In this guide
Why kick-off times feel so strange this yearUnited Kingdom: every match, free, on two channelsUnited States: English on Fox, Spanish on TelemundoEurope: public broadcasters keep most of it freeAsia: the late-night and pre-dawn continentSouth America: free-to-air heaven and friendly timesNorth and Central America and the CaribbeanAfrica: a free-to-air heartland with regional packagesOceania: the hardest time zone of allThe quick answer: where it is free and where it costsFAQsThe opening match kicks off on 11 June 2026, Mexico against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, 1pm local time. From that whistle to the final in New Jersey on 19 July, every one of the 104 matches is being shown live somewhere in nearly every country on earth. This guide answers the only question that matters once you have decided to stay in: how to watch the World Cup at home, wherever home happens to be.
Television and streaming rights are sold market by market, not as one global package, so the channel, the app and even the language change the moment you cross a border. Below you will find the broadcasters, streaming options and local kick-off windows for every continent and the countries and territories named in the published media-rights list. A few smaller markets were still finalising deals as the tournament began, and those are flagged rather than guessed. If you would rather be inside the stadium than in front of the sofa, you can compare seats and prices for any qualified nation using the team links and buttons throughout this guide.
Why kick-off times feel so strange this year
For the first time since 1994 the tournament sits entirely in North American time zones, spread across the Pacific, Mountain, Central and Eastern bands plus Mexico City. That single fact drives every viewing decision on the planet. Matches start no earlier than midday and no later than midnight US Eastern time, which is a daily window of roughly 16:00 to 04:00 UTC.
Translate that window into your own clock and you get the pattern below. Europe gets a comfortable evening-into-late-night slate. The Gulf and East Africa get prime-time-into-dawn. South Asia, East Asia and Oceania draw the short straw, with most kick-offs landing after midnight and running through breakfast. The opening game, Mexico against South Africa, starts at 3pm Eastern, which is 8pm in London and 9pm across most of western Europe.
| Region | June UTC offset | Daily kick-off window (local) | Notable | In plain terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom and Ireland | UTC+1 (BST/IST) | 17:00 to 05:00 | Final at 20:00 BST | Evening to early hours |
| Western and central Europe | UTC+2 (CEST) | 18:00 to 06:00 | Final at 21:00 | Evening to early hours |
| Eastern Europe, Greece, Turkey | UTC+3 | 19:00 to 07:00 | Final at 22:00 | Evening to morning |
| Gulf states (Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait) | UTC+3 | 19:00 to 07:00 | Final at 22:00 | Evening to morning |
| UAE and Oman | UTC+4 | 20:00 to 08:00 | Final at 23:00 | Evening to morning |
| India, Sri Lanka | UTC+5:30 | 21:30 to 09:30 | Final at 00:30 | Late night to morning |
| Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam) | UTC+7 | 23:00 to 11:00 | Final at 02:00 | Overnight to midday |
| China, Singapore, Malaysia | UTC+8 | 00:00 to 12:00 | Final at 03:00 | Overnight to midday |
| Japan, Korea | UTC+9 | 01:00 to 13:00 | Final at 04:00 | Overnight to midday |
| Eastern Australia | UTC+10 (AEST) | 02:00 to 14:00 | Final at 05:00 | Pre-dawn to afternoon |
| New Zealand | UTC+12 | 04:00 to 16:00 | Final at 07:00 | Early morning to afternoon |
| Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay | UTC-3 | 13:00 to 01:00 | Final at 16:00 | Afternoon to late night |
| West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana) | UTC+0 to +1 | 16:00 to 05:00 | Final at 19:00 to 20:00 | Late afternoon to early hours |
United Kingdom: every match, free, on two channels
British viewers get one of the best deals in the world. All 104 matches are free to air, split between the BBC and ITV, with STV carrying the ITV schedule in central and northern Scotland. There is no subscription, no pay-per-view and no blackout. The catch is timing: BBC Sport has confirmed that almost half of all group-stage matches kick off after midnight BST, so a fair amount of late-night viewing is unavoidable.
For streaming, BBC iPlayer and ITVX carry every match the respective channel shows. UK law requires a TV Licence to watch or stream any live television and to use BBC iPlayer. England open against Croatia on 17 June, one of the better-timed fixtures at 9pm BST.
