FS1 has averaged 2,716,000 viewers for 60 games through the quarterfinals.

That is down 35 percent from the 2014 average of 4,193,000 on ESPN, ABC and ESPN2 and down 8 percent from the 2010 average of 2,947,000 on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2.

Excluding U.S. games in the group stage and Round of 16 in prior years, this year’s average is down 21 percent from2014’s 3,423,000 and up 12 percent from 2010’s 2,375,000.

Ratings were expected to drop from four years ago because of earlier kickoff times and the United States’ missing the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

Figures include only television viewers and not those watching digital steams.

Last-minute arrivals

An influx of England fans is expected to descend on Moscow for the World Cup semifinals, but there’s not much sign of them yet.

The Nikolskaya street near the Kremlin, elaborately decorated with hanging lights, has been the main gathering point for fans in the Russian capital.

A few dozen England fans were there Tuesday afternoon, with those singing team songs heavily outnumbered by passers-by filming them on phones.

Kevin Miles of the Football Supporters Federation expects between 5,000 and 7,000 fans for the semifinal Wednesday between England and Croatia but admits “a lot of people are doing it last minute, so it’s very difficult to put numbers on it.”