M6 has been racking up record-breaking ratings since the start of the 2026 World Cup. Matches featuring the French national team are drawing millions of viewers and regularly allowing the channel to exceed 60% audience share. The quarter-final victory by Les Bleus against Morocco reached a new milestone with 16,09 million viewers, the highest audience of the year. France's campaign began against Senegal with 13,99 million viewers between 9:02 pm and 11:04 pm. M6 then captured 61,4% of the total audience aged four and over, as well as 76,2% of women under 50 responsible for household purchases (FRDA-50), the target demographic for the FRDA-50 demographic.
Even in the dead of night, the French national team brings together millions of people.
France's second match was severely disrupted by thunderstorms. Despite being broadcast between 11 p.m. and 2:48 a.m., with the match ending close to 3 a.m., 49 million viewers remained tuned in to M6. The channel captured 63,1% of the total television audience at that time and 51,4% of the 25-49 demographic. Against Norway, Les Bleus found a more favorable time slot and attracted 13,68 million viewers. The match achieved a 62,1% audience share among all viewers, 76,6% among 25-49 year olds, and 87% among 15-34 year olds.
More than 70% of the audience from the start of the knockout matches
The round of 32 match against Sweden drew 10,23 million viewers. M6 recorded a 71% audience share among all viewers and women under 50 responsible for household purchases (FRDA-50), 81% among 25-49 year olds, and 89% among 15-34 year olds. The qualification match against Paraguay in the round of 16 then attracted 12,17 million viewers, despite a scheduled kickoff time of 11 p.m. The match garnered 75,6% of the audience aged four and over, 79,4% of FRDA-50, 87% of 25-49 year olds, and 91% of 15-34 year olds.
France-Morocco becomes the highest-rated match of the year
The quarter-final victory against Morocco gave M6 its most impressive result since the start of the competition. In total, 16,09 million people watched the players' qualification. Didier Deschamps for the semi-finals. The match captured 72,8% of the total audience, 85,8% of women under 50 responsible for household purchases (FRDA-50), 87% of 25-49 year olds and 91% of 15-34 year olds. No program broadcast on French television since the beginning of the year had gathered such a large audience.
Ophélie Meunier will be on air from 19:15 pm before the semi-final.
M6 is now strengthening its coverage for the French team's semi-final, scheduled for Tuesday, July 14th at 21pm. The channel will offer a special edition of the Mag Presented by Ophélie Meunier starting at 19:15 PM, this program will keep viewers up to kickoff with the latest news, team lineups, and the French national team's preparations. To free up this extended football slot, M6 is adjusting several schedules. The Wheel of FortuneThe show, presented by Éric Antoine, will start at 16:50 p.m. instead of 17:20 p.m. All in the kitchenThe cooking show hosted by Cyril Lignac will be moved to 6:05 PM, instead of its originally scheduled start time of 18:30 PM. After the 16,09 million viewers who tuned in for the match against Morocco, M18 hopes to break another record during this semi-final. A French victory in the final could give the channel one of its highest ratings ever.
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