Fox Sports will air a record 70 FIFA World Cup games on network television, including every game from the round of 16 through to the final, a strong commitment for the 2026 tournament, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
The 70 games to be aired on Fox doubles the 35 aired on network television during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Most notably, Fox will put more knockout games on network TV than it did in Qatar, when it aired six round-of-16 games on its main broadcast network. All but two knockout games will air on network television. (Two round-of-32 games will air on FS1.)
All 104 games of the biggest-ever World Cup — 48 teams will compete in this version, an increase from 32 in 2022 — will air on either Fox or FS1. All three U.S. men’s national team group stage games will air on Fox.
“FIFA is putting on the biggest World Cup in history, and Fox Sports is living up to that standard,” Fox CEO and Fox Sports executive producer Eric Shanks said. “Our broadcast schedule affirms Fox is truly going to be America’s home for the beautiful game over a span of 39 incredible days. We look forward to bringing the country together for its 250th birthday with all the world here for the greatest event on the planet.”
The summer will be dominated by soccer, with games spanning more than a month.
Among the group stage highlights on Fox will be a tripleheader on June 16 featuring three of the competition’s top stars, with Kylian Mbappé and France taking on African Cup of Nations champion Senegal; followed by Erling Haaland and Norway against the winner of a FIFA playoff; and concluding with Lionel Messi and defending World Cup champion Argentina taking on Algeria.
Erling Haaland’s Norway will be part of a blockbuster schedule on June 16. (Marco Iacobucci / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images)
There is one notable group stage game that will air on FS1: Brazil vs. Morocco on June 13.
With game times set for a global audience, coverage will typically begin in the late morning or early afternoon Eastern Time and run through the night. That includes FIFA World Cup Live shows on Fox and World Cup Today on Fox and FS1.
The World Cup final will air on Fox on Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m. ET. Live coverage will begin at 12 p.m. ET with a three-hour edition of FIFA World Cup Live followed by a one-hour postgame show.
For the first time ever, Fox will also air a simulcast on its streaming service, Tubi, for both the opening ceremonies and two matches: The tournament’s opening game of Mexico against South Africa on June 11 and the U.S.’s opening game against Paraguay on June 12.
The full broadcast schedule can be found here.