As expected, ESPN did an impressive number for USA’s victory over Ghana Monday. And it only figures to grow from here with Sunday’s game against Portugal.

Hard to believe, but as evidenced by the New York Post, soccer is the No. 1 sports story in the U.S.

From ESPN:

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ESPN’s Ghana vs. USA telecast on Monday, the U.S. Men’s National Team’s opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, averaged a 7.0 overnight rating, the highest overnight rating for a men’s World Cup match on ESPN or ESPN2, according to Nielsen. (Note: ESPN started receiving local ratings for World Cup in 1998)

The top-10 metered markets: Washington, DC (11.8), New York (10.2), Hartford-New Haven (10.1), Boston (10.0), Columbus, Ohio (8.9), Baltimore (8.7), Providence (8.4), Orlando (8.3), San Francisco (8.0) and Norfolk (7.8). Boston’s 10.0 is the highest overnight ever in the market (on any network) for the men’s World Cup. (Note: 16 markets recorded their highest overnight ever for a World Cup group round match (on any network), including Washington, New York, Hartford, Baltimore, Providence and Orlando in the Top-10.)

To date (14 matches), the Top-10 highest-rated World Cup markets on the ESPN Networks are: Washington (5.0), San Francisco (4.4), New York (4.1), Boston (3.8), Orlando (3.7), Los Angeles (3.7), Miami (3.7), Hartford (3.7), Atlanta (3.6) and (all tied) Seattle, West Palm Beach and San Diego (3/4)