Manchester City once again topped the global viewing charts last season, solidifying their position as the most-watched team in the world. According to Nielsen, their matches attracted a staggering 694 million viewers across all competitions. This impressive figure was achieved as City celebrated winning three trophies, while also enduring a loss in the FA Cup final to Manchester United and falling short in the Champions League quarter-finals against Real Madrid.
City’s prominence in global viewership mirrors their performance during the 2022/23 season when they completed a historic Treble. Their high ratings were bolstered by their participation in five different tournaments. Although they were the second most-watched team in the Premier League, trailing Liverpool, their overall viewership surpassed that of many top European clubs. This extensive global interest played a crucial role in helping City maintain their status as the world’s most-watched team.
Looking ahead, City is gearing up for another successful season with an expanded Champions League format. The new group stage will feature eight matches per team instead of six, and a single league table with 36 teams aims to add more excitement to the early rounds. The group stage fixtures will be announced on Saturday.
Additionally, the season will culminate with the Club World Cup, which will take place over four weeks in the United States. Manchester City, the reigning champions after their victory over Fluminense at the end of 2023, will compete in a newly expanded 32-game tournament. Further details on this event are expected to be revealed soon.