FIFA World Cup 2026 – How to Watch on TV and Radio: Every Broadcaster, Channel & Stream Worldwide

104 matches, 48 teams, 16 cities, three countries — and billions of people tuning in. Here is your complete, country-by-country guide to watching on TV and listening to the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is now here. The opening match kicked off on 11 June in Mexico City, and the football world will be glued to screens and radios until the Final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July.

With this, the biggest World Cup in history — 48 teams and 104 matches, up from 32 teams and 64 in Qatar — the broadcasters covering it have gone bigger than ever too.

Whether you are in the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, India, or anywhere else on earth, here is the definitive, fully updated guide to how you can watch and listen to every match.

How to Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on TV and Radio

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the most-watched sporting event on earth, and the broadcast infrastructure around this edition reflects just how large the tournament has grown. In most major markets — the UK, Australia, France, Germany, Spain — the entire tournament or the vast majority of it is free to watch.

In the US, the host nation is experiencing its most comprehensive World Cup broadcast ever on FOX. For anyone anywhere in the world, BBC Radio 5 Live provides free English-language audio commentary on 92 of the 104 matches via BBC Sounds.

There has never been a better time to be a football fan with a device and a data connection.

United Kingdom: BBC and ITV — Free for Everyone

For British fans, the World Cup is free. The BBC and ITV are sharing all 104 matches between them, as they have done at every World Cup since 1966. Nothing has changed on that front — no subscription, no paywall.

BBC

The BBC is showing 54 matches across BBC One, BBC Two, and BBC iPlayer, including the bulk of England’s knockout fixtures if Thomas Tuchel’s side advances. The BBC’s coverage runs from its Salford base, covering games “off tube” with commentators and pundits in the studio rather than on the ground in North America for every fixture.

Presenting the BBC’s coverage are Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, and Alex Scott. Their pundit lineup includes Thomas Frank, Alan Shearer, Danny Murphy, Martin Keown, and Olivier Giroud among others. The commentary team features Guy Mowbray, Steve Wilson, Steve Bower, Jonathan Pearce, Robyn Cowen, Steven Wyeth, and Liam McLeod.

ITV

ITV is showing 29 group stage matches, including the opening game between Mexico and South Africa, and England’s first fixture against Croatia. ITV has broadcast live from its studio in Brooklyn, New York, with views of the Manhattan skyline throughout the tournament.

Presenting from New York are Mark Pougatch, Laura Woods, and Semra Hunter. The studio pundit team is a star-studded one: Roy Keane, Ian Wright, Gary Neville, Patrick Vieira, Ange Postecoglou, Juan Mata, Karen Carney, Emma Hayes, Duncan Ferguson, and Bradley Wright-Phillips. Commentary comes from Sam Matterface, Jon Champion, Seb Hutchinson, and Joe Speight.

The World Cup Final on 19 July will be shown live on both BBC and ITV simultaneously.

How to Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on TV in the United Kingdom

• BBC One, BBC Two — free-to-air TV
• BBC iPlayer — free streaming, BBC account required (bbc.co.uk/iplayer)
• ITV1, ITV4 — free-to-air TV
• ITVX — free streaming (itv.com/watch)
• STV / STV Player — free for Scottish viewers

Radio (UK)

BBC Radio 5 Live is broadcasting live commentary on 92 of the 104 matches — free, anywhere in the world, via BBC Sounds.

The 5 Live team includes Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Steve Crossman as lead presenters. TalkSPORT is also providing live commentary across the tournament. Both are free to access via their apps and websites.

Full World Cup 2026 Group Stage TV Schedule

Here’s the full list of broadcasters worldwide for the FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule.

United States: FOX, Telemundo, and More

In the US, the tournament is a national moment unlike any other. FOX Sports holds the exclusive English-language broadcast rights, and the scale of the coverage reflects the fact that the country is co-hosting for the first time.

FOX Sports is broadcasting all 104 matches across FOX (70 matches) and FS1 (34 matches). FOX has committed over 340 hours of live first-run programming — 100 hours more than the 2022 World Cup. A record 40 matches are airing in primetime on the main FOX network. Every match can also be streamed live and on demand in 4K through the FOX One app and FOXSports.com.

