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World Cup 2026 LIVE: Free streams, TV guide & how to watch from anywhere in the world

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is here

The World Cup football 2026
(Image credit: © Oner SAN / AFP via Getty Images)

The World Cup has arrived, with the action now fully underway.

This year's tournament has been expanded to 48 teams, with the USA, Mexico and Canada jointly hosting the competition. That has brought in a host of World Cup debuts including Cape Verde, Haiti and Curaçao.

Of course, the usual powerhouses are also in the mix, with France, Spain, Argentina and England arriving among the tournament favourites.

You can stream every moment on Fox and FS1 in the US with BBC and ITV your go-to in the UK.

Stay up to date with all the latest World Cup news right here on TechRadar, where we'll also show you how to stream every match live — including free viewing options.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
World Cup: TV Info

Dates

11 June → 19 July

World Cup US Stream

Fox/FS1 - watch via YouTube TV/Fubo

World Cup Free Streams

BBC / ITV (UK), SBS On Demand (AUS)

Watch Anywhere

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Its Ultimate plan is especially great value, protecting up to 20 devices under one subscription.

Brazil through to Round of 16

Brazil's Neymar and Vinicius Junior at World Cup 2026

(Image credit: Catherine Ivill/AMA via Getty Images)

After an arduous match lasting more than 100 minutes due to stoppage time, Brazil has defeated Japan two-one and secured its place in the upcoming round of 16.

Japan, ranked 17 in FIFA's national team rankings, isn't exactly an underdog, but still put up a defiant performance against Brazil's offence, delaying the final goal until well into extra time.

At time of writing, Germany is drawing with Paraguay one-all.

What next for England?

FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 05, 2025 in Washington, DC.

(Image credit: Getty IMandel NGAN - Pool/Getty Images)

So, England is through to the first knockout round, and will face DR Congo on Wednesday in a bid to push even further in the competition. But that doesn't mean everyone is impressed with the Three Lions' performance.

And now, as Goal reports, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has spoken out to ask England manager Thomas Tuchel to bench Declan Rice in order to catch up to World Cup favorites like France and Argentina.

Scholes criticized Rice, who plays for Arsenal in the Premier League, on The Good, The Bad, and The Football podcast, saying the midfielder wasn't aggressive enough: "No disrespect to Congo but in those type of games you play as many attackers as possible. I think it has to be a straight shootout between Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson, and I think I would just go with Anderson"

Today's games: Brazil vs Japan, Germany vs Paraguay, and more

Danilo of Brazil celebrates scoring his team's sixth goal with Endrick during the international friendly match between Brazil and Panama at Maracana Stadium on May 31, 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Today takes us all across the continental US as six teams face off in three different corners of the continent.

In Massachusetts, on the east coast, Germany and Paraguay take to the field. Down south, in Houston, Brazil and Japan ready up for their head to head. And over on the west coast, the Netherlands and Morocco gear up for a match in Monterrey.

Here are today's full listings:

Swipe to scroll horizontally
World Cup games for Monday, 29 June

Game

Time (EDT / BST)

Brazil vs Japan

1pm / 6pm

Germany vs Paraguay

4:30pm / 9:30pm

Netherlands vs Morocco

9pm / 2am (Tues)

Canada pulls ahead

Mathieu Choiniere of Canada, Tani Oluwaseyi of Canada, Luc Rollet of Canada celebrate during the match between Canada v Uzbekistan at the Commonwealth Stadium on June 1, 2026 in Edmonton Canada

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The first game of the round of 32 saw Canada pull ahead with a one-nil win against South Africa.

The co-host nation defeated South Africa with a last-minute goal from Stephen Eustaquio, who struck at the 90th minute to take his team to victory.

A last minute game-changer

The World Cup football 2026

(Image credit: Oner SAN / AFP via Getty Images)

In one of the last matches of the group stages, Austria and Algeria faced off in a heated match that ran till the last possible moments.

Indeed, as the Guardian reports, it was a 96th minute goal from Austria' Sasa Kalajdzic that brought the score up to three all, securing both teams' place in the first knockout round.

A win for England, and the start of the knockout rounds

Arms outstretched, England's Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring a wonder goal against Slovakia.

(Image credit: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Fair play to England - Kane's squad put on a solid show last night as the Three Lions claimed victory over Panama two-nil.

And with yesterday's six fixtures, the group stage is over. It's now time for the first of two knockout rounds, beginning with South Africa vs Canada tonight at 3pm ET / 8PM BST

The squad gets ready to start

Harry Kane of England celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between England and Croatia at Dallas Stadium on June 17, 2026 in Dallas, Texas.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It's about 10 minutes to kickoff for England and Panama: TVs are on, pubs are filling up, and fans everywhere are hoping for a return to form for the Three Lions.

We can only guess as to who Tuchel will pick for tonight's starting 11, but The Guardian suggests that Rashford, Saka, Rogers, and Quansah could be some early-game picks.

Should England be hopeful?

