World Cup 2026 kicks off June 11 with 104 games across 48 teams in North America

The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway on June 11 when co-hosts Mexico face South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, opening a tournament that expands to 48 teams and 104 matches for the first time in the competition’s history.

With up to six games scheduled on a single day during the group stage, the expanded format promises an unprecedented volume of football across the three co-hosting nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The sheer scale of the tournament means fans in several countries will be able to follow every match at no cost.

In the United Kingdom, all 104 games are available free-to-air across BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, and ITV4, with BBC iPlayer and ITVX serving as the respective streaming platforms. A valid TV licence is required to access BBC coverage. Australia’s SBS On Demand and Ireland’s RTÉ Player will similarly carry the full tournament without a subscription fee. Belgium’s VRT MAX and RTBF Auvio, Brazil’s CazéTV, the Netherlands’ NOS Live, and Turkey’s TRT are among the other broadcasters offering free coverage, though markets such as Germany, Spain, Italy, and New Zealand will only receive a portion of matches on free-to-air platforms.

On the pitch, the storylines are plentiful. England manager Thomas Tuchel will attempt to end 60 years of international hurt for the Three Lions, while Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo — who will be 41 by the time the tournament begins — faces what is likely his final opportunity to lift the one major trophy that has eluded him. First-time qualifiers Cape Verde, Jordan, Uzbekistan, and Curaçao will also make their World Cup debuts, adding fresh narratives to an already crowded field.