All three USMNT group stage games — vs. Paraguay (12 June), vs. Australia (19 June), and vs. the winner of UEFA Playoff C (25 June) — air on the main FOX channel with expanded pregame coverage.

Tubi, Fox Corporation’s free ad-supported streaming service, simulcast the opening match (Mexico vs. South Africa) and the USMNT opener vs. Paraguay in 4K for free. It has also launched a dedicated FIFA World Cup FOX Hub.

Spanish-language coverage is handled by Telemundo (92 matches) and Universo (remaining matches), both owned by NBCUniversal. Peacock holds exclusive Spanish-language streaming rights.

For cord-cutters wanting to stream, the full tournament is available through YouTube TV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV on subscription plans.

Radio (USA):

SiriusXM is providing English-language radio coverage of every single match through FOX Sports on SiriusXM (satellite channel 83 and the SiriusXM app). When two matches run simultaneously, the overflow game airs on SiriusXM FC (channel 157). Argentine-American broadcaster Andres Cantor is leading Spanish-language radio coverage on Futbol de Primera.

Australia: SBS — All 104 Matches, Completely Free

Australia has one of the best World Cup broadcast deals on the planet. SBS is showing all 104 matches live and free in Australia— on television and on SBS On Demand, its streaming platform — at no cost whatsoever. No subscription, no event pass.

SBS has been the home of World Cup football in Australia since 1986, and 2026 marks 40 consecutive years of coverage. The on-air team includes Harry Kewell, Lydia Williams, Tommy Oar, Andrew Redmayne, and Kevin-Prince Boateng in the studio, with David Basheer and Luke Wilkshire on commentary for Socceroos matches.

Around 69% of all live matches will air between 6:00 AM and 4:30 PM AEST, making this one of the most watchable World Cups for Australian fans in years. The World Cup Final kicks off at approximately 9:00 AM AEST on Monday 20 July — a perfect Sunday morning watch.

How to Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on TV in Australia

• SBS (Channel 3) — free-to-air
• SBS VICELAND (Channel 31) — overflow
• SBS On Demand — free streaming, account required (sbs.com.au/ondemand)

Radio (Australia): SEN holds audio rights for all Socceroos matches. Check your local SEN station for commentary details.

New Zealand: TVNZ — Free for All Whites Fans, Paid for Everything Else

TVNZ replaced Sky Sport as the home of the World Cup in New Zealand in a landmark rights shift. Coverage is split between a free tier and a paid Event Pass — the first time TVNZ has ever charged the public for content.

All three All Whites group stage matches — vs. Iran (16 June, 1 PM NZT), vs. Egypt (22 June, 1 PM NZT), and vs. Belgium (27 June, 3 PM NZT) — are broadcast free on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+. A minimum of 22 matches in total, including the Final, are free.

For all 104 matches, the TVNZ+ Event Pass costs NZ$44.95 as a one-off payment.

How to Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on TV in New Zealand

• TVNZ 1 — free-to-air TV (22 matches free including all All Whites games)
• TVNZ+ — free streaming for 22 matches, account required
• TVNZ+ Event Pass — NZ$44.95, all 104 matches (tvnz.co.nz/passes)

Canada: CTV, TSN, and RDS

Canada is a co-host nation and coverage is appropriately comprehensive. The tournament is available across multiple platforms in English and French.

CTV (Bell Media) is showing matches on free-to-air television, including all three Canada national team group stage games. TSN (The Sports Network) and its streaming platform TSN+ carry additional matches, while RDS handles French-language coverage. The TSN+ streaming pass provides access to the full 104-match schedule.

Canada’s opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 12 June at 3:00 PM ET aired live and free on the main CTV network.

Mexico: Free-to-Air Across Multiple Channels

Mexico, as the third co-host, has extensive free-to-air coverage. TelevisaUnivision and TV Azteca both hold broadcast rights, meaning fans can watch on major free channels without any subscription. The Mexican national team’s matches — including their opening day fixture against South Africa on 11 June — have aired across these networks with massive primetime audiences.

