The upcoming 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup promises to be a thrilling event for soccer enthusiasts, with all 104 matches set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico starting on Thursday, June 11. While tickets may be limited and costly, fans have various options to catch the action.
Broadcasting rights for the 78 games hosted in the U.S., along with 13 games each in Canada and Mexico, are held by FOX and NBCUniversal. Notably, FOX will showcase a historic 40 matches during prime time, which amounts to over a third of the entire tournament.
For viewers preferring Spanish-language coverage, every match will be accessible via Telemundo and Universo, both of which are owned by NBC.
Additionally, fans can stream all matches on-demand through multiple platforms. Here’s what viewers need to know:
Those with a TV antenna or direct access to the FOX network through a smart TV can enjoy 70 matches at no cost. The remaining games will be available on the cable channel Fox Sports 1.
A total of 92 out of the 104 matches will be available for free in Spanish on Telemundo, while the remaining games will be aired on the Universo cable network.
For cord-cutters, the opening match of the World Cup, featuring Mexico against South Africa on June 11, as well as the U.S. match against Paraguay on June 12, can be streamed for free on Tubi, an ad-supported service owned by Fox.
Streaming options include the FOX One platform and the FOX Sports app, with Peacock holding exclusive rights for Spanish-language streaming. Other subscription services like YouTube TV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV will also provide access to the matches.
Fans can stay updated on World Cup news and highlights throughout the tournament at CBSSports.com.
The U.S. national team will compete in three group stage matches in June, facing Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey. The first match against Paraguay is set for 9 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Friday, June 12. Following that, the U.S. team will take on Australia at Lumen Seattle at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, June 19, and will return to SoFi Stadium to play Turkey at 10 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 25.
The tournament kicks off on June 11, with co-host Mexico playing the inaugural match in Mexico City against South Africa. The U.S. and Canada will commence their campaigns the following day in Los Angeles and Toronto, respectively. The group stage will continue until June 27.
Here is the broadcast schedule:
Third-place match: July 18
World Cup Final: July 19
Lucia I Suarez Sang contributed to this report.
