How Is Podcasting Covering The World Cup?

BusinessMediaHow Is Podcasting Covering The World Cup?ByFrank Racioppi,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Frank Racioppi is the owner of Ear Worthy, focusing on podcasts.Follow AuthorJun 02, 2026, 07:00am EDTLUSAIL CITY, QATAR - DECEMBER 18: Lionel Messi of Argentina lifts the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Winner's Trophy during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events in the world. According to FIFA, it is the most-watched and most-popular single sporting event on the planet. Across the entire tournament, an estimated five billion people—more than half the global population—tune in or engage with the event. For the final match alone, global viewership reaches over 1.5 billion people.According to RoadTrips, the U.S.-centric Super Bowl only ranks ninth in most watched sports events around the world.RoadTripsJust like with the Winter Olympic Games where NBC Universal employed a robust podcasting strategy to blend with its video coverage, the FIFA World Cup is taking full advantage of how “football” is a sport beloved by billions around the world. Soccer podcasts are incredibly popular globally, serving as a massive cornerstone of the audio sports market. While exact numbers vary by region, sports audio—and specifically football/soccer—captures up to 40% of all sports podcast listeners globally, commanding tens of millions of regular listeners who tune in for tactical breakdowns, kit culture, and global transfer rumors, according to BroadcastNow.The “whistleblowers” will cover the CupAfter the Whistle with Brendan Hunt and Rebecca Lowe returnsMORE FOR YOUAs co-hosts Hunt and Lowe insist, "After The Whistle is a hockey podcast for everyone. We don't just talk hockey, we talk big things in Sports and Pop Culture."A...