Rest of Europe: A Country-by-Country Snapshot

Across Europe, the vast majority of matches are available on free-to-air television. Here is a quick-reference guide for the key markets:

• Germany: ARD and ZDF are sharing coverage, as they have done for decades, with all matches available free across their networks and streaming platforms.
• France: TF1 and M6 hold the rights, with free-to-air coverage available across their broadcast and streaming platforms.
• Spain: RTVE (La 1) and Mediaset España are covering the tournament. Spain, as defending champions, has enormous viewership expected.
• Italy: RAI and Mediaset have split the rights, with coverage free across their channels.
• Netherlands: NPO is handling free-to-air coverage for Dutch fans following Oranje.
• Portugal: RTP and Sport TV carry the rights for Portugal.
• Ireland: RTÉ is providing free-to-air coverage for the Republic of Ireland, accessible via the RTÉ Player.

Middle East & North Africa: beIN Sports

beIN Sports holds exclusive rights across 24 countries in the Middle East and North Africa — the widest single regional footprint of any broadcaster at this tournament. Coverage is available via beIN Sports channels and the beIN CONNECT streaming app across the region.

Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport and DStv

SuperSport holds the rights across more than 50 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, distributed via DStv. Coverage is available through DStv satellite packages and the DStv streaming app. Free-to-air provisions vary by country — check your local broadcaster for which matches may be available without a subscription.

In-Flight and At Sea: Sport 24

For those travelling during the tournament, Sport 24 holds exclusive rights to broadcast all 104 matches on planes and cruise ships worldwide. The service is available on Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line, and many more. If your flight or cruise has a live TV screen, you can watch the World Cup at 35,000 feet.

Global Radio: Listen from Anywhere

If you are outside a coverage zone, stuck somewhere without a screen, or simply prefer the atmosphere of live radio commentary, there are several ways to follow the action through audio:

• BBC Radio 5 Live — Broadcasting live commentary on 92 of the 104 matches, accessible free worldwide via the BBC Sounds app and website. A BBC account is required to register (free of charge). This is the best and easiest option for global English-language audio coverage of almost every game.
• TalkSPORT — The UK sports radio giant is providing comprehensive World Cup audio coverage, available via the TalkSPORT app and website. Some international listening may require a VPN for geo-restricted content.
• SiriusXM (USA) — Channel 83 (FOX Sports on SiriusXM) carries every match in English for US subscribers. Channel 157 (SiriusXM FC) handles overflow when two games run simultaneously.
• TUDN Radio and Caracol Radio — Spanish and Latin American markets are well covered through TUDN Radio in the US and Caracol Radio in Colombia, among others. These services are accessible via their respective apps.
• CBC Radio (Canada) — CBC Radio is providing French and English commentary on Canadian national team matches and selected fixtures.

FIFA+ and YouTube: Global Free Streaming

FIFA+ (the official FIFA streaming platform, available at fifa.com and via the FIFA+ app) offers highlights, press conferences, behind-the-scenes content, and selected full-match replays throughout the tournament. In territories without an exclusive broadcast deal, FIFA+ may also provide live match access.

FIFA has also partnered with TikTok as a Preferred Platform for official World Cup video content — making it the first time TikTok has held this status at a FIFA tournament. Short-form clips, goals, and highlights are being distributed through the official FIFA TikTok channels throughout the 40-day event.

How to Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on TV by Country?

Key Tournament Dates to Remember

• Tournament starts: 11 June 2026 — Mexico vs South Africa, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
• Group stage: 11 June – 1 July 2026
• Round of 32: 3–7 July 2026
• Round of 16: 8–12 July 2026
• Quarter-finals: 14–15 July 2026
• Semi-finals: 17–18 July 2026
• World Cup Final: 19 July 2026 — MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

Kick-off times across the tournament range from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM local North American time, depending on the venue city and time zone, translating to a wide variety of viewing times globally. Check your local broadcaster’s schedule for match-by-match listings.