How to watch 2026 World Cup is the big question as the tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, featuring 104 matches across 39 days in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Whether you are watching in New York, London, Tokyo, or São Paulo, this guide tells you exactly where to watch, what is free versus paid, how to set up your streaming in advance, and what to expect for kick-off times in your region.
Important note before you start: Broadcasting rights details are accurate as of February 2026. Rights deals for a small number of territories are still being finalised. Always verify with your local broadcaster’s official website as the tournament approaches, and check their app store page for the latest setup requirements.
TL;DR
- USA (English): Fox / FS1 — 70 matches on FOX network, 34 on FS1; stream on Fox One app
- USA (Spanish): Telemundo / Universo — all 104 on Peacock
- UK: BBC + ITV — all 104 matches free-to-air; stream on BBC iPlayer and ITVX
- Canada: Bell Media — CTV / TSN
- Mexico: TelevisaUnivision (ViX/TUDN) + TV Azteca
- Germany: MagentaTV (all matches) + ARD/ZDF free-to-air (60 matches)
- France: M6 — 54 matches free including all France games; stream on 6play
- Brazil: TV Globo + CazéTV (all 104 on YouTube, free) + SBT
- India: No confirmed broadcaster as of February 2026 — tender process closed September 2025; monitor announcements
- In-flight / at sea: Sport 24 — all 104 matches
SNIPPET BLOCK
The 2026 World Cup runs June 11–July 19, 2026, with 104 matches across three host nations. In the USA, Fox/FS1 carry English coverage (all matches streamable on Fox One app) and Telemundo/Universo handle Spanish (all 104 on Peacock). In the UK, BBC and ITV share all 104 matches free-to-air via BBC iPlayer and ITVX. Canada: Bell Media (CTV/TSN). Mexico: TelevisaUnivision + TV Azteca. Germany: MagentaTV plus ARD/ZDF free sublicenses. France: M6 free-to-air (54 matches including all France games) on 6play. Brazil: TV Globo + all 104 matches free on YouTube via CazéTV. India has no confirmed broadcaster as of February 2026. Always verify with your local broadcaster’s official app before match day.
Before You Start: The Setup Checklist
Before diving into country-by-country details, run through this setup sequence — it applies everywhere:
- Find your broadcaster — this guide covers the major markets. For smaller territories, use FIFA’s official broadcaster list at fifa.com.
- Download the app now, not on match day. App stores get congested on major sporting occasions. Download the broadcaster’s official app to your phone, tablet, and smart TV at least a week before June 11.
- Create your account in advance. Many streaming platforms require account registration — and some require verification steps that take 24–48 hours. Do not leave this to match day.
- Understand what “authentication” means for you. Some broadcasters (particularly in the USA) require proof of a cable or satellite subscription to access the streaming app. If you do not have a traditional TV subscription, you typically need either a direct paid subscription to the broadcaster’s streaming service or a live-TV streaming bundle (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Sling, fuboTV, DirecTV Stream) that includes the relevant channels. Know which category you are in before the first match.
- Test a live stream at least 24 hours before the opening match. Do not assume it works — verify it on your specific device.
- Check your internet connection. Live HD streaming needs at least 5 Mbps sustained. 4K streams, where offered, need 25+ Mbps. If your connection is borderline, consider a wired Ethernet connection for big matches.
United States
English Coverage — Fox Sports
Fox Sports holds exclusive English-language broadcast rights for all 104 matches in the United States — their sixth consecutive World Cup.
The split across channels:
- FOX (broadcast network): 70 matches — a record for any single US network at a World Cup, more than double the matches Fox put on its main channel in 2022
- FS1 (cable): 34 matches — primarily group stage games not assigned to the main FOX channel
Fox is planning 340 hours of first-run programming across the tournament — a 100-hour increase from 2022.
How to Watch 2026 World Cup (English): The Fox One app (formerly the Fox Sports app) carries all 104 matches. Access requires either a cable/satellite TV subscription for authentication, or a live-TV streaming bundle that includes Fox channels. Tubi (free, ad-supported) will carry selected matches.