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (England, Wales, N. Ireland) | BBC One/Two, ITV1 | BBC iPlayer, ITVX | Free to air, all 104 | 17:00 to 05:00 BST |
| Scotland (central and northern) | BBC, STV | BBC iPlayer, STV Player | Free to air, all 104 | 17:00 to 05:00 BST |
| Ireland (Republic) | RTÉ2 | RTÉ Player | Free to air | 17:00 to 05:00 IST |
United States: English on Fox, Spanish on Telemundo
As a host nation, the United States gets wall-to-wall coverage and the kindest kick-off times anywhere. Every match airs in English across Fox and FS1, and in Spanish across Telemundo and Universo. Eastern Time viewers get a clean run of lunchtime, afternoon and prime-time games, with the latest West Coast fixtures finishing around midnight.
Streaming runs through the Fox Sports app and Fox One for English, and through Peacock for the full Telemundo schedule in Spanish. Cord-cutters can also reach Fox and Telemundo through most live-TV services. Fox is additionally showing 40 matches, including the final, in shared-reality format at Cosm venues.
| Audience | Television | Streaming / OTT | Access | Local kick-off (Eastern) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (English) | Fox, FS1 | Fox Sports app, Fox One | Pay TV and streaming | 12:00 to 00:00 ET |
| United States (Spanish) | Telemundo, Universo | Peacock | Pay TV and streaming | 12:00 to 00:00 ET |
Time zones matter inside the country too. A 3pm Eastern kick-off is noon on the Pacific coast, so Los Angeles and Seattle see the earliest starts and the latest local games. Mexico City sits on Central Time and runs from about 10am to 10pm. Co-hosts Canada and Mexico share the tournament with the United States, and you can check host-nation seats on the Canada World Cup tickets.
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Europe: public broadcasters keep most of it free
Europe leans heavily on a hybrid model: a free-to-air public broadcaster for the bulk of matches, often paired with a pay-TV or telecom partner for the full slate. The continent also draws the best kick-off times outside the Americas, with most marquee games sitting in the evening. Below the region is split into western, northern, southern, central, eastern and micro-state groups.
Western Europe
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | M6, beIN Sports | M6+, beIN Connect | Part free, part pay | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF, Magenta Sport | ARD/ZDF Mediathek, MagentaTV | Part free, part pay | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Netherlands | NOS | NPO Start | Free to air | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Belgium | VRT, RTBF | VRT MAX, Auvio | Free to air | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR (SRF, RTS, RSI) | Play SRF, Play RTS | Free to air | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Austria | ORF, ServusTV, Magenta Sport | ORF ON | Part free, part pay | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Luxembourg | RTBF, M6, ARD, ZDF | Via neighbouring apps | Free to air | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Monaco | French broadcasters (M6, beIN) | M6+, beIN Connect | Part free, part pay | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
Northern Europe and the Nordics
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | NRK, TV2 | NRK TV, TV2 Play | Part free, part pay | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Sweden | SVT, TV4 | SVT Play, TV4 Play | Part free, part pay | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Denmark | DR, TV2 | DRTV, TV2 Play | Part free, part pay | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Finland | Yle, MTV3 | Yle Areena, MTV Katsomo | Part free, part pay | 19:00 to 07:00 EEST |
| Iceland | RÚV | RÚV.is | Free to air | 16:00 to 04:00 UTC |
| Estonia | ERR, TV3 Estonia | Jupiter, TV3 Play | Part free, part pay | 19:00 to 07:00 EEST |
| Latvia | TV3 Latvia | TV3 Play | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 EEST |
| Lithuania | TV3 Lithuania | TV3 Play | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 EEST |
Southern Europe
