How to Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 Live from Anywhere Without a Cable
The gap between countries is a myth. The FIFA World Cup serves as the best reminder that we are all part of the same world. Fans from all over the world congregate in stadiums, living rooms, and bars every four years to support their favorite teams in football (soccer), the most popular sport in the world. When the FIFA World Cup 2026 begins in June, the beautiful game will once again reach its competitive peak. However, you can prepare for the competition now by subscribing to a video streaming service. Here are the necessities for watching the major matches and how to watch the World Cup online.In 2026, the tournament isn't hosted by a single country; instead, it's spread across North America. The World Cup will take place in 16 cities across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and Vancouver. The fact that numerous games are being held in the United States has been a source of potential concern for some athletes and fans, given the current political tensions surrounding immigration and soccer's international fan base. High ticket prices are also a growing concern, making streaming the tournament a cost-effective option.
Are you prepared to fly a flag and put on your team's uniform? Group stage matches for the World Cup 2026 begin at 3 p.m. EST on Thursday, June 11. The competition then proceeds to quarterfinals, semifinals, and knockout stages. On Saturday, July 18, there will be a third-place match, and on Sunday, July 19, there will be a final match. Visit FIFA's website for more specific scheduling details. I hope your favorite team doesn't be eliminated too soon.
Several qualifying World Cup teams were selected during the World Cup Draw and sorted into 12 groups. Each group consists of four countries, though there are a handful of squads that have yet to have their qualifying matches for the round-robin tournament. Right now, the World Cup group stage is as follows:
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, UEFA Path D Winner
Group B: Canada, UEFA Path A Winner, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, UEFA Path C Winner
Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, UEFA Path B Winner, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, IC Path 2 Winner, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, IC Path 1 Winner, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
The World Cup will be shown live in the US by Fox Sports (Fox and FS1). You can therefore watch the games live if you use YouTube TV or any other live TV streaming service that has access to those channels. You can choose between DirecTV, Hulu, Fubo, Peacock, and Sling TV in addition to YouTube TV. Keep in mind that live TV streaming is expensive; monthly subscriptions can cost up to $100.
Keep a look out for YouTube TV's 2026 launch of a more affordable sports bundle as a way to watch the World Cup.
Yes, but in a very limited capacity. FIFA's free website, FIFA+, will stream select World Cup matches at no cost. That said, you can't rely on it to view the entire tournament. You need one of the aforementioned video streaming platforms for that.
As a global event, people from hundreds of nations will have their eyes fixed on the World Cup, and those viewers deserve convenient online streaming options as well. Telemundo will broadcast the games in Spanish, so be sure to check that channel as an option. British viewers can use the BBC iPlayer and the ITV Hub.
Of course, using a VPN is the easiest way to get around any potential regional restrictions on the internet. In addition to keeping you safe and secure online, this enables you to pretend to be somewhere else while interacting with a server located abroad. Unfortunately, when you move to servers located abroad, none of the video streaming sites listed below work with VPNs. Therefore, if you wish to stream every goal, maintain your VPN directed at US servers.
For 2026, each host city will produce its own remix of the official FIFA World Cup 26 Theme. The musicians chosen reflect the unique vibe of each city. For example, the Philadelphia remix was created by DJ Jazzy Jeff, while Tech N9ne tackled the Kansas City song. You can find the tunes on Spotify or other streaming music services.