Spanish Coverage — Telemundo and Peacock
NBCUniversal’s Telemundo and Universo carry the Spanish-language coverage across all 104 matches:
- Telemundo (broadcast network): 92 matches — the most men’s World Cup matches ever broadcast on any single US network regardless of language
- Universo (cable): 12 additional matches
- Peacock: All 104 matches streamed live in Spanish at $7.99/month
If You Do Not Have Cable (Cord-Cutters)
A live-TV streaming bundle is the simplest solution. Several services carry both FOX/FS1 and Telemundo in one package:
- YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream
Prices vary; check current offers at each provider’s website. Bundle subscriptions can typically be cancelled after the tournament.
United Kingdom
BBC and ITV share the 2026 World Cup rights — a deal that covers both 2026 and 2030 and was confirmed by the European Broadcasting Union in October 2024.
Each broadcaster airs 52 matches. Every England match is guaranteed on free-to-air television.
BBC coverage: Streamed live and on-demand via BBC iPlayer — free with a UK TV licence. No subscription required beyond licence fee.
ITV coverage: Streamed live and on-demand via ITVX — free with a standard account (registration required).
Practical steps:
- Download BBC iPlayer and/or ITVX apps on your devices
- Create an ITVX account (free, requires email registration)
- BBC iPlayer requires a UK TV licence for live viewing
- Both services offer catch-up for matches you miss
The specific match assignments (which games go to BBC vs ITV) are typically announced closer to the tournament. Both broadcasters will carry the England group matches; the Final and semifinal assignments will be confirmed in advance.
Canada
Bell Media holds the Canadian broadcast rights — a deal in place since 2015 and extended alongside the US deal.
Coverage spans Bell Media’s multi-platform portfolio:
- CTV — free-to-air broadcast channel
- TSN — cable sports network
- RDS — French-language sports network for Québec audiences
- Streaming via TSN app, CTV app, and RDS streaming platforms
Canada is a co-host, giving the tournament additional significance for Canadian audiences. TSN and CTV are expected to carry all matches, with major games on the CTV broadcast network and group stage games on TSN cable channels.
Mexico
Mexico is a co-host and opens the tournament on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City against Senegal. Two broadcasters share the rights:
TelevisaUnivision — covering matches via:
- Canal 5 and other Televisa linear channels
- TUDN — sports cable channel
- ViX — free and premium streaming platform
TV Azteca — the second major free-to-air broadcaster, covering selected matches on its channels and digital platforms.
Mexican fans have the advantage of watching the host nation play in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey — all in-country venues.
Europe — Country by Country
Germany
Deutsche Telekom (MagentaTV) acquired the primary German rights in May 2025 — described at announcement as “the largest media rights package ever” for a German broadcaster.
MagentaTV carries all 104 matches, but German broadcasting law (the State Broadcasting Treaty) requires that important matches air on free-to-air television. Accordingly:
- ARD and ZDF hold sublicenses for 60 matches (30 each), including all German national team games and from the semifinals onward
- All matches from the semifinals and Final are legally required to be on free-to-air television
How to Watch 2026 World Cup: MagentaTV via subscription for all matches; ARD Mediathek and ZDF Mediathek (free streaming apps) for sublicensed matches.
France
Groupe M6 holds free-to-air broadcast rights in France — a deal confirmed in March 2024 covering both 2026 and 2030. M6 broadcasts 54 matches including all France national team games.
How to Watch 2026 World Cup: M6 linear channel + 6play streaming app (free, registration required). French fans watch the opening stages of France’s tournament at no cost.
Additional matches may be carried by other French broadcasters on a pay-TV basis — monitor announcements closer to the tournament.
Spain
RTVE (Radio Televisión Española) holds free-to-air broadcast rights, carrying select matches including all Spain national team games.
RTVE is Spain’s public broadcaster — no subscription required. Streaming via the RTVE Play app (free, registration required).
Additional rights for matches not on RTVE may be held by pay-TV partners — check Spanish sports news for updates closer to June.
