How and Where to Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the UK
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the biggest tournament in the history of the game — 48 teams, 104 matches, 16 host cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico, running from 11 June to 19 July. The group stage finished on 27 June and the Round of 32 is now underway (28 June – 4 July). For UK viewers, the key fact is simple: every single match is free to watch. No subscription, no pay-per-view, no paywall.
This guide covers the UK broadcast deal, what's on BBC and ITV, how to stream on iPlayer and ITVX, when England and Scotland kick off in BST, the complete group stage schedule and where to bet on the tournament.
Who will win the 2026 World Cup?
Official TV Broadcast
BBC Sport and ITV share the exclusive UK broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — both editions, 2026 and 2030. Every one of the 104 matches is split equally between the two broadcasters, with the final shown simultaneously on both.
|
Detail |
Information |
Source |
|---|---|---|
|
Rights holders |
BBC Sport and ITV (shared equally) |
FIFA official announcement, Dec 2024 |
|
Coverage |
All 104 matches — approx. 52 each |
BBC / ITV press release |
|
Cost |
Free-to-air — no subscription required |
|
|
TV channels |
BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three; ITV1, ITV4 |
BBC Sport, ITV Sport |
|
Streaming |
BBC iPlayer and ITVX — free with account |
bbc.co.uk/iplayer, itvx.com |
|
Scotland |
STV and STV Player — 29 group matches including the final |
STV Group, Dec 2024 |
|
The Final |
19 July — simulcast on both BBC and ITV, 8pm BST, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
BBC / ITV confirmation |
|
TV Licence |
Required for BBC live broadcasts and BBC iPlayer. ITV and ITVX do not require a TV licence. |
TV Licensing authority |
Information about which channel or service will show a specific match can be found on the relevant match page in the Legalbet Betting Centre. The link will appear under the “Broadcasts” tab.
Online Coverage and Streaming Services
Both broadcasters cover the tournament from the group stage through to the final. The split is roughly equal, with specific fixtures confirmed ahead of each round.
|
Broadcaster |
Cost |
Where to watch |
World Cup coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BBC |
Free* |
BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three + BBC iPlayer |
~52 matches. Scotland vs Haiti (14 Jun, 2am BST). England vs Ghana (23 Jun, 9pm BST). Three of the four Round-of-16 top picks. Full audio on BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra. |
|
ITV |
Free |
ITV1, ITV4 + ITVX |
~52 matches. Opening game: Mexico vs South Africa (11 Jun, 8pm BST). England vs Croatia (17 Jun, 9pm BST). England vs Panama (27 Jun, 10pm BST). Scotland vs Morocco (19 Jun, 11pm BST). |
|
STV |
Free |
STV + STV Player (Scotland) |
29 group-stage matches including Scotland's fixtures. The final on 19 July. Free via Freeview, Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media. |
|
BBC + ITV |
Free |
Simulcast — viewer's choice |
The final (19 July, 8pm BST) is shown simultaneously on both BBC and ITV. Semi-finals at 10pm BST on respective channels. |
*BBC requires a valid UK TV licence (currently £174.50/year) for live TV and BBC iPlayer. ITVX and STV Player do not require a TV licence.
BBC iPlayer: How to Watch
BBC iPlayer lets you stream any BBC World Cup match live or on demand for free. You need a free BBC account and a valid TV licence for live content. Download the app on:
- Smart TV — Samsung, LG, Sony, Hisense, Panasonic and others
- iPhone, iPad and Android via the BBC iPlayer app
- PC and Mac at bbc.co.uk/iplayer
- Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, PS4/5 and Xbox
ITVX: How to Watch
ITVX is available free at itvx.com and via app. No TV licence needed. Create a free ITVX account (email and password). Available on Smart TVs, iPhone, iPad, Android, PC, Mac, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Sky Q, Virgin Media and Freeview Play.
ITVX Premium (£3.99/month) removes adverts — it is not required to watch World Cup live matches.
