How to Watch World Cup 2026: TV, Streaming & Schedule

The World Cup starts June 11. If your immediate reaction is “wait, already?” — you are not alone. Here is how to watch every match this summer.

TV Coverage

English: Fox and FS1. The biggest matches — USA games, quarterfinals, semifinals, the final — are on Fox. Group stage and early knockouts are on FS1. Spanish: Telemundo and Peacock. The commentary is better. You will not regret trying it.

Streaming

Free: Tubi streams Fox/FS1 at no cost. Peacock (~$8/month) has Telemundo’s Spanish coverage — sign up in June, cancel in August. YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, fuboTV, Sling TV all carry Fox/FS1 in base packages.

The 48-Team Format

First World Cup with 48 teams. Twelve groups of four (A through L). Each team plays three group matches. Top two advance automatically, plus the eight best third-place teams — bringing the knockout round to 32. Then single elimination to the final. More matches, more upsets, and group stages that stay interesting longer.

Key Dates

June 11 — Opening match, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City. June 12–26 — Group stage. June 28 — Round of 32. July 4–5 — Round of 16. July 8–9 — Quarterfinals. July 14 — Semifinal at AT&T Stadium, Dallas. July 19 — The Final at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey.

Kickoff Times

Group stage windows (Eastern): 12 PM, 3 PM, 6 PM, 9 PM. Central Time: subtract an hour. The 5 PM CT kickoffs are the sweet spot — leave work, find a bar, settle in. Follow our World Cup hub for the full match schedule.