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | RTVE, Mediapro/DAZN | RTVE Play, DAZN | Part free, part pay | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Italy | RAI, DAZN | RaiPlay, DAZN | Part free, part pay | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Portugal | RTP, SIC, TVI, Sport TV | RTP Play, LiveModeTV | Part free, part pay | 17:00 to 05:00 WEST |
| Greece | ERT | ERTFLIX | Free to air | 19:00 to 07:00 EEST |
| Malta | PBS | TVMi | Free to air | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Cyprus | Sigma TV | Sigma Live | Free to air | 19:00 to 07:00 EEST |
| San Marino | RAI, DAZN | RaiPlay, DAZN | Part free, part pay | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Andorra | RTVE, M6, Mediapro/DAZN | RTVE Play, DAZN | Part free, part pay | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Vatican City (Holy See) | Italian broadcasters (RAI) | RaiPlay | Free to air | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
Central Europe
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | TVP | TVP VOD, TVP Sport | Free to air | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Czechia | CT, TV Nova | CT sport, Voyo | Part free, part pay | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Slovakia | RTVS, TV JOJ | STVR, JOJ Play | Free to air | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Hungary | MTVA (M4 Sport) | MediaKlikk | Free to air | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Slovenia | RTV SLO, Arena Sport | RTV 365, Arena | Part free, part pay | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Croatia | HRT | HRTi | Free to air | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
Eastern Europe and the Balkans
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | Antena | AntenaPLAY | Part free, part pay | 19:00 to 07:00 EEST |
| Bulgaria | BNT | BNT Play | Free to air | 19:00 to 07:00 EEST |
| Serbia | RTS, Arena Sport | RTS Planeta, Arena | Part free, part pay | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Arena Sport | Arena Cloud | Pay TV and streaming | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Montenegro | RTCG, Arena Sport | Arena Cloud | Part free, part pay | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| North Macedonia | Arena Sport | Arena Cloud | Pay TV and streaming | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Albania | TV Klan | Klan stream | Free to air, all 104 | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Kosovo | RTK, TV Vala, Arena Sport | Arena Cloud | Part free, part pay | 18:00 to 06:00 CEST |
| Ukraine | MEGOGO | MEGOGO | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 EEST |
| Belarus | National broadcaster (not yet confirmed) | No confirmed data | No confirmed data | 19:00 to 07:00 MSK |
| Moldova | National broadcaster (not yet confirmed) | No confirmed data | No confirmed data | 19:00 to 07:00 EEST |
| Russia | Match TV | Match Premier | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 MSK |
The Caucasus
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | Setanta Sports, Rustavi 2 | Setanta Sports | Part free, part pay | 20:00 to 08:00 UTC+4 |
| Azerbaijan | Ictimai TV (ITV) | ITV.az | Free to air | 20:00 to 08:00 UTC+4 |
| Armenia | Public TV of Armenia (not yet confirmed) | No confirmed data | No confirmed data | 20:00 to 08:00 UTC+4 |
Asia: the late-night and pre-dawn continent
Asia faces the toughest watch of any region. Because every venue sits in North America, kick-offs run from late evening in the Gulf to the small hours and breakfast across South and East Asia. Two of the largest markets, India and China, only confirmed their broadcasters in the weeks before kick-off, ending a long standoff over rights fees. The region splits into the Middle East, South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia.
Middle East and West Asia
Across the Arab world, beIN Sports holds the regional rights and carries all 104 matches, with the company headquartered in Qatar. Several countries pair that with a national free-to-air channel for selected games. Saudi Arabia, Morocco and the other Arab qualifiers will draw huge audiences. Israel and Turkey sit outside the beIN package on their own deals, while Iran pairs domestic free-to-air on IRIB TV3 with the regional beIN service.
