FIFA has confirmed broadcast deals in more than 175 territories for 2026, with the last holdouts signing in the final weeks before kickoff. This page tracks the major markets. Free means no subscription is required for at least part of the coverage.
| Country / region | Broadcaster | Free? |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | BBC, ITV (iPlayer, ITVX) | Yes, all 104 |
| USA (English) | Fox, FS1, Tubi | Partly (Tubi selected matches) |
| USA (Spanish) | Telemundo, Universo | Yes, 92 matches over the air |
| Canada | CTV, TSN, RDS (Bell Media) | Partly (CTV over the air) |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca | Yes |
| Australia | SBS, SBS On Demand | Yes, all 104 |
| New Zealand | TVNZ, TVNZ+ | Partly (22 matches) |
| Brazil | Globo, CazeTV on YouTube | Yes, all 104 on CazeTV |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF, MagentaTV | Partly (selected matches) |
| France | M6, beIN Sports | Partly (54 matches on M6) |
| Ireland | RTE, RTE Player | Yes |
| Netherlands | NOS | Yes |
| Japan | Confirmed free coverage | Yes |
| MENA (24 countries) | beIN Sports, beIN Connect | No |
| India | Zee (Unite8 Sports, Zee5) | No |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Tapmad | Partly |
| Bangladesh | BTV, T Sports, Toffee | Partly |
| China | CMG (CCTV), Migu | Yes |
The pattern is clear once you see it laid out. Public broadcasters in the UK, Australia, Brazil and China bought big this cycle, while the US, MENA and South Asia lean on paid services. Which side of the table you live on decides whether the World Cup costs you nothing or quite a lot.
If your country sits in the paid column, the free streams guide explains what fans in those markets typically do about it.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries show World Cup 2026 completely free?
The UK, Australia, Brazil, Ireland, the Netherlands, Mexico and China all have full free coverage through national broadcasters or licensed streams.
Who shows the World Cup in the Middle East?
beIN Sports holds exclusive rights across 24 MENA countries. There is no full free option in the region.
Will more free broadcasters be added?
Possibly. Sublicensing deals for selected matches sometimes land mid tournament. We update this page when they do.