Every four years, the FIFA World Cup™ brings out a worldwide audience. In 2026, the hype will hit home even harder, with matches hosted across North America, including in 11 U.S. cities—plus Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico. That means fans will be tuning in from every corner of the continent.
For many of those viewers, Spanish-language coverage isn’t an alternative. It’s their first choice.
Showing matches in Spanish helps your business speak to that demand and connect with a bigger and more engaged crowd for one of the world’s biggest sporting events—a goal every sports bar or restaurant can get behind.
Why Spanish-Language Coverage Matters
Millions of soccer fans in the U.S. experience their favorite sport through Spanish-language broadcasts. Even if they speak English, many viewers prefer the fever-pitch energy and pacing that Spanish-speaking game-callers and commentators are known for all over the world. For those who primarily or only speak Spanish, it also feels more familiar, authentic and altogether more engaging.
For your business, that means more than just offering another feed. It means you’re creating a space where more customers feel like the match is for them, not just on the screen, but in the room.
A Growing and Engaged Audience
Numbers from the past two World Cups have made it clear: interest in global soccer continues to climb across the U.S., with more than 50 million Americans tuning in to international matches in 2024 alone, a 60% increase over 2018.
Spanish-language coverage serves a major part of that audience. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final™, Spanish-language broadcasts shown on Telemundo platforms drew 9 million viewers, which netted nearly 35% of total U.S. viewership.
In fact, Spanish-language viewership often goes toe-to-toe with English, and often even comes out ahead:
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A 2022 World Cup™ group-stage match (Mexico vs. Argentina) drew 8.9 million viewers on Telemundo, compared to 3.9 million on FOX for the English-language broadcast.
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Spanish-language networks continue to dominate year-round soccer viewership, with properties like Liga MX consistently ranking among the most-watched leagues in the U.S.
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Research shows that more than half of bilingual viewers prefer Spanish-language coverage, thanks to the energy and iconic style of the commentary that just isn’t the same in English.
Many of the most-followed leagues in the world, from La Liga to Liga MX, have long-standing ties to Spanish-language broadcasts, which shape how fans in the U.S. follow the sport throughout the year and how excitement is built leading into a World Cup™.
For businesses, that means Spanish-language coverage isn’t just a bonus. It’s a pro-level game plan for reaching a wider audience and making your screens more attractive to fans over the entire tournament run.
How To Show the FIFA World Cup™ in Spanish
Spanish-language coverage of the tournament will be available across multiple networks, giving businesses flexibility in how they show matches throughout the day. For many fans, these are the broadcasts they’re actively seeking out. Not solely as an option, but as the exact live watch experiences they’re looking for.
Key Spanish-language channels showing the tournament include:
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Telemundo (406 East, 407 West) for primary match coverage
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Universo (410) for additional matches and programming
With DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS, these channels are available within select packages, allowing you to show matches in Spanish alongside other programming without needing separate setups or inputs.
Matches take place across multiple weeks. You can keep track of start times and all daily coverage with the DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS online schedule.
Set Your Business Up to Score with DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS
The FIFA World Cup 26™ builds momentum from match to match, and your screens can keep up with it all.
DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS brings live sports, news and entertainment together in one place, making it easier to manage multiple screens and keep up with a fast-moving tournament schedule.
With 99% worry-free signal reliability and standard professional installation included at no additional cost, your business is set up to show every match without interruption. Meanwhile, the DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS Sports Bar Finder helps soccer fans (and potential new customers) discover your location.
And the World Cup™ is just the beginning. With access to must-see sports, live events and year-round soccer programming in Spanish, DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS helps you turn big moments into repeat business for a wider range of fans.
Ready to kick things off? Explore DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS packages today.
