According to L'Équipe the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France attracted the biggest historical audience on French TV station TF1, with a peak of 29.39 million people watching the game ay home, in bars, hotels, and on mobile phones. The final smashed the previous record held dating from the semi-final of the 2006 World Cup between France and Portugal, which was watched by 22.2 million people in France.
Whilst a peak audience was measured at 18h53, another was measured at the moment of the penalty shootout with 29.1 million – which France lost 4-2 in the shootout with Kingsley Coman and Aurélien Tchouaméni missing their spot kicks to hand Argentina the World Cup trophy. It proceeded one of the World Cup's most thrilling finals, with Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria putting Argentina 2-0 up, before two quick-fire goals from Kylian Mbappé brought the game to extra time. Lionel Messi thought he'd won the game for Argentina in extra-time, yet with mere minutes to play France were awarded a penalty after Fonzalo Montiel was penalised for handball, which was dispatched by Kylian Mbappé for his hat-trick.
GFFN | George Boxall