An England team photo ahead of World Cup 2026

(Image credit: Eddie Keogh/The FA via Getty Images)

After their lacklustre performance against a resolute Ghana, England will be hoping for success at today's fixture against Panama.

However, BBC Sport warns against Panama's 'hybrid tactics', with Yoel Bárcenas' side morphing fluidly between formations as the demands of the match shift. England will need to play aggressively while retaining the ability to react in order to break through.

The last day of the group stage: England vs Panama and more

FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 05, 2025 in Washington, DC.

(Image credit: Getty IMandel NGAN - Pool/Getty Images)

We've got six games today to round out the group stage before the round of 32 begins tomorrow. With that said, all anyone here in the UK can think about is England's upcoming clash with Panama at 5pm EST / 10pm BST.

Here are today's full listings:

Swipe to scroll horizontally
World Cup games for Saturday, 27 June

Group

Game

Time (EDT / BST)

L

Panama vs England

5pm / 10pm

L

Croatia vs Ghana

5pm / 10pm

K

Colombia vs Portugal

7:30pm / 12:30am (Sun)

K

DR Congo vs Uzbekistan

7:30pm / 12:30am (Sun)

J

Algeria vs Austria

10pm / 3am (Sun)

J

Jordan vs Argentina

10pm / 3am (Sun)

England return tomorrow

England's Jude Bellingham scoring against Croatia at World Cup 2026

(Image credit: Michael Steele via Getty Images)

Tomorrow, England will face off against Panama in a bid to secure their place in the first of two knockout rounds.

Reactions to Kane's men drawing nil-nil against Ghana have been mixed, to say the least. A reaction roundup from The Mirror found a general lack of confidence in England's chances from continental commentators (but when has that ever stopped us before?)

Today's games: Uruguay vs Spain, Norway vs France, and more

Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match against Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium on June 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It's the second-last day of the group stages, and with England playing tomorrow things are sure to go out with a bang.

Before then, we've got six games to get through, including appearances from favourites France, Spain and Uruguay.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
World Cup games for Friday, 26 June

Group

Game

Time (EDT / BST)

I

Norway vs France

3pm / 8pm

I

Senegal vs Iraq

3pm / 8pm

H

Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia

8pm / 1am (Sat)

H

Uruguay vs Spain

7pm / 1am (Sat)

G

New Zealand vs Belgium

11pm / 4am (Sat

G

Egypt vs Iran

11pm / 4am (Sat)

Clarke under fire

Scotland players acknowledge the crowd after losing the 2026 World Cup Group C football match between Scotland and Morocco at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 19, 2026

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Scotland manager Steve Clarke has faced some backlash for his reaction to his team's loss to Brazil last night, reports Sky News.

Clarke walked out of one interview, mirroring his reaction to Scotland's prior loss to Morocco.

The backlash has mainly focused on a perceived lack of professionalism, accompanied by questions over the quality of the Scottish team.

Today's games: Tunisia vs USA, Norway vs France, and more

Falarin Balogun of United States celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the international friendly match between United States and Senegal at Bank of America Stadium on May 31, 2026

(Image credit: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

What an eventful night! Scotland faced a crushing 3-0 defeat from Brazil, Morocco faced down a defiant Haiti, and Switzerland pulled ahead of Canada.

Today we have six more matches as the group stage draws to a close, including host nation USA going up against Türkiye.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
World Cup games for Thursday, June 25

Group

Game

Time (EDT / BST)

E

Curaçao vs Ivory Coast

4pm / 9pm

E

Ecuador vs Germany

4pm / 9pm

F

Tunisia vs Netherlands

7pm / 12am (Fri)

F

Japan vs Sweden

7pm / 12am (Fri)

D

Türkiye vs USA

10pm / 3am (Fri)

D

Paraguay vs Australia

10pm / 3am (Fri)

Scotland struggles to hold back Brazil

Scotland players acknowledge the crowd after losing the 2026 World Cup Group C football match between Scotland and Morocco at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 19, 2026

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Down 2-0 just before halftime, Scotland is struggling to hold Brazil back. Some solid defensive plays and ambitious pushes from the Scots, but Brazil's elite squad is putting up a strong fight.

Still, according to the Guardian, Scotland could lose by five and still have more chance than not of qualifying to the first knockout round.

What happened to England last night?

Harry Kane of England celebrates after the team's victory in the UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final match between Netherlands and England at Football Stadium Dortmund on July 10, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany.

(Image credit: Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

By all conventional logic, England, the world's fourth-ranked men's national team, should've had an easy enough time against Ghana, which sits at number 64 on the same FIFA / Coca Cola rankings board.

However, at the end of an uneventful match, the scoreboard sat still at nil-nil.

Speaking to the BBC, Declan Rice said: "It's always difficult when you play against 11 behind the ball, as deep as they were [...] last 10 minutes, we probably found more than we did all game, and were unlucky not to score."

And as ITV reports, England manager Thomas Tuchel told fans "don't lose belief" after the team's middling performance.

