The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026, and in the UK every single match is free-to-air. BBC and ITV share all 104 fixtures between them, so you can watch the lot on BBC One, ITV1 and ITV4 or stream them on BBC iPlayer and ITVX. There’s no subscription to buy and nothing to chase down — a valid TV licence is the only thing you need.
How to watch for free in the UK
The rights are split clean down the middle. The BBC and ITV have carved up the schedule, then come together to share the final on 19 July. That means a couple of remotes and a glance at the listings, but no paywall anywhere.
- BBC — matches on BBC One, with every BBC fixture also live on BBC iPlayer.
- ITV — matches on ITV1 and ITV4, all streaming on ITVX.
- Radio — BBC Radio 5 Live runs live commentary throughout, ideal for the games you can’t sit down for.
Pick the channel showing your match, or open iPlayer or ITVX if you’re away from the telly. Both apps stream every game they carry, free, across phones, tablets, laptops and smart TVs. Set up a free account once and you’re sorted for the whole month.
No subscription, no catch
This is the part worth repeating, because it’s the question we get most: you do not need Sky, TNT, NOW or any streaming subscription to follow this World Cup. It’s the same deal that’s covered England’s summers for decades — a free-to-air tournament, start to finish. If you’ve got a TV licence, you’ve already paid for everything you’ll watch.
The shape of the tournament
It’s the first 48-team World Cup, and it’s spread across three host nations. The United States stages most of it across 11 cities, with Mexico hosting in 3 cities and Canada in 2 — 16 host cities in all.
- 48 teams drawn into 12 groups of four, A through L.
- 104 matches total: 72 in the group stage, 32 in the knockouts.
- Group stage runs 11–27 June. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-placed sides, go through to a new Round of 32.
- Opener: 11 June at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
- Final: 19 July at MetLife Stadium, in New York/New Jersey.
The expanded format means more group games for the home nations to navigate and a longer road to the final, but the free-to-air promise holds for every last one of them. For the wider picture on how UK rights deals are carved up, our explainers section breaks down who buys what and why.
Get your bracket in early
With 104 matches and a brand-new Round of 32, there’s plenty to call wrong before a ball’s kicked. Have a go at the groups, pick your dark horse, and keep the fixture widget above bookmarked — it refreshes as kickoff times firm up. When the action starts, our football guides will keep you straight on who’s showing what.
Five weeks of free football, every match on the BBC or ITV. Settle in.