BBC Sport has announced its intention to provide extensive coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, confirming plans to broadcast all 104 matches from the tournament. The event, set to be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, represents a significant expansion in the competition's format and scale.
Further details regarding the BBC's specific coverage plans, including presenter lineups, punditry teams, and broadcast schedules, are anticipated to be revealed next month. This commitment ensures that UK football fans will have access to every fixture as the world's premier international football competition unfolds across North America.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, an increase from the 32 teams that competed in Qatar in 2022. This expansion means a greater number of matches and a more complex logistical undertaking for broadcasters. The tournament will be spread across 16 host cities: 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
This announcement underlines the BBC's continued dedication to bringing major international sporting events to a wide audience. The corporation has a long history of covering the FIFA World Cup, often sharing rights with ITV in the UK, and its comprehensive approach for 2026 signals a robust offering for football enthusiasts.
The increased number of teams and matches is expected to generate even greater global interest, and the BBC's commitment ensures UK viewers will not miss any of the action from what promises to be a landmark tournament in the history of the sport.