The television audience for Spain's 3-1 World Cup soccer victory over Tunisia, on the two channels broadcasting the game, topped 11.6 million, making it the most watched game since 2002, media research firm Barlovento Communication said on Tuesday.

Spain fans celebrate after Spain defeated Tunisia in their Group H World Cup 2006 soccer match in Stuttgart June 19, 2006.[Reuters]

The last game to deliver a higher viewer average was the Spain's penalty shoot-out against South Korea during the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.

Around 20.3 million viewers tuned into the game at some point during Monday's broadcast, with the peak viewing minute at 10.48 p.m. local time, for a total audience of 15.2 million watching Fernando Torres's third goal, scored from the penalty spot.

One of the top viewing spots was in Colon Square, where 20,000 fans gathered to watch the victory of the Marea Roja (Red Tide) as the Spanish squad are known, on giant screens showing the Stuttgart game.