Today's games: Scotland vs Brazil & more

Harry Kane Goal Miss vs Ghana 😱 - YouTube Harry Kane Goal Miss vs Ghana 😱 - YouTube
Watch On

Well... that was uneventful. England and Ghana drew nil-nil last night after a pretty static match, with England captain Harry Kane managing to miss a close-range goal as shown in the video above.

The group stages are now drawing to a close, and we've got six games per day for the last few rounds. Check out today's listings below:

Swipe to scroll horizontally
World Cup games for Wednesday, June 24

Group

Game

Time (EDT / BST)

B

Switzerland vs Canada

3pm / 8pm

B

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar

3pm / 8pm

C

Morocco vs Haiti

6pm / 11pm

C

Scotland vs Brazil

6pm / 11pm

A

South Africa vs South Korea

9pm / 2am (Thu)

A

Czechia vs Mexico

9pm / 2am (Thu)

Am uneventful first half

Broadcast equipment is seen before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F qualifying match between Republic of Ireland and Armenia at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

No joy for England or Ghana at half time - the score stands still at nil-nil.

If you're watching along but struggling to keep up with the action, it could be time for a TV upgrade. Luckily, we've rounded up the best Best Buy TV deals we could find as the American retailer tries to counter Amazon's Prime Day sale. Check it out here.

And we're off! To a slow start

An England team photo ahead of World Cup 2026

(Image credit: Eddie Keogh/The FA via Getty Images)

30 minutes in and no goals yet. Still, the pubs are rammed with England fans hoping for a win. Let's hope the squad brings their best!

England could start without Saka

Bukayo Saka celebrates as Morgan Rogers opens the scoring for England during the International Friendly between England and Wales at Wembley Stadium on October 09, 2025 in London, England.

(Image credit: Visionhaus/Getty Images)

As the Independent reports, England manager Thomas Tuchel faces a bit of a dilemma when it comes to deciding on the starting squad for tonight's fixture against Ghana.

Winger and Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is still contending with an Achilles' tendon injury, which is likely to keep him off the pitch at kickoff.

Today's games: England vs Ghana, Portugal vs Uzbekistan, and more

Harry Kane of England celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between England and Croatia at Dallas Stadium on June 17, 2026 in Dallas, Texas.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Howdy, football fans. It's a big one for us here at TechRadar today, as England is set to go head to head with Ghana. We've also got matches between Portugal and Uzbekistan, Panama and Croatia, and Colombia and DR Congo to look forward to. Be sure to check out our guide to the World Cup listings for details.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
World Cup games for Tuesday 23 June

Group

Game

Time (EDT / BST)

K

Potugal vs Uzbekistan

1pm / 6pm

L

England vs Ghana

4pm / 9pm

L

Panama vs Croatia

7pm / 12am (Wed)

K

Colombia vs DR Congo

10pm / 3am (Wed)

The Three Lions are waking...

An England team photo ahead of World Cup 2026

(Image credit: Eddie Keogh/The FA via Getty Images)

Tomorrow sees England play Ghana. The two nations currently jointly lead Group L with three points. I'm sure both teams will be looking to turn L into a W...

England and Ghana have only met once before in high-level football, at a friendly in 2011. Tomorrow's match marks the first time the teams have faced off in high-level competition.

Salah: Egypt's first World Cup win a 'great achievement'

Mohamed Salah Mahrous Ghaly of Egypt looks on during the AFCON Group B match between Ivory Coast and Egypt at Agadir stadium, Agadir, Morocco on January 10, 2026.

(Image credit: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

New Zealand were roundly defeated by Egypt on June 21 in the North African team's first ever World Cup win.

Speaking to the BBC, Egypt captain and former Liverpool star Mo Salah called the match a 'great achievement'. Egypt now leads Group G with four points.

Today's games: Argentina vs Austria, France vs Iraq, and more

The World Cup football 2026

(Image credit: Oner SAN / AFP via Getty Images)

Morning folks - here in the UK we're all excited for England's next match against Ghana tomorrow, but before then we've got four great matches that take us across the globe to South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Here are today's fixtures:

Swipe to scroll horizontally
World Cup games for Monday 22 June

Group

Game

Time (EDT / BST)

J

Argentina vs Austria

1pm / 6pm

I

France vs Iraq

5pm / 10pm

I

Norway vs Senegal

8pm / 1am (Tues)

J

Jordan vs Algeria

11pm / 4am (Tues)

Belgium and Iran draw 0-0

Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring a goal

Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku was unable to replicate his success in the team's first match against the Netherlands (Image credit: Marko Perkov/AFP via Getty Images)

Iran has managed to stave off Belgium with a nil-nil draw, the third in Group G thus far.

Belgium defender Nathan Ngoy was sent off in the second half after fouling Iran's Mehdi Taremi, ESPN reports.