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | beIN Sports | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 AST |
| United Arab Emirates | beIN Sports | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 20:00 to 08:00 GST |
| Qatar | beIN Sports | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 AST |
| Kuwait | beIN Sports | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 AST |
| Bahrain | beIN Sports | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 AST |
| Oman | beIN Sports | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 20:00 to 08:00 GST |
| Iraq | beIN Sports | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 AST |
| Jordan | beIN Sports | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 EEST |
| Lebanon | beIN Sports | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 EEST |
| Syria | beIN Sports | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 |
| Palestine | beIN Sports | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 EEST |
| Yemen | beIN Sports | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 AST |
| Israel | KAN, Charlton | KAN 11 | Free to air and pay | 19:00 to 07:00 IDT |
| Iran | IRIB (state TV) | Telewebion | Free to air | 19:30 to 07:30 UTC+3:30 |
| Turkey | TRT | TRT, Tabii | Free to air | 19:00 to 07:00 UTC+3 |
South Asia
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | Unite8 Sports (via Zee) | ZEE5 | Pay TV and streaming | 21:30 to 09:30 IST |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports | Tapmad | Free to air and streaming | 21:00 to 09:00 PKT |
| Bangladesh | BTV, Somoy TV, T Sports | Toffee, Bioscope+ | Free to air and streaming | 22:00 to 10:00 UTC+6 |
| Sri Lanka | SLT-Mobitel PEO TV | PEO TV | Pay TV and streaming | 21:30 to 09:30 UTC+5:30 |
| Nepal | Himalaya Sports | DGo | Pay TV and streaming | 21:45 to 09:45 UTC+5:45 |
| Maldives | ICE Networks | ICE | Pay TV and streaming | 21:00 to 09:00 UTC+5 |
| Afghanistan | ATN (Ariana) | ATN online | Free to air | 20:30 to 08:30 UTC+4:30 |
| Bhutan | No confirmed data | No confirmed data | No confirmed data | 22:00 to 10:00 UTC+6 |
Central Asia
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kazakhstan | QAZSPORT (QAZTRK) | QAZTRK online | Free to air | 21:00 to 09:00 UTC+5 |
| Uzbekistan | Zo'r TV | Zo'r online | Free to air | 21:00 to 09:00 UTC+5 |
| Turkmenistan | Quest Sports Media | n/a | Free to air | 21:00 to 09:00 UTC+5 |
| Tajikistan | Varzish TV | n/a | Free to air | 21:00 to 09:00 UTC+5 |
| Kyrgyzstan | KTRK | Beeline Ukmush TV | Free to air and streaming | 22:00 to 10:00 UTC+6 |
| Mongolia | MNB, National TV, Suld TV | Mobihome VOO | Free to air and streaming | 00:00 to 12:00 UTC+8 |
Southeast Asia
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | TVRI | FolaPlay, Telkomsel | Free to air and streaming | 23:00 to 11:00 WIB |
| Malaysia | RTM | Unifi TV | Free to air and streaming | 00:00 to 12:00 UTC+8 |
| Singapore | Mediacorp | mewatch | Free to air and streaming | 00:00 to 12:00 UTC+8 |
| Philippines | TAP DMV, Cignal | Aleph Arena (YouTube) | Pay TV and streaming | 00:00 to 12:00 UTC+8 |
| Vietnam | VTV | VTV Go | Free to air and streaming | 23:00 to 11:00 UTC+7 |
| Thailand | No confirmed data | No confirmed data | No confirmed data | 23:00 to 11:00 UTC+7 |
| Cambodia | Hang Meas | Hang Meas HDTV | Free to air | 23:00 to 11:00 UTC+7 |
| Laos | No confirmed data | No confirmed data | No confirmed data | 23:00 to 11:00 UTC+7 |
| Myanmar | No confirmed data | No confirmed data | No confirmed data | 22:30 to 10:30 UTC+6:30 |
| Brunei | Not yet confirmed | No confirmed data | No confirmed data | 00:00 to 12:00 UTC+8 |
| Timor-Leste | RTTL | ETO | Free to air and streaming | 01:00 to 13:00 UTC+9 |
East Asia
China resolved its rights late, with China Media Group, the parent of CCTV, confirming a deal in mid-May 2026 for free-to-air, pay TV, streaming and mobile in up to 8K. China Mobile's Migu and the social platform Xiaohongshu, also known as RedNote, handle digital distribution. Japan and Korea both have strong free coverage of their national teams, and DAZN streams all 104 matches in Japan.
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | CCTV (China Media Group) | Migu, Xiaohongshu (RedNote) | Free to air and streaming | 00:00 to 12:00 CST |
| Japan | NHK, Nippon TV, Fuji TV | DAZN (all 104), NHK Plus | Free to air and streaming | 01:00 to 13:00 JST |
| South Korea | JTBC, KBS | NAVER Sports, CHZZK | Free to air and streaming | 01:00 to 13:00 KST |
| Hong Kong | Now TV (PCCW) | Now TV app | Pay TV and streaming | 00:00 to 12:00 UTC+8 |
| Taiwan | ELTA, EBC, TTV | ELTA.tv, Hami Video | Free to air and pay | 00:00 to 12:00 UTC+8 |
| Macau | TDM | TDM app | Free to air | 00:00 to 12:00 UTC+8 |
| North Korea | No confirmed deal | None confirmed | Not confirmed | 01:00 to 13:00 UTC+9 |
South America: free-to-air heaven and friendly times
South America gets the kindest deal outside the host nations. Kick-offs land in the afternoon and evening, and most countries keep the bulk of matches on free-to-air channels. Brazil has the richest line-up of all, with Grupo Globo on television, SBT partnering N Sports and CazéTV streaming every match free on YouTube. Across the continent, DSports and Disney+ carry the pay-TV and streaming package, and Disney+ adds national-team matches in several markets. You can weigh up seats for the favourites on the Argentina World Cup tickets.