Other European Countries
The European Broadcasting Union’s October 2024 deal secured rights for multiple member broadcasters across the continent:
- Denmark: TV2 and DR (public broadcaster)
- Sweden: TV4 and SVT (public broadcaster)
- Finland: YLE (public broadcaster)
- Austria: ORF + ServusTV (sublicenses confirmed September 2025)
Most European public broadcasters are legally required to carry major international sporting events free-to-air. Check your national public broadcaster’s website and app.
South America
Brazil
Brazilian fans have the most remarkable viewing setup of any country at the 2026 World Cup:
- TV Globo — Brazil’s dominant free-to-air broadcaster, holds World Cup rights renewed through 2026
- CazéTV — all 104 matches, free, streamed live on YouTube — a landmark deal confirmed in July 2025, making Brazil the only major market with a free, full YouTube stream of every match
- SBT — additional free-to-air coverage, deal confirmed September 2025
Brazilian fans can watch every single match of the tournament at no cost — on free-to-air television (Globo, SBT) or free on YouTube (CazéTV). This is the most accessible World Cup viewing package of any nation.
Argentina
Three broadcasters share Argentinian coverage:
- TyC Sports — cable sports network
- DSports (formerly DirecTV Sports) — cable/satellite
- TVP (Canal 7) — public free-to-air broadcaster, carries selected matches
Asia-Pacific
Japan
Two platforms share Japanese coverage, confirmed December 4, 2025:
- DAZN — all 104 matches, paid streaming subscription. Japan national team games are available free on DAZN without a subscription
- NTV (Nippon TV) — 15 matches on free-to-air broadcast network, including at least one Japan group stage match
Australia
As of February 2026, SBS and Paramount+ are the primary contenders for Australian rights. SBS held the 2022 rights and has historically broadcast World Cups free-to-air. Monitor SBS.com.au and 10Play.com.au for final confirmation.
India and the Indian Subcontinent
FIFA launched a media rights tender for India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in 2025. The bid submission deadline was September 2, 2025.
As of February 2026, no broadcaster has been confirmed for India. Previous World Cups were on Sony Sports / SonyLIV (2022) and Sports18 / Voot (2018). Monitor FIFA’s official announcements and Indian sports news for the confirmed rights holder — the announcement is expected well before June 11.
Middle East, Africa and Other Regions
Middle East and North Africa (MENA): beIN Sports holds rights across the region — available via beIN’s linear channels and the beIN Sports Connect streaming app.
Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport (DStv) is the primary rights holder across most of sub-Saharan Africa. New World TV holds rights in certain markets.
South Africa: SABC (public broadcaster) holds free-to-air rights in South Africa.
In-Flight and At Sea
IMG secured rights for Sport 24 to carry all 104 matches on airlines and cruise ships — confirmed March 2025.
Sport 24 is available on over 600 aircraft worldwide, including Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and dozens of other carriers. Over 100 cruise ships including Royal Caribbean and Carnival carry the channel.
If you are travelling during the tournament, check whether your airline or cruise line carries Sport 24 in its in-flight entertainment package.
Kick-Off Times: What to Expect in Your Region
The 2026 World Cup is played in North America during summer. FIFA has confirmed kick-off times are being adjusted to manage extreme summer heat — outdoor venues prioritize evening or night starts; indoor stadiums (Atlanta Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Dallas AT&T Stadium, Houston NRG Stadium) can host morning and afternoon matches.