Spain avoids pain

Pedri of Spain celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the international friendly match between Peru and Spain at Estadio Cuauhtémoc on June 08, 2026 in Puebla, Mexico

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Spain has won its fixture against Saudi Arabia four-nil, with the European former champs "easily" beating their opponents, according to Al Jazeera.

The game also saw Lamine Yamal's first goal of the tournament just 10 minutes into the match.

Today's games: Spain vs Saudi Arabia, Belgium vs Iran, and more

Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams in action for Spain

(Image credit: Stefan Matzke/Sampics via Getty Images)

Good morning football fans - we've got four more fixtures to look forward to today. Plenty of eyes will be on 2010 champions Spain in their match against Saudi Arabia, but at the time of writing, all eight teams are drawn at one point in the standings. It's all to play for.

Be sure to keep an eye on our guide to today's World Cup matches for a daily update.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
World Cup games for Sunday 21 June

Group

Game

Time (EDT / BST)

H

Spain vs Saudi Arabia

12pm / 5pm

G

Belgium vs Iran

3pm / 8pm

H

Uruguay vs Cabo Verde

6pm / 11pm

G

New Zealand vs Egypt

9pm / 2am (Mon)

Day of the Dutch

Broadcast equipment is seen before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F qualifying match between Republic of Ireland and Armenia at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. (Photo By Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Netherlands have beat Sweden 5-1 in their fixture, ahead of the (currently ongoing) match between Germany and Ivory Coast.

Netherlands now sits at the top of the Group F rankings.

Shearer: "Kane is different at this World Cup"

Harry Kane of England celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between England and Croatia at Dallas Stadium on June 17, 2026 in Dallas, Texas.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

In an op-ed for BBC Sport, ex-England striker Alan Shearer has shown his support for current captain Harry Kane, saying the 32-year-old is "fitter and stronger" than previous tournaments.

The comments come after a strong start for Kane at this year's World Cup; the striker scored twice in England's face-off with Croatia.

Today's games: Germany vs Ivory Coast, Netherlands vs Sweden, and more

Nathaniel Brown #18 of Germany celebrates scoring his team's fifth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Germany and Curacao at Houston Stadium on June 14, 2026 in Houston, Texas

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Morning folks! It's the weekend, the sun is shining, and we've got four more World Cup fixtures to look forward to today:

Times in EDT / BST

▶︎ 1pm / 6pm - Netherlands vs Sweden

▶︎ 4pm / 9pm - Germany vs Ivory Coast

▶︎ 8pm / 1am (Sun) - Ecuador vs Curaçao

▶︎ 12am / 5am (Sun) - Tunisia vs Japan.

Head to our guide on how to watch the World Cup from anywhere to tune in.

Gary Lineker returns!

Gary Lineker in headshot

(Image credit: PA Wire / The Independent)

According to The Independent, ITV has announced that Gary Lineker will appear as a pundit for its coverage of Germany vs Ivory Coast on 20 June (that's tomorrow at the time of writing).

The iconic British pundit has covered the World Cup via Netflix's The Rest is Football video podcast, but this will mark Lineker's return to mainstream UK TV punditry following his departure from the BBC in 2025.

Today's games: USA vs Australia, Scotland vs Morocco, and more

The World Cup football 2026

(Image credit: Oner SAN / AFP via Getty Images)

Hey folks, freelance contributor Jamie here — I'll be taking over this World Cup 2026 live blog from now on, bringing you the latest updates.

To get the ball rolling (get it?), here's a quick schedule of today's fixtures, as teams continue to vie for a place in the first knockout round:

Times in EDT / BST
▶︎ 3pm/8pm – USA vs Australia | BBC iPlayer, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player
▶︎ 6pm/11pm – Scotland vs Morocco | ITVX, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player
▶︎ 9pm/2am (Sat) – Brazil vs Haiti | ITVX, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player
▶︎ 12am/5am (Sat) – Turkey vs Paraguay | ITVX, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player

Next Game - Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

Our next game is Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, kicking off at 3pm ET / 8pm BST.

You can stream on BBC in the UK and SBS On Demand in Australia.

Kick off!

The moment you’ve been waiting for!

Thanks for joining our coverage and enjoy what promises to be an unforgettable World Cup!

15 mins until kick off!

Grab yourself a drink and get ready for Mexico’s first game and the first game of the tournament!

Find out how to watch it where you are on our main page here.

Both teams enter for warm up

Cheers as the Mexico squad arrive on the pitch for a pre-match warmup…boos as the South Africa squad enter.

You sense that the home crowd will be extremely vocal so we should have some great energy for the game.

A preview before the match begins

Match Preview: Mexico vs South Africa | FIFA World Cup 2026™ - YouTube Match Preview: Mexico vs South Africa | FIFA World Cup 2026™ - YouTube
Watch On

FIFA have prepared a handy guide to everything you need to know about the Mexico v South Africa game before it begins…

Shakira + Burna Boy = Banger

Well, we’ve now been treated to the official World Cup song thanks to Shakira and Burna Boy with ‘Let’s Go’.