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | Grupo Globo, SBT, N Sports | CazéTV (free, YouTube), Globoplay | Free to air and streaming | 13:00 to 01:00 BRT |
| Argentina | Telefe, TV Publica, TyC Sports | Disney+, Telefe online | Free to air and pay | 13:00 to 01:00 ART |
| Chile | Chilevision | Chilevision online | Free to air | 12:00 to 00:00 CLT |
| Colombia | Caracol, RCN, Win Sports | Disney+ | Free to air and pay | 11:00 to 23:00 COT |
| Peru | America Television | DSports, Disney+ | Free to air and pay | 11:00 to 23:00 PET |
| Ecuador | Teleamazonas | Disney+ | Free to air and pay | 11:00 to 23:00 ECT |
| Uruguay | Canal 5, Antel TV | DSports, Disney+ | Free to air and pay | 13:00 to 01:00 UYT |
| Paraguay | Trece, GEN, Popu TV, Unicanal | Tigo Sports | Free to air and pay | 12:00 to 00:00 UTC-4 |
| Bolivia | Red Uno, Unitel | Entel, Tigo Sports | Free to air and pay | 12:00 to 00:00 BOT |
| Venezuela | Televen | DSports, Disney+ | Free to air and pay | 12:00 to 00:00 VET |
| Guyana | Rush Sports (regional) | n/a | Pay TV and streaming | 12:00 to 00:00 UTC-4 |
| Suriname | STVS, ATV | n/a | Free to air | 13:00 to 01:00 UTC-3 |
North and Central America and the Caribbean
The host region beyond the United States is well covered. Canada runs through Bell Media on CTV, TSN and RDS, with French coverage on RDS. Mexico keeps matches free on TelevisaUnivision and TV Azteca. Central America leans on Tigo Sports alongside national channels, and most of the Caribbean is served by a regional package from Rush Sports and Caribbean Premier Sports, with Cuba and the Dominican Republic outside that deal.
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | Bell Media (CTV, TSN, RDS) | TSN+, RDS | Pay TV and streaming | 12:00 to 00:00 ET (east) |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca | ViX, Azteca Deportes | Free to air and streaming | 10:00 to 22:00 CST |
| Guatemala | Albavision | Tigo Sports | Free to air and pay | 10:00 to 22:00 UTC-6 |
| Honduras | Televicentro | Tigo Sports | Free to air and pay | 10:00 to 22:00 UTC-6 |
| El Salvador | TCS | Tigo Sports | Free to air and pay | 10:00 to 22:00 UTC-6 |
| Nicaragua | Grupo Ratensa | Tigo Sports | Free to air and pay | 10:00 to 22:00 UTC-6 |
| Costa Rica | Teletica | Tigo Sports | Free to air and pay | 10:00 to 22:00 UTC-6 |
| Panama | RPC, TVN Media | Tigo Sports | Free to air and pay | 11:00 to 23:00 EST |
| Belize | Nexgen | Nexgen | Pay TV and streaming | 10:00 to 22:00 UTC-6 |
| Cuba | State TV (not yet confirmed) | No confirmed data | Free to air | 12:00 to 00:00 CDT |
| Dominican Republic | CDN 37, CDN Deportes | Pio Deportes | Free to air and pay | 12:00 to 00:00 AST |
| Haiti | TNH | n/a | Free to air | 12:00 to 00:00 EDT |
| Jamaica | TVJ | TVJ online | Free to air | 11:00 to 23:00 EST |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Rush Sports regional feed | n/a | Pay TV and streaming | 12:00 to 00:00 AST |
| Barbados | Rush Sports regional feed | n/a | Pay TV and streaming | 12:00 to 00:00 AST |
| Bahamas | Rush Sports regional feed | n/a | Pay TV and streaming | 12:00 to 00:00 EDT |
| Saint Lucia | Winners Sports TV | n/a | Pay TV and streaming | 12:00 to 00:00 AST |
| Aruba | Telearuba | n/a | Free to air | 12:00 to 00:00 AST |
| Curaçao | Nos Pais Television | n/a | Free to air | 12:00 to 00:00 AST |
| Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines | Rush Sports regional feed | n/a | Pay TV and streaming | 12:00 to 00:00 AST |
Africa: a free-to-air heartland with regional packages
Africa mixes strong national free-to-air coverage with two big regional deals. New World TV and SuperSport carry the Sub-Saharan package between them, while Azam TV has secured all 104 matches live across a block of east and southern African countries. North African nations sit inside the Arab beIN Sports region, usually with a national channel added for selected games. Kick-off times are friendly here, from late afternoon in the west to evening in the east and south. Morocco carry the hopes of the continent and the Arab world, and you can compare seats for Egypt on the Egypt World Cup tickets.
