When does the 2026 tournament start?

The 2026 tournament begins on June 11, 2026 with the opening match at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The group stage runs from June 11-26, featuring 72 matches across all 12 groups.

How many matches are in the 2026 tournament?

There are 104 total matches in the expanded 48-team format: 72 group stage matches (June 11-26), 16 Round of 32 matches (June 28-July 1), 8 Round of 16 matches (July 4-6), 4 Quarterfinals (July 9-10), 2 Semifinals (July 14-15), and the Final on July 19.

Where is the 2026 final being played?

The 2026 Final will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York metro area) on July 19, 2026. The stadium has a capacity of over 82,500 seats, making it one of the largest venues in the tournament.

What countries are hosting the 2026 tournament?

The 2026 tournament is co-hosted by three North American countries: the United States (11 venues), Mexico (3 venues), and Canada (2 venues). This marks the first time three nations have co-hosted, and the first 48-team tournament with 16 host cities.

What time zone are match times displayed in?

Match times are shown in the venue's local time zone (ET, CT, or PT depending on the city), with your local time displayed below for convenience. The tournament spans multiple time zones across the US, Mexico, and Canada.

How to Watch World Cup 2026

Every TV channel, streaming service & free option by country

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All 104 matches of the 2026 tournament will be broadcast live across the world. Here is the complete guide to watching in every major market — including free options.

🇺🇸 United States

Channel / Service	Type	Coverage	Cost
FOX / FS1	Free-to-air + cable	~70 matches on FOX, rest on FS1	Free (antenna) or cable
Telemundo / Universo	Free-to-air + cable (Spanish)	All 104 matches	Free (antenna) or cable
Peacock	Streaming	All 104 matches	$7.99/month
Fubo	Live TV streaming	All FOX + Telemundo channels	From $79.99/month
Tubi	Free streaming	2 matches only (opening matches)	Free

Free option: A digital antenna picks up FOX and Telemundo over-the-air for most matches at zero cost.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Channel / Service	Type	Coverage	Cost
BBC (BBC One + iPlayer)	Free-to-air + streaming	52 matches	Free
ITV (ITV1 + ITVX)	Free-to-air + streaming	52 matches	Free

All 104 matches are completely free in the UK. BBC iPlayer and ITVX also stream for free.

🇩🇪 Germany

Channel / Service	Type	Coverage	Cost
ARD	Free-to-air	30 matches	Free
ZDF	Free-to-air	30 matches	Free
MagentaTV	Streaming (Deutsche Telekom)	All 104 matches	~€10–15/month

ARD + ZDF show 60 matches free, including all Germany games, both semifinals, and the final. MagentaTV is needed for all 104.

🇪🇸 Spain

Channel / Service	Type	Coverage	Cost
RTVE	Free-to-air	33 matches	Free
DAZN	Streaming	All 104 matches (71 exclusive)	From ~€10/month

By Spanish law, all Spain matches and the final must be on free-to-air TV (RTVE).

🇮🇹 Italy

Channel / Service	Type	Coverage	Cost
Rai (Rai 1)	Free-to-air	35 matches	Free
DAZN	Streaming	All 104 matches	From €13.99/month

Rai shows the opening match, semifinals, and the final for free.

🇫🇷 France

Channel / Service	Type	Coverage	Cost
M6	Free-to-air	54 matches	Free
beIN Sports	Pay TV	All 104 matches (50 exclusive)	Subscription

First tournament without TF1 since 1978. M6 has the free-to-air package with 54 matches.

🇧🇷 Brazil

Channel / Service	Type	Coverage	Cost
CazéTV (YouTube)	Free streaming	All 104 matches	Free
TV Globo	Free-to-air	~52 matches	Free
SBT	Free-to-air	32 matches	Free

Brazil has the best deal globally — CazéTV streams every single match free on YouTube.

🇲🇽 Mexico

Channel / Service	Type	Coverage	Cost
Televisa / Las Estrellas	Free-to-air	32 matches	Free
TV Azteca	Free-to-air	32 matches	Free
TUDN	Cable	All 104 matches	Cable subscription
ViX	Streaming	Full coverage	Subscription

All Mexico matches are available free-to-air. Full 104 matches requires TUDN or ViX.

🇨🇦 Canada

Channel / Service	Type	Coverage	Cost
CTV	Free-to-air	Selected matches (all Canada games, knockouts, final)	Free
TSN / TSN+	Cable + streaming	All 104 matches	TSN+ ~$8 CAD/month

CTV provides free coverage of key matches. TSN+ needed for complete coverage.

🇵🇹 Portugal

Channel / Service	Type	Coverage	Cost
Sport TV	Pay TV	Full coverage	Subscription

Sport TV is the primary broadcaster for Portugal.

Track every match with live scores, push notifications, and an interactive bracket in the free Bola 2026 app — available on App Store and Google Play.

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Best Free Coverage by Country

🇬🇧 UK — All 104 matches free (BBC + ITV)
🇧🇷 Brazil — All 104 matches free (CazéTV on YouTube)
🇩🇪 Germany — 60 of 104 free (ARD + ZDF)
🇫🇷 France — 54 of 104 free (M6)
🇮🇹 Italy — 35 of 104 free (Rai)
🇪🇸 Spain — 33 of 104 free (RTVE)
🇲🇽 Mexico — 32 of 104 free (Televisa + TV Azteca)
🇺🇸 USA — Most matches free via antenna (FOX + Telemundo)
🇨🇦 Canada — Selected matches free (CTV)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch the 2026 World Cup for free?

Yes. In the UK, all 104 matches are free on BBC and ITV. In Brazil, CazéTV streams every match free on YouTube. In the USA, most matches are free via antenna on FOX and Telemundo. In Germany, 60 matches are free on ARD and ZDF. Check the country guide above for your region.

What channel is the 2026 World Cup on in the USA?

FOX and FS1 carry all matches in English. Telemundo and Universo carry all 104 matches in Spanish. Peacock streams all matches for $7.99/month. The opening matches are also free on Tubi.

Is the World Cup on Peacock?

Yes. Peacock streams all 104 matches of the 2026 tournament for $7.99/month (Premium plan).

How can I watch the World Cup in Germany?

ARD and ZDF show 60 matches for free, including all Germany games and the final. MagentaTV (Deutsche Telekom) carries all 104 matches.

How can I watch the World Cup in Spain?

RTVE shows 33 matches for free including all Spain games. DAZN carries all 104 matches from around €10/month.

What is the best app for World Cup 2026 live scores?

Bola 2026 is a free app for iOS and Android that provides live scores, push notifications, an interactive bracket predictor, and the full schedule for all 104 matches. No login required.

When does the 2026 World Cup start?

The tournament kicks off on June 11, 2026, with Mexico vs. South Africa in Mexico City. The final is on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.