Undoubtedly a catchy ditty, but it’s no Waka Waka - Shakira’s iconic number from South Africa’s 2010 World Cup. It’s a nice bridge that Shakira has penned songs for both World Cups and now the two nations are playing each other. Probably a coincidence.

Anyway, the match is less than an hour away!

Gold, a massive World Cup trophy and outfits galore!

Wow!

Mexico brought its A-game to the Opening Ceremony so far. There’s been a lot of gold, a massive World Cup trophy erected and outfits galore!

We’ve got just over an hour left of the ceremony and until the Mexico v South Africa game gets in full swing!

Stay here for more updates as they happen…

The opening ceremony starts now!

Alright folks, get ready for the opening ceremony now!

The weekend of football ahead

Get ready for more World Cup games than we’ve ever seen before, starting this weekend…

After Mexico’s game tonight, we’ve got South Korea v Czech Republic and Canada v Bosnia following tonight/tomorrow depending on your timezone.

The following day we have Qatar v Switzerland, Brazil v Morocco and then the final host country United States v Paraguay.

The final stretch of the weekend will give us Haiti v Scotland, Australia v Turkey, Germany v Curaçao and Netherlands v Japan.

Exhausted? You will be!

Tuchel angers the tabloids by saying England isn’t one of the favourites

Thomas Tuchel reveals why Declan Rice is vice-captain & if England are favourites to win World Cup - YouTube Thomas Tuchel reveals why Declan Rice is vice-captain & if England are favourites to win World Cup - YouTube
Watch On

"We can't be one of the favourites as we haven't won it for so long. There are proven winners within the tournament."

This is the quote that a lot of the clickbait media - not this fine establishment but I guess we’re talking about it now - honed in on.

England manager Thomas Tuchel correctly identified that we haven’t won anything for 60 years but they don’t call it the impossible job for anything because it was immediately pounced on by some sections of the ‘press’.

Surely the important thing is if he takes England to a win, not if they were favourites to win it in the first place. He also stated that he wants to focus on the group stages and will only think about winning the whole thing once they get to the quarterfinals. Sensible but you can’t win ‘em all.

Stay tuned for more here as we have less than 3 hours before the World Cup kicks off.

Two hours until the Opening Ceremony!

Wherever you are in the world you have two hours to prepare for the beginning of what promises to be an unforgettable, hopefully for the right reasons, World Cup.

That means kicking off with the first of three Opening Ceremonies with Mexico having the honours of kicking it off. Canada and America will have theirs next, one after the other but it all begins in Mexico City today.

Stay tuned for the latest updates as we get them.

Kane speaks ahead of the World Cup

Harry Kane talks England, Bayern Munich and Pochettino - YouTube Harry Kane talks England, Bayern Munich and Pochettino - YouTube
Watch On

England’s captain and strongest player (arguably in the world) has given an interview ahead of the World Cup.

He talks pressure, leadership and bringing England into his third World Cup.

Give it a watch ahead of the first match.

South Africa train ahead of their game

South Africa Train Before Mexico | FIFA World Cup 2026™ - YouTube South Africa Train Before Mexico | FIFA World Cup 2026™ - YouTube
Watch On

Check out the South African squad getting some training in before they kick off the tournament later…

5 hours until kick off!

We’re counting down till the biggest football tournament in the world kicks off in Mexico…and just 5 hours to go.

Will it be a dud of a game? Will it be delayed due to weather? Will Mexico fans bring the atmosphere?

Find out more soon!

Another major visa rejection

Ahead of the World Cup kicking off, FIFA president Gianni Infantino held a press conference last night…but it did little to reassure and readdress some rather big issues.

Infantino’s reaction to Somali referee Omar Artan being denied entry to the US? To tell people to 'chill and relax'. Hardly great advice and with the Iran games around the corner we can probably expect plenty more drama around the corner…

Keep tuned here for the latest.

Tuchel on England's 3-0 victory: "I wished for that"

Thomas Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel (Image credit: Getty Images)

Thomas Tuchel, England manager, has faced a lot of questions after the New Zealand friendly but he's proven himself with the decisive Costa Rica win.

“I wished for that, I demanded that; I said before the match we want to push it to the next level, from intensity, commitment, cohesion, and we did that,”

Things can only get better, right?

South Africa and Mexico fans gather outside the stadium

Mexico v South Africa pre-kick off

Mexico v South Africa pre-kick off (Image credit: Getty Images)

The atmosphere around Mexico City's stadium ahead of kick off later as Mexico take on South Africa.

Not necessarily two nations renowned for their footballing prowess - Mexico's best result was reaching the quarterfinals in 1986 and South Africa have never moved past group stages - it'll be more about the spectacle than anything.

Join us for the latest throughout the day right here.

Welcome to World Cup Opening Day!

US Press coverage

US Press coverage (Image credit: Getty Images)

Hello everyone and welcome to the kick off day of the World Cup!