Streaming Options: iPlayer, ITVX and More
|
Platform |
Cost |
Devices |
Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BBC iPlayer |
Free |
TV, phone, tablet, PC |
Free BBC account + valid TV licence for live content. All BBC World Cup matches live and on-demand. |
|
ITVX |
Free |
TV, phone, tablet, PC |
Free ITVX account — no TV licence required. All ITV World Cup matches live and on-demand. |
|
STV Player |
Free |
TV, phone, tablet, PC |
Scotland only. Free STV account. 29 group-stage matches + final. No TV licence required for streaming. |
|
FIFA+ |
Free |
Web, iOS, Android |
Extended highlights and behind-the-scenes content globally. Not a full live broadcast service. |
Watching from abroad? BBC iPlayer and ITVX are geo-restricted to UK IP addresses. If you're travelling during the tournament, confirm the local rights-holder in your destination country. Using a VPN with iPlayer still technically requires a valid UK TV licence under BBC T&Cs.
Watching World Cup 2026 and Betting — What Bookmakers Offer
UK bookmakers offer extensive In-Play and pre-match markets for every World Cup fixture. However, because the broadcast rights belong to BBC and ITV, no UK bookmaker will carry live video of 2026 World Cup matches.
Other football at bookmakers. For Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, Bundesliga and other competitions, live video streaming remains available at bet365 and others — subject to the standard conditions (funded account or recent bet placed). The World Cup restriction is specific to the 2026 tournament only.
|
Bookmaker |
WC 2026 video |
Other football |
What it offers for WC 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
❌ Match tracker |
✅ Live video |
Live match tracker + statistics. Live video for Premier League, Champions League and more (funded account required). 150+ markets per World Cup game. Early Payout (2 Goals Ahead). Bet Builder. | |
|
❌ Match tracker |
✅ Live video |
Live match tracker. Live video for selected football. Double Delight / Hat-Trick Heaven boosts on goalscorer markets. Acca free bet on 5+ leg World Cup accumulators. | |
|
❌ Match tracker |
⚠️ Selected |
Live match tracker + stats. Early Payout (2 Goals Ahead). Daily Enhanced Odds (Epic Boost). Clean app — ideal for tracking multiple World Cup games simultaneously. | |
|
❌ Match tracker |
⚠️ Selected |
Live match tracker. Exchange alongside sportsbook — exchange prices can beat fixed odds as tournament odds shift. Best platform for trading outright World Cup positions. | |
|
❌ Match tracker |
⚠️ Selected |
Live match tracker + stats. Acca insurance on 4+ leg World Cup accumulators. Low minimum deposit (£5). #GetAPrice — request custom markets via X (Twitter). |
Match tracker = animated live graphics with real-time stats (no video). All bookmakers listed are UKGC-licensed. 18+. BeGambleAware.org
Compare odds across all UKGC-licensed bookmakers at Legalbet odds comparison. Odds update every 15 minutes across all World Cup markets.
TikTok and YouTube: Official FIFA Digital Platforms
TikTok — FIFA's first-ever "Preferred Platform" (announced January 2026). The agreement makes TikTok the official short-form destination for 2026 World Cup content. Authorised regional broadcasters can live-stream selected portions of matches within TikTok's dedicated World Cup hub — this is not a full-match broadcast, which remains exclusively on BBC and ITV. 30 FIFA Creator Correspondents stationed across host cities will publish behind-the-scenes access: training sessions, press conferences, team arrivals.
YouTube — platform-level agreement (announced March 2026). A similar deal covering extended digital content and broadcast highlight windows. Full details on creator programmes were not confirmed at publication.
Follow @FIFAWorldCup on YouTube for official tournament clips. Note: geo-restrictions may apply to broadcaster-sourced content depending on your location.
Where to Watch the 2026 World Cup in the UK: Summary
|
Source |
Matches |
Cost |
Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BBC One / BBC Two / BBC Three |
~52 |
Free* |
*TV licence required. Available via Freeview, Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media and cable. |
|
BBC iPlayer |
~52 |
Free* |
Free BBC account + TV licence for live content. All platforms. |
|
ITV1 / ITV4 |
~52 |
Free |
No TV licence required. Available via Freeview, Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media and cable. |
|
ITVX |
~52 |
Free |
Free ITVX account — no TV licence required. All platforms. |
|
STV / STV Player (Scotland) |
29 + Final |
Free |
Scottish viewers. Free STV account for streaming. No TV licence for STV Player. |
|
FIFA+ |
Clips only |
Free |
Highlights and behind-the-scenes content — no full live matches. |
|
UK bookmakers (bet365 etc.) |
All 104 |
Free |
Match tracker only (no video). Funded account or recent bet required for match tracker access. |
Full 2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from 11 June to 19 July. The tournament will last 39 days.
