FIFA World Cup 2026 — the full viewing guide
The 23rd FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 32 teams. 104 matches. 39 days. The biggest soccer tournament in history.
Tournament timeline
- Opening match — June 11, 2026 at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
- Group stage — June 11 – June 27
- Round of 32 — June 28 – July 2
- Round of 16 — July 4 – July 7
- Quarter-finals — July 10 – July 12
- Semi-finals — July 14 – July 15
- Third-place match — July 18
- Final — July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Kick-off times in major time zones
Group stage matches kick off at three windows: 12:00, 15:00, 18:00 local US. Here's how that translates worldwide:
| Region | Match 1 | Match 2 | Match 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Eastern (ET) | 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| US Pacific (PT) | 9:00 AM | 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
| UK / Ireland | 5:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 11:00 PM |
| Central Europe | 6:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 12:00 AM |
| Middle East | 8:00 PM | 11:00 PM | 2:00 AM |
| India | 9:30 PM | 12:30 AM | 3:30 AM |
European evening kick-offs are perfect for outdoor cinema setups — see our outdoor cinema setup guide.
Where to watch — official broadcasters per country
- USA: FOX Sports, Telemundo, Peacock
- UK: BBC, ITV, BBC iPlayer
- Germany: ARD, ZDF, MagentaTV
- Spain: RTVE, La1, Mitele
- France: TF1, beIN Sports, M6
- Italy: RAI, Mediaset
- Netherlands: NOS, NPO 1
- Mexico: Televisa, TUDN, Azteca
- Canada: TSN, CTV, RDS
- Latin America: DirecTV Sports, ESPN, beIN
- Brazil: Globo, SporTV
- Argentina: TyC Sports, TV Pública
- Worldwide streaming: DAZN, ESPN+, FIFA+, beIN Sports Connect
Best apps for live World Cup streaming
All these run natively on the MundoBeam 2 projector via Android 11.0:
- FOX Sports — USA broadcasts, all matches
- DAZN — worldwide rights, multiple markets
- ESPN+ — USA + Latin America
- BBC iPlayer — UK free-to-air
- Peacock — USA + select markets
Setup recommendations
The most-watched matches will be the host-country openers (USA, Canada, Mexico) and the knockout stages. For group-stage afternoon kick-offs in Europe, indoor viewing works best. For evening + late-night kick-offs, outdoor cinema is unbeatable — see our 5 outdoor setups guide.
If you're hosting watch parties, the MundoBeam World Cup Bundle at €165 ships projector + 100″ screen + speaker before kick-off. Free worldwide shipping, 100-day money-back.
Frequently asked questions
Can I watch all 104 matches on one streaming service?
No — rights are divided per region. Most fans use 2-3 apps: a local broadcaster (free-to-air for major matches) + DAZN or ESPN+ for paid-for additional matches.
Will the matches be in 4K?
Yes — host broadcasters (FOX, BBC, ARD, etc.) air World Cup matches in 4K HDR. The MundoBeam 2 supports 4K decoding and upscales beautifully.
What about VPN access to other countries' broadcasts?
BBC iPlayer is free worldwide via VPN. ARD/ZDF have ad-supported streams. Check the broadcast rights in your country before relying on VPN access.