We'll be updating you throughout the day as the excitement builds ahead of the Mexico v South Africa game at 8pm BST, and the opening ceremony at 6.30pm BST available on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK.

Check in our main info section to see how to watch it where you are...

England game delayed by two hours due to weather

Originally meant to kick off at 8pm BST, the England game against Costa Rica will be delayed till 10pm BST due to torrential rain in Florida.

England fans may be shocked by just how violent the weather is even by English standards but they’ve been given the all clear for the agreed time…now the pitch is no longer a swimming pool.

We’ll keep you updated here with the latest.

24 hours until the World Cup Opening Ceremony!

It’s official: there’s 24 hours until the World Cup opening ceremony…well part one of three.

Mexico v South Africa will see one of the three hosting nations (Mexico, not South Africa) kick off the biggest football event in the world.

Find out how to watch it and what time it’ll happen where you are in our info section below.

Messi, Modric and Mexico

Messi scores a penalty against Iceland in a friendly

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Within minutes of entering the Argentina v Iceland friendly, Messi scored a penalty which saw a 3-0 victory for his home country. The doubters as to if the iconic player was match fit were silenced...for now. The big question: will he be able to get his team to a successive World Cup final this year?

Another regular at the World Cup, making his fifth appearance and only one behind Messi and Ronaldo, Croatia's Modric is preparing to take on England ahead of both nation's first game of the tournament. Having beaten England to make it the 2018 World Cup final but having lost to England in the Euro 2020 group stage, it's anyone's guess who will win.

Mexico is preparing to be on the world stage in a little over 24 hours as it hosts the first game: Mexico v South Africa at 8pm GMT. The festivities - the first of three exhausting Opening Ceremonies - will kick off 90 minutes before the game and promises to be a showstopper.

We'll let you know more updates as they come in ahead of the action tomorrow.

BBC Pundits weigh in on who will win the World Cup

Wayne Rooney at Soccer Aid 2026

Wayne Rooney at Soccer Aid 2026 (Image credit: Getty Images)

Everyone has an opinion about football. And that includes these BBC pundits and ex-footballers who weigh in on who they think is taking home the World Cup trophy this year...

France, but there's a caveat that comes with it - only if there is no in-house fighting. With the ability they have in forward positions, two or three big players are going to be left out every game, so it will come down to whether they cope with that in the right way.

Alan Shearer

England and Spain will make the final, and hopefully England will win it.

Wayne Rooney

It's going to be a team who are really good at keeping the ball and that points me in the direction of Spain instead. Argentina will go close though, because of the way they work for Lionel Messi. I still think he can do something special, too.

Micah Richards

England. But I am not actually that bothered whether I am right or wrong. I just like to back my people and I want England to do it.

Joe Hart

Well, obviously I want England to win it. That's what I am going with, but if that wasn't to happen then France have a very good squad.

Ellen White

For me the two strongest teams are France and Spain. But will they meet each other in the final or before? That will be the question, but I obviously hope France will win.

Olivier Giroud

France, Spain and England are the three for me who will do well. Spain seem to win everything, at every age group, so of course they are up there, but being French I am going for them to win it.

Gael Clichy

FIFA portraits released

Take a look at some of the FIFA official pictures released from the South Korea, Brazil, Scotland and Netherlands team...

A flashback to last World Cup Final…

Messi lifts first World Cup 🇦🇷🇫🇷 | Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 pens) | 2022 World Cup | BBC Football - YouTube Messi lifts first World Cup 🇦🇷🇫🇷 | Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 pens) | 2022 World Cup | BBC Football - YouTube
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We’ve spent a lot of time looking ahead but, courtesy of BBC Sport, let’s look back to perhaps the greatest World Cup Final ever: 2022.

With England going out to France in the quarterfinals, the team led by Mbappé took on Argentina in an instantly iconic showdown. So many twists as the two great footballing nations took it turns to take the lead with incredible last minute equalisers.

The result? A nail biting penalty shootout leading to Messi lifting the trophy. Thrilling in a way which usually finals fail to be, will we see another sensational game like this? Only time will tell.

Only two days until the World Cup kicks off, don’t go anywhere!

FIFA new rules - is more VAR a good thing?

EXPLAINED: How will new rule changes impact World Cup 2026? - YouTube EXPLAINED: How will new rule changes impact World Cup 2026? - YouTube
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Sky Sports gives a detailed breakdown of all the new FIFA rules that will be implemented this World Cup.

Do you think these make sense? Are they ridiculous? Will there be outrage at some point in the tournament?

Regardless, they’re sure to get a reaction from fans.

Is Kane England’s one man team?

Will Harry Kane Win the World Cup for England? - YouTube Will Harry Kane Win the World Cup for England? - YouTube
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Perhaps the only podcast you need to get all your football needs, particularly with this World Cup approaching is The Rest is Football.

Gary, Alan and Micah - all ex-footballers bringing their perspective from the pitch - break down each of the high ranking teams this episode and ask some important questions ahead of the tournament.

