The United States played Portugal in a big World Cup match up on Sunday night. Aside from playing a strong European team with one of the world’s biggest stars in Cristiano Ronaldo, the game itself had a lot at stake.

A win would move the United States men’s national team into the knockout round, the first in the so called “Group of Death” to do so, eliminating Portugal in the process. The game was thrilling and fans all over the country tuned in to watch, whether at home, at a bar or at watch parties around the country.

There was so much interest that it drew more viewers than the Alabama and Texas A&M rematch early in the 2013 college football season and the 2012 Rose Bowl.

9.1 overnight for World Cup soccer game beats out Bama-A&M rematch game from last season & 2012 Rose Bowl (9.0) — darren rovell (@darrenrovell) June 23, 2014

The debate about the rise in the sport’s popularity will always be debated but this game is indicative that it is gaining popularity. The only issue is that American’s interest in soccer seems to blossom only for the grandest of stages surrounding the national team.

The interest and numbers aren’t there for Major League Soccer. But it was the most viewed game in ESPN’s history of broadcasting World Cup games.

Last night's US-Portugal game garnered the highest overnight rating for a World Cup match on ESPN or ESPN2 (H/T @bhofheimer_espn) — darren rovell (@darrenrovell) June 23, 2014

The United States’ final game againt Germany has just as much on the line, so it will be interesting to see how that game follows the Portugal game in viewership numbers. The Portugal game benefited from being on in the evening on a Sunday, the American’s finale is at noon on a Thursday.