Matildas’ penalty shootout thriller smashes Aussie TV ratings records

The Matildas’ thrilling penalty shootout win over France has smashed Australian TV rating records as the most watched event since Cathy Freeman won gold at the Sydney Olympics.

Channel 7’s coverage of Saturday night’s World Cup quarterfinal had an average audience of 4.17 million, an incredible number given many Australians were out and about watching the games in pubs or public spaces.

According to the OzTAM ratings, the free-to-air viewership was a staggering 3.8 million and another 427,000 watched on 7plus, making the game the most streamed TV program ever in Australia.

The total overall audience peaked at 7.2 million during the penalty shootout.

It was another huge increase on the more than 3.5 million Aussies that tuned into watch the Matildas’ 2-0 win over Denmark in the round of 16.

The bonkers ratings figure of more than 4 million surpassed the 3.6 million that watched Ash Barty’s droughtbreaking Australian Open win last year.

Even more remarkable, the Matildas’ win over France was the most watched TV event since a staggering 8.8 million watched Freeman win gold in the 400m in Sydney 23 years ago.

The penalty shootout victory attracted more viewers than Lleyton Hewitt’s Australian Open final loss in 2005 and the Wallabies’ Rugby World Cup final defeat to England in 2003.

It’s feasible the Matildas could break their own record in just a few days when they take on England in the semi-finals on Wednesday night.

A weeknight game could mean more people watching from the comfort of their home and a few less out and about at pubs.

Nonetheless, the TV ratings are another sign of how much the Australian public is getting behind the Matildas and their fairytale World Cup run.

They are the first Australian football side to