Is Kane carrying the whole of the England team? Who was better Maradona or Messi? And who do they reckon is taking home the trophy this year?

Watch this latest episode and stay tuned here as we enter the week of the World Cup!

Trouble for the Iranian team

Iranian team

The Iranian team (Image credit: Getty Images)

In a move that everyone in the world saw, the Iranian team have had trouble ahead of their matches in America.

With the current conflict between Iran and America, the US has refused the visas of some World Cup Iranian team support staff. This means that the team has had to train in Mexico's Tijuana, just across the border from San Diego, instead of America's Arizona as was originally planned.

One man who was not happy was Amir Ghalenoei, Iran's coach, who wanted to be there much earlier to adjust to the 12-hour time difference but was forced to train in Turkey instead. There's also a clear directive that the team will now be based in Tijuana during the World Cup even though all their games are based in America which will prove to be a logistical nightmare.

How will this affect Iran's first two matches scheduled to take place in Southern California against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, and then their next game against Egypt in Seattle on on June 26? Only time will tell.

Follow us for the latest here.

The US team arrive ahead of their first friendly against Germany

US team arrive for the World Cup

(Image credit: Getty Images)

One of the three host countries, the United States, touched down before their friendly against Germany at Chicago's stadium, Soldier Field.

The game saw an early lead within the first two minutes as Germany's Havertz slipped one in. United States managed to equalise thanks to Robinson before halftime but Sané managed to get a 2-1 victory at 57 minutes.

While not boding well for the team, the crowd was lively and this bodes well for the rest of the tournament with this team being the strongest of the three host nations. Not great but who knows what the home crows will do for morale.

Keep tuned here for the latest updates.

A glimpse behind the scenes of England squad's training

Kane's shooting clinic 🔥 Rashford and Gordon on target 🎯 Three Lions gym challenge | Inside Training - YouTube Kane's shooting clinic 🔥 Rashford and Gordon on target 🎯 Three Lions gym challenge | Inside Training - YouTube
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Even though it was a pretty bland game against New Zealand, it was a friendly and a chance for Tuchel to try various combos albeit, that doesn't mean the hard work isn't going on behind the scenes.

Glimpses at Kane smashing in some penalties, some gym goals and a lot of team bonding, check out this video to see what goes on to get the Three Lions ready for the World Cup.

Some (not so) friendly results

Messi looks on from the bench

(Image credit: Getty Images)

More friendly results roll in ahead of the World Cup kicking off on Thursday.

Argentina had a comfortable win against Honduras but Messi, the main man, remained on the bench for the whole game. It makes sense to save his energy for the tournament itself and particularly as a veteran preserve his energy.

Elsewhere, Chile lost to Portugal in a scrappy game which saw a red card for both teams. Ronaldo started - joining rival Messi with now a record six World Cup appearances to his name - but let his teammates do the scoring nevertheless winning 2-1. Not a friendly friendly.

Another big result was Belgium's domination over Tunisia with a decisive 5-0 result. Similar to the Portugal v Chile game, we saw a red card take off one of the Tunisian players.

Full time: England 1 - 0 New Zealand, Scotland 4 - 0 Bolivia

Kane kicks off England's campaign to bring it home

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A good sign of things to come for the UK - or half of it - as England and Scotland both win their friendlies. Scotland continue their streak of scoring 4 goals, similar to their win against Curaçao, whereas England didn't look quite as convincing.

Obviously they don't count but it's a good opportunity to see how the team is playing, and hopefully Tuchel takes some learnings from what worked and what didn't work.

Plenty more friendlies coming up ahead of the tournament kicking off on Thursday, so keep your eyes peeled here.

Kane scores just before halftime and Scotland reach 4-0

Kane scores!

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Finally just before the halftime whistle, Kane does what he does best. A lovely header just before he and the rest of the starting XI are rotated so Tuchel can play all the players possible.

Scotland scored four goals in the first half but have not managed to create many opportunities since.

We'll keep you updated with any latest here.

England struggle to find a goal against New Zealand

England struggle to find a goal against New Zealand

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Nearly at halftime and England meanwhile are struggling to give New Zealand anything to worry about.

The lowest-ranked sides should be an easy challenge and there's certainly factors such as acclimatising to heat, not wanting to risk injury and ultimately treating the friendly as a test for which players work well together and where.

Maybe tune in to the Scotland game if you want something exciting to watch though.

Scotland lead 3-0 against Bolivia

Lawrence Shankland scores Scotland's first World Cup 2026 goal

(Image credit: Lawrence Shankland scores Scotland's first World Cup 2026 goal)

Scotland have wasted no time at all, securing two goals before their first mandatory drinks break and another straight after against Bolivia in this first friendly.

L. Shankland (5')

S. McTominay (23')

C. Adams (30')

Scotland and England prepare for their friendlies at 9pm

'Gutted' for Gilmour 💔 - YouTube 'Gutted' for Gilmour 💔 - YouTube
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Two big friendlies if you’re based in the UK. England v New Zealand and Scotland v Bolivia, both kicking off at 9pm GMT.