Typical kick-off windows (Eastern Time):
- Morning group stage: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET
- Afternoon group stage: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET
- Evening group stage: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET
- Primetime group stage: 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM ET
What this means by region:
| Region | Morning ET (11am) | Afternoon ET (3pm) | Evening ET (6pm) | Primetime ET (9pm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK (BST) | 4pm | 8pm | 11pm | 2am |
| Central Europe (CEST) | 5pm | 9pm | Midnight | 3am |
| India (IST) | 8:30pm | 12:30am+1 | 3:30am+1 | 6:30am+1 |
| Japan/Korea (JST) | Midnight | 4am+1 | 7am+1 | 10am+1 |
| Australia Eastern (AEST) | 1am+1 | 5am+1 | 8am+1 | 11am+1 |
| Brazil (BRT) | 12pm | 4pm | 7pm | 10pm |
| Argentina (ART) | 12pm | 4pm | 7pm | 10pm |
BST = British Summer Time (UTC+1). CEST = Central European Summer Time (UTC+2). IST = India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). JST = Japan Standard Time (UTC+9). AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10). BRT = Brasília Time (UTC-3). ART = Argentina Time (UTC-3). [16-1]
Practical implication for UK viewers: Most group stage matches fall in the 4pm–11pm BST window — excellent for evening viewing. The primetime US matches kick off at 2am BST — late night, but manageable for knockout rounds. BBC iPlayer and ITVX will offer full catch-up for any match you miss live.
Practical implication for Asian viewers: The tournament will frequently require early morning viewing for live matches — set an alarm and use your broadcaster’s catch-up service for anything you cannot watch live.
Avoiding Illegal Streams — Why It Matters
Illegal streams — sites and apps that broadcast without rights — carry significant risks: malware embedded in stream pages, sudden mid-match dropouts, poor quality, and in some jurisdictions legal risk for the viewer.
Every major market has free or low-cost legal options. In the UK: completely free on BBC/ITV. In Brazil: completely free on Globo/SBT/YouTube. In the USA: free on Tubi for selected matches, and FOX is a broadcast channel (free with an antenna). Paying for a legal option — or using the free legal option available in your country — guarantees reliability, quality, and no security risk.
The official FIFA website and your local broadcaster’s website are the correct starting points.
FAQs: How to Watch 2026 World Cup
Who is showing the 2026 World Cup in the USA?
Fox Sports and FS1 in English (all 104 matches streamable on Fox One app). Telemundo and Universo in Spanish (all 104 on Peacock).
Can I watch the 2026 World Cup for free in the USA?
FOX is a free broadcast channel — available free with an antenna, or on Tubi for selected matches. Cable subscribers can authenticate the Fox One app. Spanish-language viewers can access Telemundo via its broadcast channel (free with antenna) or the Telemundo app. For full streaming access, a cable subscription or live-TV streaming bundle is required.
Who is showing the 2026 World Cup in the UK?
BBC and ITV — both completely free-to-air, streaming on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. Every England match is guaranteed on free television.
Is the World Cup free to watch in Germany?
Partially. MagentaTV holds all rights (paid subscription). ARD and ZDF have sublicenses for 60 matches including all German team games — these are free. From the semifinals onward, all matches are legally required to be on free-to-air TV under German broadcasting law.
Where can I watch the 2026 World Cup in Brazil?
TV Globo (free-to-air), SBT (free-to-air), and CazéTV — which streams all 104 matches completely free on YouTube. Brazil has the most accessible viewing arrangement of any major football nation.
Who has the rights in India?
No broadcaster has been confirmed as of February 2026. FIFA’s tender process for the Indian subcontinent closed in September 2025. Monitor FIFA’s official announcements and Indian sports media for the confirmed rights holder.
What time are the 2026 World Cup matches in the UK?
Group stage matches typically fall between 4pm and 2am BST. Most afternoon and evening slots are excellent for UK viewers; late-evening/primetime US matches (9pm ET) kick off at 2am BST. BBC iPlayer and ITVX both offer full catch-up.
Can I watch the World Cup on a plane?
Yes — Sport 24 carries all 104 matches on in-flight entertainment systems on over 600 aircraft worldwide, including Emirates, Turkish Airlines, and Singapore Airlines. Check your airline’s entertainment guide.
How many matches are on the 2026 World Cup?
104 total — 72 in the group stage and 32 in the knockout rounds (Round of 32 through Final).
When does the 2026 World Cup start and end?
June 11, 2026 (opening match: Mexico vs Senegal, Mexico City) to July 19, 2026 (Final: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey).