Matches are spread across three time zones in North America, giving UK viewers kick-offs between 5pm and 1am BST in the group stage. The good news for England fans: all three group games fall between 9pm and 10pm BST.
|
BST kick-off |
Time in UK |
Viewing |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
17:00–18:00 |
Late afternoon |
✅ Easy |
Spain's two group games — comfortable for most viewers |
|
20:00–21:00 |
Prime-time evening |
✅ Ideal |
Best slot. England vs Croatia (9pm), England vs Ghana (9pm), Scotland vs Morocco (11pm) |
|
22:00–23:00 |
Late evening |
✅ Accessible |
England vs Panama (10pm). Norway vs France (8pm — prime-time) |
|
00:00–01:00 |
Midnight–1am |
⚠️ Late |
Possible Round-of-32 ties; some group matches |
|
02:00–03:00 |
Early hours |
⚠️ Tough |
Scotland vs Haiti (2am, 14 Jun); Round-of-32 scenarios |
|
03:00–05:00 |
Pre-dawn |
❌ Live only |
Pacific/mountain zone matches; set alarms or watch on iPlayer catch-up |
The knockout rounds get harder. England's group games are all evening kick-offs, but if they reach the Round of 32, at least one match will kick off at midnight or later. Quarter-finals could involve 2am BST starts. The semi-finals are at 10pm BST, and the final on 19 July is at 8pm BST — the best slot of the entire tournament.
Full 2026 World Cup Group Stage Schedule (BST)
All times are BST (British Summer Time). England and Scotland fixtures are shown in bold. Times highlighted in red/yellow are between midnight and 5am BST.
|
Stage |
Dates |
Matches |
BST window |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Group stage |
11 June – 27 June |
72 |
5pm – 1am BST |
|
Round of 32 |
28 June – 3 July |
16 |
6pm – 4am BST |
|
Round of 16 |
4–7 July |
8 |
6pm – 1am BST |
|
Quarter-finals |
9–12 July |
4 |
8pm – 2am BST |
|
Semi-finals |
14–15 July |
2 |
10pm BST |
|
Third-place play-off |
18 July |
1 |
10pm BST |
|
FINAL |
Sunday 19 July — MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
1 |
8pm BST — BBC + ITV simulcast |
Matchday 1 — Group Stage
England and Scotland fixtures in bold. Times in red/yellow background = midnight to 5am BST.
|
Date |
Match |
Kick-off (BST) |
|---|---|---|
|
11 Jun, Thu |
Mexico vs South Africa |
20:00 |
|
12 Jun, Fri |
South Korea vs Czech Republic |
03:00 |
|
12 Jun, Fri |
Canada vs Bosnia-Herzegovina |
20:00 |
|
13 Jun, Sat |
USA vs Paraguay |
02:00 |
|
13 Jun, Sat |
Qatar vs Switzerland |
20:00 |
|
13 Jun, Sat |
Brazil vs Morocco |
23:00 |
|
14 Jun, Sun |
Haiti vs Scotland |
02:00 |
|
14 Jun, Sun |
Australia vs Turkey |
05:00 |
|
14 Jun, Sun |
Germany vs Curacao |
18:00 |
|
14 Jun, Sun |
Netherlands vs Japan |
21:00 |
|
15 Jun, Mon |
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador |
00:00 |
|
15 Jun, Mon |
Sweden vs Tunisia |
03:00 |
|
15 Jun, Mon |
Spain vs Cape Verde |
17:00 |
|
15 Jun, Mon |
Belgium vs Egypt |
20:00 |
|
16 Jun, Tue |
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay |
23:00 |
|
16 Jun, Tue |
Iran vs New Zealand |
02:00 |
|
16 Jun, Tue |
France vs Senegal |
20:00 |
|
17 Jun, Wed |
Iraq vs Norway |
23:00 |
|
17 Jun, Wed |
Argentina vs Algeria |
02:00 |
|
17 Jun, Wed |
Austria vs Jordan |
