England's World Cup victory over Scotland was the UK's most watched women's football game of all time, according to the BBC.
Sunday's match attracted a peak of 6.1million watching on television and a 37.8 per cent share of the available audience.
England made a winning start to their campaign as they beat debutants Scotland 2-1 in Nice.
In front of a crowd of 13,188 at the Allianz Riviera, Nikita Parris put the Lionesses ahead with a penalty and Ellen White curled in the second.
Claire Emslie pulled a goal back for Scotland with 11 minutes remaining but they couldn't find the equaliser.
After the game Parris, who is joining French powerhouses Lyon this summer having left Manchester City, said: "It was the first time, I hadn't experienced a moment like that before. But I just stuck to myself and said to myself 'what two things can you bring to the game today?' And that's passion and drive, and all the rest came for me."
As she celebrated, Parris held up four fingers, and she said: "The four was for me, Toni (Duggan), Mary Earps and Abbie - we're four musketeers, constantly together.
"They've helped me through my journey and I appreciate them so much. And moving forward I'm going to need them more than ever."
England face Argentina in their second Group D match on Friday at 8pm.