England shootout win draws 7.4 million TV viewers

In the Euro 2025 quarter-finale on Thursday, England defeated Sweden on penalties in a crowd of more than seven million viewers.

The competition’s biggest TV audience to date, with a 7.4 million-person audience and a 65% overall peak audience share, was the result of the match.

8.3 million views were received on the website’s live text page, in addition to nearly three million online streams on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

With the help of Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang’s second-half goals, the Lionesses, who are defending their European title, rallied back from 2-0 down to force extra time and penalties in Zurich.

Then, with Bronze, their seventh penalty taker, converting convincingly before Sweden missed and lost in a chaotic penalty shootout, England won the game-winner 3-2.

“On the sofa with the rest of the fans, I was biting my nails,” said BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski. What a success for the Lionesses!

“We’re eagerly awaiting Tuesday,” the statement read. Full analysis and commentary will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live, the BBC Sport website, and the BBC Sport app, bringing viewers closer to the action.