BBC to broadcast Scotland’s first World Cup match since 1998.
UK football fans will enjoy extensive free-to-air coverage of the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, with the BBC and ITV sharing broadcasting duties across the tournament.
The BBC will show England’s second group match against Ghana on 23 June, along with any knockout fixtures the team reaches in the last 32, last 16 and semi-final stages. Both broadcasters will screen the final, ensuring nationwide access to the tournament’s showpiece event.
England’s remaining Group L matches, against Croatia and Panama, will be broadcast on ITV, which will also show Scotland’s group-stage fixture against Morocco.
Should Wales or Northern Ireland progress through March’s play-offs, their group match against Canada on 12 June will be shown live on the BBC. Two Republic of Ireland group matches will also be broadcast if they qualify.
The BBC will hold three of the top four picks in the round of 16 and three of the top five picks in the round of 32, underlining its prominent role in the knockout stages. Defending champions Argentina will have their group games against Austria and Jordan shown live on the BBC, which will also broadcast two group matches each involving France, Brazil, the Netherlands and Portugal.
BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski said the broadcaster was looking forward to delivering the tournament to viewers, highlighting coverage of home nations, major knockout games and fixtures featuring some of the world’s biggest stars.
ITV director of sport Niall Sloane added that ITV was proud to keep the World Cup free-to-air, allowing audiences across the UK to enjoy the competition throughout the summer.
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico—the first time the tournament has been staged across three countries. The opening match will take place in Mexico City on 11 June 2026, with the final scheduled for 19 July in New Jersey.