05:00 |
|
17 Jun, Wed |
Portugal vs DR Congo |
18:00 |
|
17 Jun, Wed |
England vs Croatia |
21:00 |
|
18 Jun, Thu |
Ghana vs Panama |
00:00 |
|
18 Jun, Thu |
Uzbekistan vs Colombia |
03:00 |
Matchday 2 — Group Stage
|
Date |
Match |
Kick-off (BST) |
|---|---|---|
|
18 Jun, Thu |
Czech Republic vs South Africa |
17:00 |
|
18 Jun, Thu |
Switzerland vs Bosnia-Herzegovina |
20:00 |
|
19 Jun, Fri |
Canada vs Qatar |
23:00 |
|
19 Jun, Fri |
Mexico vs South Korea |
02:00 |
|
19 Jun, Fri |
USA vs Australia |
20:00 |
|
19 Jun, Fri |
Scotland vs Morocco |
23:00 |
|
20 Jun, Sat |
Brazil vs Haiti |
02:00 |
|
20 Jun, Sat |
Turkey vs Paraguay |
05:00 |
|
20 Jun, Sat |
Netherlands vs Sweden |
18:00 |
|
20 Jun, Sat |
Germany vs Ivory Coast |
21:00 |
|
21 Jun, Sun |
Ecuador vs Curacao |
01:00 |
|
21 Jun, Sun |
Tunisia vs Japan |
05:00 |
|
21 Jun, Sun |
Spain vs Saudi Arabia |
17:00 |
|
21 Jun, Sun |
Belgium vs Iran |
20:00 |
|
22 Jun, Mon |
Uruguay vs Cape Verde |
23:00 |
|
22 Jun, Mon |
New Zealand vs Egypt |
02:00 |
|
22 Jun, Mon |
Argentina vs Austria |
18:00 |
|
23 Jun, Tue |
France vs Iraq |
22:00 |
|
23 Jun, Tue |
Norway vs Senegal |
01:00 |
|
23 Jun, Tue |
Jordan vs Algeria |
04:00 |
|
23 Jun, Tue |
Portugal vs Uzbekistan |
18:00 |
|
23 Jun, Tue |
England vs Ghana |
21:00 |
|
24 Jun, Wed |
Panama vs Croatia |
00:00 |
|
24 Jun, Wed |
Colombia vs DR Congo |
03:00 |
Matchday 3 — Group Stage (Simultaneous)
All final group-stage matches within each group kick off simultaneously. * = simultaneous pairs — both shown across BBC and ITV channels.
|
Date |
Match |
Kick-off (BST) |
|---|---|---|
|
24 Jun, Wed |
Bosnia-Herz. vs Qatar |
20:00 * |
|
24 Jun, Wed |
Switzerland vs Canada |
20:00 * |
|
24 Jun, Thu |
Scotland vs Brazil |
23:00 * |
|
25 Jun, Thu |
Morocco vs Haiti |
23:00 * |
|
25 Jun, Thu |
Czech Republic vs Mexico |
02:00 * |
|
25 Jun, Thu |
South Africa vs South Korea |
02:00 * |
|
25 Jun, Thu |
Curacao vs Ivory Coast |
21:00 * |
|
25 Jun, Thu |
Ecuador vs Germany |
21:00 * |
|
26 Jun, Fri |
Tunisia vs Netherlands |
00:00 * |
|
26 Jun, Fri |
Japan vs Sweden |
00:00 * |
|
26 Jun, Fri |
Paraguay vs Australia |
03:00 * |
|
26 Jun, Fri |
Turkey vs USA |
03:00 * |
|
26 Jun, Fri |
Senegal vs Iraq |
20:00 * |
|
26 Jun, Fri |
Norway vs France |
20:00 * |
|
27 Jun, Sat |
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia |
01:00 * |
|
27 Jun, Sat |
Uruguay vs Spain |
01:00 * |
|
27 Jun, Sat |
Egypt vs Iran |
04:00 * |
|
27 Jun, Sat |
New Zealand vs Belgium |
04:00 * |
|
27 Jun, Sat |
Panama vs England |
22:00 * |
|
27 Jun, Sat |
Croatia vs Ghana |
22:00 * |
|
28 Jun, Sun |
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan |
00:30 * |
|
28 Jun, Sun |
Colombia vs Portugal |
00:30 * |
|
28 Jun, Sun |
Jordan vs Argentina |
03:00 * |
|
28 Jun, Sun |
Algeria vs Austria |
03:00 * |
Where to Bet on the 2026 World Cup in the UK
All UKGC-licensed bookmakers accept bets on the 2026 World Cup. Outright markets (tournament winner, Golden Boot, group betting) have been open since before the draw. Below are the best-rated options on Legalbet.uk, selected for odds quality, market depth and World Cup-specific promotions.
