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The tournament is already underway
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off June 11 and runs through July 19, making this the biggest football event of the decade. All 104 matches are being broadcast across four channels in the US: FOX and FS1 for English-language coverage, and Telemundo and Universo for Spanish. The good news is you don't need a cable subscription to catch any of it.
The first match, Mexico vs South Africa, went live at 3 p.m. ET on June 11 from Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. South Korea vs Czechia followed that same evening on FS1. The schedule runs multiple matches per day through the group stage, which means you'll want a streaming setup locked in before the knockout rounds hit.
Free streaming options worth knowing
Here's the lowdown on what actually works without spending money.
FOX One is the most direct path to every English-language match. FOX's own streaming platform carries FOX, FS1, FS2, and local FOX stations. It offers a 7-day free trial, which gets you at least a week of group stage action at zero cost. After the trial, the base plan runs $19.99 per month.
YouTube TV carries FOX, FS1, Telemundo, and Universo all in one place. The free trial here is 21 days, the longest of any option on this list. That's a significant chunk of the group stage covered for free. The one catch: YouTube TV livestreams run a slight delay, which isn't ideal if you're tracking the score live on your phone at the same time.
DirecTV offers a 5-day free trial on any tier. The Entertainment tier gets you FOX, FS1, and Telemundo, plus free ESPN Unlimited bundled in. FuboTV also offers a 5-day trial and carries all four World Cup channels.
For Spanish-language broadcasts specifically, Peacock is streaming every match and can be accessed for free through a Walmart+ membership ($12.99/month, with eligible students and government assistance recipients getting 50% off). Instacart+ subscribers also get Peacock included. Spectrum TV Select customers get ad-supported Peacock at no extra charge.
Pro tip: if you have a TV antenna, local FOX stations broadcast over the air for free. No subscription, no trial, no expiry.
What the expanded 48-team format means for viewers
This is the first World Cup to run the full 48-team format, which is exactly why the match count jumped to 104. More teams means more games, more broadcast slots, and more scheduling across FOX and FS1 simultaneously. On busy days like June 14, there are four matches spread across both channels from noon to midnight ET.
The expanded field also means the group stage runs longer than previous tournaments, with matches continuing deep into late June before the round of 32 begins. That extended window actually works in your favor if you're trial-hopping.
The gaming angle: EA FC 26 is riding the same wave
If you're watching the World Cup and want to play it at the same time, EA FC 26 launched a free World's Game update on June 4 that added 53 national teams and a 48-team tournament mode mirroring the real thing. Check out our EA FC 26 World's Game update guide for the full breakdown of what's included.
The update also brought major FUT changes and a new meta that lines up with real-world World Cup squads. Our tournament mode and FUT meta guide covers patch 1.25 formations and the best setups for the current meta.
Season 8 of FC 26 dropped the same day with World Cup-themed cards and full playstyle customization. The FC 26 Season 8 pass rewards breakdown is worth a read if you're grinding FUT between match days.
With the final scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, there are six weeks of football ahead. The free trial math works out: start a YouTube TV trial now and you'll cover the entire group stage before spending a dollar.
