JAKARTA — The 2026 World Cup has entered its most tense phase. The knockout stage begins on June 28 after the group stage wraps up a day earlier, and a total of 104 matches are set to run through the final on July 19.
US captain Tim Ream captured the scale of the tournament perfectly. “Imagine, with this World Cup, there’s a Super Bowl every day for five weeks,” he told CBS News. “It’s no coincidence that 5 billion people are going to watch this.”
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Who Holds the Broadcast Rights?
In the United States, FOX and NBCUniversal share broadcast rights to all 104 matches — including 78 games in the U.S., plus 13 each in Canada and Mexico. FOX says more than 40 matches, or more than a third of the tournament, will air in primetime.
For Spanish-language coverage, all 104 matches are available on Telemundo and Universo, both under NBCUniversal.
For viewers outside the U.S., several public broadcasters are offering free coverage. In the UK, there are BBC iPlayer and ITVX. Germany has ARD and ZDF. Australia can watch via SBS. Spain through RTVE, Italy via RAI, and France through M6.
How to Watch: Free vs. Subscription
The good news — not every match requires payment. Viewers with an antenna or access to FOX on a smart TV can watch 70 of the 104 matches for free. The rest will air on Fox Sports 1, a paid cable channel.
The Spanish-language version is even more generous: 92 matches are available free on Telemundo, with the remaining games on Universo.
For cord-cutters, there are streaming options. The June 11 opener between Mexico and South Africa, as well as the United States’ first match against Paraguay on June 12, were available free on Tubi, Fox’s ad-supported streaming platform.
All matches can be accessed through the FOX One app or the FOX Sports app. Other platforms such as YouTube TV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV also carry the full tournament — with monthly subscription fees. NBCUniversal’s Peacock has exclusive streaming rights for Spanish-language coverage.
USMNT Results and Schedule
The US run at the 2026 World Cup has gone well. They were drawn into Group D with Paraguay, Australia, and Turkiye.
The group stage is now complete. The US opened with a 4-1 win over Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. They then clinched a spot in the round of 32 with a 2-0 victory over Australia on June 19 at Lumen Field in Seattle. But in their final group match, the US fell 3-2 to Turkiye at SoFi Stadium.
Three wins, two losses, one defeat. Enough to advance.
The US round-of-32 match will take place on July 1 in Santa Clara, California, against Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a much-anticipated game — and the pressure on the hosts is already building.
Big Picture of the Tournament
The 2026 World Cup format is different from previous editions. For the first time, 48 countries are taking part — divided into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group, plus the eight best third-place teams, advance to the knockout stage. That is why there is a round of 32, which did not exist in earlier editions.
Argentina arrived as the defending champion after beating France in the 2022 final in Qatar. Big names such as Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi have become global magnets for attention — though as the tournament progresses, the knockout rounds always deliver their own surprises.
The tournament is being held across 16 cities in three countries. It opened on June 11 in Mexico City with Mexico vs South Africa, and the final is scheduled for July 19. Five weeks. One winner.
For Viewers in Indonesia
For football fans in Indonesia, World Cup 2026 viewing options will depend on which platform holds the official broadcast rights in Southeast Asia.
Some of the international streaming services mentioned above — such as YouTube TV or Fubo — are generally only available to users with a billing address in the U.S.
Watch for official announcements from local broadcasters or streaming platforms operating in Indonesia to make sure you have legal access to the tournament.
One thing is certain: the 2026 World Cup is the biggest tournament in the history of the competition. And with an estimated 5 billion eyes watching, it will be hard not to get swept up in the excitement.
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