How to Watch the World Cup 2026 in English: FOX & FS1 available with DIRECTV

Every four years, the World Cup reshapes the daily routine. Lunch breaks run longer, group chats stay active all day and the TV rarely turns off.

In 2026, expect that cultural takeover to reach new heights.

The World Cup 2026 will be the largest tournament ever, with an expanded 48 teams, 104 matches and games played across North America from morning through prime time. With DIRECTV, you can follow the World Cup 2026 schedule, switch between matches and catch every key moment from kickoff to the final.

Don’t have DIRECTV yet? Let’s change that!

World Cup 2026 at a Glance

When Is the World Cup 2026?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup dates are set from June 11 through July 19, 2026.

The tournament spans just over five weeks, with matches played almost every day during the group stage and fewer, higher-stakes games as the knockout rounds begin.

Where Is the World Cup 2026?

This year, there’s been considerable buzz about where the World Cup 2026 is, because for the first time ever, it will be played across three countries:

United States

• Los Angeles (LA Stadium), New York/New Jersey (NYNJ Stadium), Dallas (Dallas Stadium), San Francisco Bay Area (San Francisco Bay Area Stadium), Seattle (Seattle Stadium), Atlanta (Atlanta Stadium), Philadelphia (Philadelphia Stadium), Houston (Houston Stadium), Boston (Boston Stadium), Kansas City (Kansas City Stadium), Miami (Miami Stadium)

Canada

• Vancouver (Vancouver Stadium), Toronto (Toronto Stadium)

Mexico

• Mexico City (Estadio Azteca), Guadalajara (Estadio Guadalajara), Monterrey (Estadio Monterrey)

The 2026 World Cup final stadium is New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

World Cup 2026 Groups and Format

The World Cup groups 2026 are part of a new expanded format.

• 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four
• The top two teams from each group advance
• The eight best third-place teams also move on

That creates a 32-team knockout bracket, starting with the Round of 32.

From there, the World Cup bracket 2026 follows a familiar path:

• Round of 32
• Round of 16
• Quarterfinals
• Semifinals
• Final

This format keeps more teams in contention longer and raises the stakes of every match.

World Cup 2026 Schedule: What to Expect

The 2026 World Cup schedule is already set, with matches spread across multiple time zones.

During the group stage, most matchdays follow three main windows:

• Late morning: ~12 PM ET
• Afternoon: ~3 PM ET
• Evening: ~6–9 PM ET

Because games are played across North America, coverage often runs from midday into prime time.

As the tournament progresses:

• Group stage: multiple matches per day
• Knockout rounds: fewer games, higher stakes
• Final: July 19, 2026 (3 PM ET)

View the full schedule

Where to Watch the World Cup 2026 on DIRECTV

DIRECTV is your one-stop shop for the World Cup, bringing together every major broadcast of the tournament.

English-language coverage

• FOX (top matches and final)
• FS1 (additional matches across all rounds)

FOX will air 70 matches, including every knockout-round game and all U.S. Men’s National Team group stage matches, while FS1 will carry 34 additional games.

With DIRECTV, you can easily move between channels, follow specific teams or jump into the most competitive match of the moment—without changing platforms.

Channel availability may vary by package and location, so check your lineup before the tournament begins.

What Makes Watching the World Cup Better on DIRECTV

With matches happening throughout the day (and often overlapping) DIRECTV is designed to help you keep up without missing key moments

Find Matches Faster

• Sports Central provides quick access to live and upcoming matches
• My Teams Carousel and Team Selector let you follow your favorite teams and quickly jump into their games

Stay Organized Throughout the Tournament

• A dedicated World Cup Tournament Page acts as a central hub
• Browse the full schedule
• Set recordings
• Turn on notifications
• Switch between English and Spanish coverage
• Team and Matchup Pages make it easy to:
• Track live and upcoming matches
• Access recordings
• Set alerts for specific teams

Watch Multiple Matches and Dive Deeper

• Multiview lets you watch two matches at once during busy match windows
• Sports Mode provides real-time context, including:
• Scoring plays
• Team stats
• Individual player stats

How to Watch the World Cup Strategically

A tournament this large rewards a little planning.

Matches are happening all day

There is almost always another kickoff coming up. You can build your day around the schedule or keep matches on in the background.

Group stage delivers surprises

While everyone tunes in to marquee matchups, keep an eye on the group stage for breakout performances and unexpected results.

Group standings matter more than ever

With third-place teams advancing, goal differential and late goals can change who moves on.

Flexibility helps

With overlapping matches, using DIRECTV’s features makes it easier to follow multiple games without missing key moments.

What to Expect from Coverage

The scale of coverage in 2026 will be unprecedented:

• All 104 matches available across networks on DIRECTV
• 40 matches scheduled in U.S. prime time
• Every knockout-round match airing on FOX
• Daily studio shows with pre- and post-match analysis
• Expanded programming, with hundreds of hours of coverage

Key Moments to Watch

Ready for Kickoff

The World Cup 2026 may change how fans want to watch. There are more matches, more teams and more moments that can shift the tournament in unexpected ways. With DIRECTV, everything is in one place; from early group-stage games to the final in New Jersey. Tune in and don’t miss a moment!

Already a DIRECTV customer? Check out World Cup Games on TV Today!