North Africa
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | beIN Sports (regional) | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 EEST |
| Morocco | SNRT (national FTA), beIN Sports | beIN Connect, SNRT Live | Free to air and pay | 17:00 to 05:00 UTC+1 |
| Algeria | ENTV (national FTA), beIN Sports | beIN Connect | Free to air and pay | 17:00 to 05:00 UTC+1 |
| Tunisia | beIN Sports (regional) | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 17:00 to 05:00 UTC+1 |
| Libya | beIN Sports (regional) | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 18:00 to 06:00 UTC+2 |
| Sudan | beIN Sports (regional) | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 18:00 to 06:00 UTC+2 |
| Mauritania | beIN Sports (regional) | beIN Connect, TOD | Pay TV and streaming | 16:00 to 04:00 UTC+0 |
West Africa
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | New World TV, SuperSport | DStv Stream, New World | Pay TV and streaming | 17:00 to 05:00 WAT |
| Ghana | ChannelOne TV, SuperSport | DStv Stream | Free to air and pay | 16:00 to 04:00 UTC |
| Senegal | RTS (national FTA), New World TV | RTS online | Free to air and pay | 16:00 to 04:00 UTC |
| Ivory Coast | RTI, NCI | RTI online | Free to air | 16:00 to 04:00 UTC |
| Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Benin, Togo, Niger | New World TV, SuperSport | DStv Stream, New World | Pay TV and streaming | 16:00 to 05:00 UTC to UTC+1 |
| Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Cape Verde | New World TV, SuperSport | DStv Stream, New World | Pay TV and streaming | 15:00 to 04:00 UTC-1 to UTC |
East Africa
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya | Azam TV | Azam Play | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 EAT |
| Tanzania | Azam TV | Azam Play | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 EAT |
| Uganda | Azam TV | Azam Play | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 EAT |
| Rwanda | Azam TV | Azam Play | Pay TV and streaming | 18:00 to 06:00 CAT |
| Ethiopia | Hagerie TV | n/a | Free to air | 19:00 to 07:00 EAT |
| Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, South Sudan | New World TV, SuperSport (Sub-Saharan) | n/a | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 07:00 EAT |
| Burundi | Azam TV, New World TV | Azam Play | Pay TV and streaming | 18:00 to 06:00 CAT |
Central Africa
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameroon | New World TV, SuperSport | DStv Stream, New World | Pay TV and streaming | 17:00 to 05:00 WAT |
| DR Congo | New World TV, SuperSport | DStv Stream, New World | Pay TV and streaming | 17:00 to 06:00 WAT/CAT |
| Angola | Z Sports (ZAP) | ZAP online | Pay TV and streaming | 17:00 to 05:00 WAT |
| Gabon, Congo, Chad, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe | New World TV, SuperSport | DStv Stream, New World | Pay TV and streaming | 17:00 to 06:00 WAT/CAT |
Southern Africa
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | SABC (national FTA), SuperSport | SABC Plus, DStv Stream, SportyTV | Free to air and pay | 18:00 to 06:00 SAST |
| Zimbabwe | Azam TV | Azam Play | Pay TV and streaming | 18:00 to 06:00 CAT |
| Zambia | Azam TV | Azam Play | Pay TV and streaming | 18:00 to 06:00 CAT |
| Botswana | Azam TV | Azam Play | Pay TV and streaming | 18:00 to 06:00 CAT |
| Malawi | Azam TV | Azam Play | Pay TV and streaming | 18:00 to 06:00 CAT |
| Mozambique | Miramar, Z Sports | ZAP online | Pay TV and streaming | 18:00 to 06:00 CAT |
| Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini | SuperSport, New World TV | DStv Stream | Pay TV and streaming | 18:00 to 06:00 SAST/CAT |
| Mauritius | MBC (34 matches FTA) | MBC streaming (Rs 300 for full, as of June 2026) | Free to air and streaming | 20:00 to 08:00 UTC+4 |
| Madagascar, Seychelles, Comoros | New World TV, SuperSport (Sub-Saharan) | n/a | Pay TV and streaming | 19:00 to 08:00 UTC+3/+4 |
