World Cup 2026: How to Watch 70+ Matches Completely Free

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11 and runs through July 19, with 104 matches spread across the US, Canada, and Mexico. You'd think that adds up to a lot of subscription fees. It mostly doesn't.

Start with what FOX is giving you for nothing

FOX is broadcasting 70 matches free on network television, while Telemundo is airing 92 matches free over-the-air in Spanish. A cheap digital antenna handles both. If you haven't cut the cord yet, this is a decent reminder to think about it.

Two games are also streaming free on Tubi: the opener between Mexico and South Africa on June 11, and the US's first match against Paraguay on June 12. Tubi is also carrying all three opening ceremonies in 4K for free with no account needed.

Where the free ride ends

The 34 matches on FS1 require either a cable subscription, a live TV streaming service, or a FOX One subscription at $19.99 a month. Those are spread across the group stage, so you won't miss anything in the knockout rounds. FOX One offers a 7-day free trial, which conveniently covers the first week of the tournament if you want to test the waters.

The YouTube angle worth knowing

Every match has its first 10 minutes streaming free on official broadcaster YouTube channels, with select games available in full, as part of a deal FIFA struck with YouTube in March. It's not a full solution, but it's a useful fallback when you just want to check in on a game without hunting for a stream.

Don't sleep on the radio

If you're driving or stuck at your desk when a match kicks off, live commentary is a real option. FOX Sports is providing English-language commentary for all 104 matches through the iHeartRadio app, which is completely free on Android. Not the same as watching, but better than checking your phone every five minutes for score updates.

Catching up on goals you missed

If you can't watch live, highlights are well covered for free. The Fox Sports app carries highlights, commentary, and full-match replays without needing a subscription to access them. It's the most obvious first stop if you just want to see what happened.

FIFA+ handles highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and press conferences throughout the tournament, also free. Worth having on your phone alongside the Fox Sports app since the two cover slightly different angles.

YouTube is the third option, and arguably the most frictionless. Official broadcaster channels are posting clips throughout the tournament as part of the FIFA deal, so searching for a match after the fact is a reliable way to find a highlights package quickly without going anywhere specific.

The apps you actually need

Download the Fox Sports app for live scores, highlights, and streaming when you're signed in. Grab Tubi for the free matches. iHeartRadio handles audio. The Fox Sports app also supports picture-in-picture on Android, which is worth knowing if you need to keep half an eye on a game while doing something else.

One thing worth knowing if you're not on Eastern time: a 3:00 PM ET kickoff is 2:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM MT, and noon PT. The schedule below has all four US time zones covered for every match, so you're never doing the math yourself.

Watching from the UK?

BBC and ITV share rights to all 104 matches, all of which are free-to-air, with streaming via BBC iPlayer and ITVX. UK readers have it easier than anyone.

The bottom line

Between an antenna, Tubi, the FOX broadcast schedule, and the YouTube deal, you can watch the majority of this tournament without spending anything. The FS1 matches are the gap, and a free trial fills that for the opening week. It's a better situation than it has any right to be.

When do they all kick off?

With 104 matches spread across six weeks and three countries, keeping track of kickoff times is half the battle. The full searchable schedule below covers all four US time zones, as well as BST for UK readers. Filter by stage, search by team or venue, and the countdown on each match updates automatically.