For dedicated World Cup promotions, check the World Cup free bets page. The offers below are general welcome bonuses usable across all sport including the tournament.
|
Bookmaker |
World Cup strength |
Welcome offer |
Key feature |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Widest range — 150+ markets per match |
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets |
Early Payout (2 Goals Ahead), Edit Bet, Bet Builder, live match tracker for all 104 WC games. Best-rated app (4.7 iOS). | |
|
Best for goalscorer markets |
Bet £10 get £50 in Free Bets |
Double Delight / Hat-Trick Heaven — boosts goalscorer payouts when player scores multiple times. Acca free bet on 5+ legs. | |
|
Strong knockout specials |
Bet £10, get £30 in Free Bets (use code R30) |
Epic Boost daily enhancements. Early Payout (2 Goals Ahead). Impact Sub — bet builder stays live after substitutions. #YourOdds custom market requests. | |
|
Best value — exchange prices |
Bet £10 get £50 in Free Bet Builders |
Exchange alongside sportsbook. Trade outright positions as tournament develops — exchange often beats fixed-odds prices on major markets. | |
|
Accas and low-stakes entry |
Bet £5 get £30 in Free Bets |
Acca insurance on 4+ legs. £5 minimum deposit — lowest entry point on this list. #GetAPrice — request custom World Cup markets via X (Twitter). |
#ad. 18+ only. New customers. UKGC-licensed bookmakers. Gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org | GamStop.co.uk
How to Keep Track of 2026 World Cup Broadcasts
Legalbet has prepared everything you need to follow the tournament and bet on it:
- In the Game Centre, you’ll find the full 2026 World Cup match schedule, results, team line-ups and bookmaker odds.
- Set up BBC iPlayer and ITVX before the tournament starts — create your free accounts now and confirm your TV licence on iPlayer.
- Download both apps on your phone, tablet and Smart TV so you can watch on any screen.
- Save the schedule: England's three group games — 17 June (ITV1, 9pm), 23 June (BBC One, 9pm), 27 June (ITV1, 10pm).
- Scotland's awkward kick-off: Scotland vs Haiti on 14 June at 2am BST — set an alarm or watch the replay on BBC iPlayer.
- For In-Play betting, watch the match on TV and bet via your bookmaker's mobile app to avoid the streaming delay.
- Check the Legalbet daily tips and previews for every match before placing bets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. All 104 matches are broadcast free-to-air on BBC and ITV. No subscription is required. A valid TV licence is needed for BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three and BBC iPlayer (live content).
England vs Croatia (17 Jun, 9pm BST) — ITV1. England vs Ghana (23 Jun, 9pm BST) — BBC One. England vs Panama (27 Jun, 10pm BST) — ITV1. Knockout fixtures will be confirmed as the tournament progresses.
Scotland vs Haiti (14 Jun, 2am BST) — BBC One. Scotland vs Morocco (19 Jun, 11pm BST) — ITV1 / STV. Scotland vs Brazil (24 Jun, 11pm BST) — BBC One. Scottish viewers can also watch on STV and STV Player.
Yes, for live content and programmes broadcast in the last 30 days. You need a free BBC account and must confirm your TV licence. ITVX and STV Player have no licence requirement.
Yes. BBC iPlayer and ITVX are both free on iPhone and Android. No additional cost. ITVX does not require a TV licence; BBC iPlayer requires you to confirm you hold one.
No. BBC and ITV hold the exclusive UK broadcast rights — no bookmaker will stream World Cup matches as video. You'll find a live match tracker (animated graphics with real-time stats) for every game. For video, use BBC iPlayer or ITVX alongside your betting app.
England's three group games kick off between 9pm and 10pm BST — the most accessible window. The semi-finals are at 10pm BST and the final on 19 July is at 8pm BST. The toughest slot is Scotland vs Haiti at 2am BST on 14 June.
Standard match bets (1X2, Both Teams to Score, Over/Under goals) settle on 90 minutes plus injury time — extra time and penalties do not count unless you specifically bet on a market that includes them. Check your bookmaker's rules before placing bets on knockout fixtures.
The Legalbet odds comparison tool tracks prices from all major UKGC-licensed bookmakers in real time — outright winner, group betting, Golden Boot and individual match markets.
Yes. Online sports betting is legal for adults aged 18 and over using operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). All bookmakers recommended on Legalbet.uk hold a valid UKGC licence. Please gamble responsibly — visit BeGambleAware.org or call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
