Complete guide to watching FIFA World Cup 2026 on BBC platforms

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams and 104 matches across three countries, with extensive BBC coverage starting June 11.

Record-breaking tournament details The largest FIFA World Cup ever kicks off on June 11, 2026, featuring 48 nations instead of the previous 32. Across the United States, Canada and Mexico, a total of 104 matches will be played. The BBC will broadcast 54 games live on television, including the championship final on July 19, while BBC Sounds will carry 92 matches. Every single game will be accessible on the BBC Sport website and mobile app. ## Live television coverage options Fifty-four matches will air live on BBC One or BBC Two, all available in ultra-high definition on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. These include Scotland’s group-stage fixtures against Haiti and Brazil, as well as England’s opener against Ghana. England’s potential last-32, last-16 and semi-final matches will also be televised by the BBC, with the final shared between television broadcasters. Peak-time games will offer BBC Radio 5 Live commentary through the Red Button, iPlayer and website. All matches will include chapter markers for instant catch-up of key moments. ## Innovative viewing experiences A new FIFA World Cup 3D experience will be available on the BBC Sport website, allowing viewers to control camera angles, replay goals from different perspectives, and watch tactical moves in real time with side-by-side statistics and player data. The platform will be fully interactive, letting fans customize their viewing experience. ## Radio coverage across platforms Every World Cup match will receive live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds, with the exception of simultaneous group-stage games where one match is broadcast in full and updates provided for the other. Daily Football Daily podcasts will launch at 06:00 BST throughout the tournament. From that time until 09:00, Rick Edwards will host 5 Live Breakfast live from Los Angeles. ## Home nations programming schedule Weekly episodes of The Wayne Rooney Show will air twice, alongside a weekly 606 programme. BBC Radio Scotland will offer daily morning podcasts, YouTube live shows during the group stages, and extended programming on match days. Special editions of The Saturday Show from Boston, Off the Ball and Breaking the News are included in the schedule. Additional content will be available on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and BBC ALBA’s YouTube page. ## Manager and podcast line-up Steve Bracknall, a Sunday League manager, will host six special World Cup editions of the Game’s Gone: The Steve Bracknall Podcast, featuring reactions to home nations games. Listeners can ask smart speakers to play England or Scotland matches or switch directly to the desired radio station. ## Global World Cup content on air The BBC World Service will release a Global World Cup podcast three times each week. Programmes such as Sport Today (Monday to Friday) and Sportsworld (Saturday and Sunday) will be broadcast to over 66 million listeners worldwide from host cities during the tournament. ## Live text and highlights online All 104 matches will have live text commentaries on the BBC website, even those starting at 03:00 BST. Each game page will feature live streaming and listening options alongside highlights. A daily live page will go live at 07:00 BST daily, featuring reaction pieces, discussion topics, polls, and comprehensive tournament coverage. ## Interactive digital features and quizzes The BBC Sport website will include a World Cup predictor game offering a chance to enter a prize draw to win a signed football. A daily ‘name the player’ quiz and player rating system for every match will be available. The BBC Sport app will have a Shorts video tab, providing quick highlights, sharp analysis, explainer videos, and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage. ## Social media and video platforms Highlights from all 104 matches will be available on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Football YouTube channel and TikTok, as well as the main BBC website. Selected games will stream pre-match build-up and the first ten minutes on YouTube and TikTok as part of a new FIFA initiative. Regular short videos featuring Alan Shearer’s insights and behind-the-scenes footage will be published. ## Engagement through fan content BBC platforms will feature the best clips on Instagram and TikTok, along with increased fan-generated content. The BBC Football YouTube channel will host several custom shows, including The Group Chat for fan debates and SV2 v World for challenge and entertainment content.