The 2026 World Cup begins on June 11, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches. The BBC will broadcast 54 live matches, including the final on July 19, and provide extensive coverage across various platforms.
Key points
2026 World Cup starts on June 11
48 teams and 104 matches in total
54 live matches on BBC, including the final
Coverage on BBC Sounds and BBC Sport website
Dedicated shows and content on BBC Football YouTube
The biggest World Cup in history starts on 11 June and there are more ways to follow it on the BBC than ever before.
With 48 teams in action, up from 32, there will be a record 104 games to be played across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
There will be 54 matches shown live on the BBC, including the final on 19 July, with 92 games on BBC Sounds and every single match covered on the BBC Sport website and app.
On top of that, there will be new innovations, regular shows - with England, Scotland and the other 46 nations all being covered - plus more on our dedicated BBC Football YouTube, external channel.
Here is the guide on how to follow the Fifa World Cup 2026 on the BBC.
How to watch the games live
BBC pundits and presenters
Image caption,
Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan and Alex Scott will be fronting BBC Sport's television coverage
There will be 54 live games shown on BBC One or Two, with all of them available on BBC iPlayer - in UHD - and the BBC Sport website and app.
They include Scotland's group games against Haiti and Brazil - and England's match with Ghana.
The Three Lions' games in the last 32, last 16 and semi-final - if they get that far - will all be on the BBC. The final, as usual, will be shown on both the BBC and ITV.
For peak-time matches there will be the option of watching games with BBC Radio 5 Live commentary on the Red Button, iPlayer and website.
And if you're watching online and only start watching in the middle of the game - don't worry, every match will feature chapters, marking the best moments to catch up on instantly.
Q&A
What date does the 2026 World Cup start?
The 2026 World Cup starts on June 11.
How many matches will the BBC show live during the World Cup?
The BBC will show 54 matches live during the World Cup.
When is the final match of the 2026 World Cup?
The final match of the 2026 World Cup is scheduled for July 19.
Where can I find coverage of the World Cup on the BBC?
Coverage of the World Cup can be found on the BBC Sport website, BBC Sounds, and their dedicated YouTube channel.
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There is an all-new way to watch matches via the BBC Sport website - with the Fifa World Cup 3D experience.
You are in total control of the angles and can relive goals as your favourite player - plus watch tactics unfold in real time - with side-by-side stats and player data.
How the BBC's new 3D experience will look
Image caption,
How the BBC's new 3D experience will look
How to follow on BBC radio
World Cup radio presenters
Image caption,
Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman join Steve Crossman to lead BBC Radio 5 Live's World Cup coverage
There will be live commentary on every World Cup game (except for the clashing final group games, when one of the two matches being played simultaneously will be broadcast live in full, with updates from the other) on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds.
And there will be podcasts galore.
The BBC will have a Football Daily podcast every day of the World Cup, released at 06:00 BST, while from then until 09:00, Rick Edwards will be live in Los Angeles for 5 Live Breakfast.
There will be two episodes of The Wayne Rooney Show every week - and a 606 every week too.
BBC Radio Scotland will will have a daily podcast every morning - plus YouTube live shows throughout the group stages - and extended programming on the radio on game days.
Special editions of The Saturday Show from Boston, Off the Ball and Breaking the News are on the agenda.
There are also offerings on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal and BBC ALBA's YouTube page.
To find a home nations commentary, you can say to your smart speaker 'ask BBC Sounds to play the England or Scotland match' or request it to play the radio station you want.
And BBC World Service will have a Global World Cup podcast three times a week. The Sport Today (Monday to Friday) and Sportsworld (Saturday and Sunday) shows will be broadcast to more than 66 million listeners worldwide on location from host cities.
How to follow online
On the BBC website, all 104 games will have live text commentaries - even those at 03:00 BST for all the night owls.
As well as that, you can watch and listen to any of the BBC live games on the page. There will be highlights of every match.
There will be a daily live page every day from 07:00 BST - with reaction, talking points, polls and all the colour from the World Cup.
Plus BBC Sport will have a World Cup predictor game, with the chance to enter a prize draw to win a signed football, a daily 'name the player' quiz and player raters on every game.
We will also have a 'Shorts' video tab in the BBC Sport app, which is a new way for fans to watch bite-sized highlights, sharp analysis, explainers and get exclusive behind-the-scenes access. Users can choose this to be the app's default landing page.
For selected games, the BBC will stream build-up and the first 10 minutes of the match on our YouTube and TikTok channels - as part of a new Fifa idea to give audiences more ways to enjoy the tournament.
We will have regular short videos from Alan Shearer in the USA with his thoughts and some behind-the-scenes footage.
There will also be the best clips on Instagram and TikTok - and more fan-led content than ever before.
Our YouTube channel will have several bespoke shows, including...
Game Changers (tactical)
The Group Chat (fans' debate)
SV2 v World (challenge/entertainment)
Watchalong
Fans2
So get ready to follow the World Cup across the BBC. Let's make it iconic.