Oceania: the hardest time zone of all
Oceania draws the latest watch on earth. Australia keeps things simple and generous, with SBS showing all 104 matches free, though most kick off in the small hours and run into the afternoon. New Zealand has free coverage on TVNZ, and the Pacific islands rely on national broadcasters and a regional feed. The final lands at 5am on Australia's east coast and 7am in New Zealand.
| Country | Television | Streaming / OTT | Free or paid | Local kick-off window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | SBS | SBS On Demand | Free to air, all 104 | 02:00 to 14:00 AEST |
| New Zealand | TVNZ | TVNZ+ | Free to air | 04:00 to 16:00 NZST |
| Fiji | FBC | FBC online | Free to air | 04:00 to 16:00 UTC+12 |
| Vanuatu | VBTC | n/a | Free to air | 03:00 to 15:00 UTC+11 |
| Papua New Guinea | Regional feed (not yet confirmed) | No confirmed data | No confirmed data | 02:00 to 14:00 UTC+10 |
| Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau | Pacific regional feed (not yet confirmed) | No confirmed data | No confirmed data | Pre-dawn to afternoon |
The quick answer: where it is free and where it costs
If your main concern is cost rather than channel, a few patterns hold across the world. The most generous markets put every single match on free-to-air television.
- All 104 matches free: the United Kingdom, Australia and Albania show every game on free-to-air television, while Brazil streams all of them free via CazéTV on YouTube.
- Mostly free with a pay-TV partner for the full slate: Germany, Spain, Italy, France, most of South America.
- Pay-TV led, limited or no free option: the Gulf and wider Arab region on beIN Sports, much of Sub-Saharan Africa, India.
- Free clips and selected full matches: YouTube and TikTok carry short clips worldwide and full matches in some markets.
FAQs
1. Is it legal to use a VPN to watch the World Cup from another country?
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Using a VPN is legal in most countries, but it usually breaks the streaming service's terms of use, so accounts can be blocked.
2. Where can I watch free clips and highlights if I miss a match?
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YouTube and TikTok are preferred partners for the tournament and carry short clips worldwide, plus full matches in selected markets.
3. Can I watch the World Cup on a flight or a cruise ship?
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Yes, Sport24 holds the in-flight and cruise-ship rights, so many airlines and cruise lines will carry live matches.
4. Will any matches be shown in 4K or 8K?
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Several broadcasters carry 4K feeds and China Media Group is showing matches in both 4K and 8K.
5. Why do so many matches start after midnight in Asia and Oceania?
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Because every stadium sits in a North American time zone, kick-offs fall in the early hours across South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific.
Wherever you watch from, set an alarm for the late ones and check your local listings in the final days, because a handful of smaller markets were still confirming deals at kick-off. If the sofa starts to feel too far from the action, the final at MetLife Stadium on 19 July is the hardest ticket to come by, and you can see what is available on the MetLife Stadium tickets.
1BoxOffice is a verified secondary ticket marketplace that has resold tickets for the world's biggest matches since 2006 and backs every order with a 150% money-back guarantee, so you can plan a trip to the World Cup with confidence even when face-value tickets have sold out.
Sources: the 2026 World Cup media-rights licensee list, ESPN, BBC Sport, Sky Sports, Reuters, SportsPro and the national broadcasters named above.