Scottish player Lewis Ferguson talks about how the loss of star player Billy Gilmour has affected the Scotland team ahead of the World Cup.

Find out how to watch the game and more below.

Tuchel talks starting XI and much more

Thomas Tuchel reveals his World Cup starting XI plans in USA | "I have a clear idea" - YouTube Thomas Tuchel reveals his World Cup starting XI plans in USA |
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England manager Thomas Tuchel has big shoes to fill. Previous manager Gareth Southgate took the England squad to two international finals, a semifinal and a quarterfinal after a long drought of disappointing results for the supposed Golden Generation.

He addresses the pressure, talks his starting XI and everything in between in this press conference ahead of England’s friendly against New Zealand, courtesy of Sky Sports.

Not long until the first England friendly and we’ll bring you the latest on this and a variety of other matches ahead of the World Cup officially beginning on 11 June.

Don’t hurry Harry

"Kane can't play every minute" | Thomas Tuchel's World Cup plan for Harry Kane - YouTube
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Ahead of England’s first friendly tomorrow against New Zealand, Sky Sports breaks down the logic of Tuchel bringing three strikers to the World Cup.

He’s never done it before so why? Part of the reason may be to rest the main man Kane who has played a phenomenal amount of hours for his club, more so than before any other international tournament.

Resting him in the muggy heat of the tournament and allowing either strikers to shine may be a tactical move long term but will it work short term?

Watch the video breakdown and check in with our regular updates on this build up to the upcoming friendlies.

England squad spill the tea on touching down in the States and beyond

Stones & Burn talk as England touch down in the States | Ep. 1 | Lions' Den Connected by EE - YouTube Stones & Burn talk as England touch down in the States | Ep. 1 | Lions' Den Connected by EE - YouTube
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England centre-backs assemble!

Fresh blood Dan Burn and veteran John Stones, one of the only remaining players alongside Kane and Rashford from the 2016 squad to still be in the current squad, answer England fans burning questions.

How has it been adjusting to America? What's their 'get hyped' song before matches? Who was their favourite England player growing up?

Find out all the answers and so much more in this exclusive England content from the squad's official YouTube channel as they get ready for their first friendly against New Zealand this Saturday.

The big question: weather the matches will go on?

'Everywhere you go you always take the weather with you.' The irony of these lyrics from Aussie/Kiwi band Crowded House was probably not lost on New Zealand as their first friendly was delayed due to serious weather concerns.

New Zealand and Haiti were meant to play their first friendly yesterday at 8pm local time in Florida, but torrential rain and an electrical storm delayed the match by 36 minutes. Haiti ended up thrashing the Kiwis 4-0 which bodes well for England's friendly against them on Saturday as New Zealand still look for their first World Cup match win.

However, these weather conditions are a mounting concern, particularly with the sheer amount of games scheduled to take place around Florida including England's upcoming matches. According to American thunderstorm protocol, matches will be suspended for 30 minutes if lightning strikes within eight miles of the stadium with the clock going back to zero if another strike is detected.

Adding to the political turmoil around Trump's temperamental behaviour, this extreme weather the last thing the World Cup needs with its potential to delay or potentially cancel games going forward.

We'll keep you updated with the latest news as it comes in.

It wouldn’t be a World Cup without some squad drama

It’s barely been a day since the official deadline for the World Cup squads to be finalised…and already there’s drama.

Switzerland player Breel Embolo was rejected while attempting to board the squad plane to the World Cup. The forward was charged after an altercation in Basel nearly a decade ago but it was flagged as a criminal conviction as he tried to leave the country. He’s applying for an urgent visa so he can join his squad in San Diego but it remains to see whether he’ll make it.

In other news, Austria are also a man down as Christoph Baumgartner suffered a thigh injury before their friendly to Tunisia. The RB Leipzig will not be replaced - in a fairly bizarre decision - as the loss of such a pivotal player will have repercussions for the rest of the squad.

We’ll keep you up to date with any other breaking news stories from the World Cup as they come in.

10 out of 10 for Bellingham

The number 10 shirt is a coveted number in football with a long history of greatness. This goes a long way to explaining why Jude Bellingham has been selected to wear it for England.

While he’s not necessarily had the best season recently at Real Madrid, he’s been a reliable player for England and scored plenty of memorable goals for his country. Will this faith that new manager Thomas Tuchel has in him pay off? Only time will tell.

Training is officially underway for the squad and while the majority are getting stuck in, they’re still awaiting the arrival of some. With the European finals overlapping the World Cup training, we’ll soon see the arrival of a handful of Arsenal players (Rice, Saka, Eze and Madueke) and Crystal Palace’s Henderson who will join the squad.

Don’t miss any of the England squad and other important World Cup news, right here updated daily.

All 48 squads are CONFIRMED

The players have all been locked in. Today - Tuesday 2nd June - was the deadline for every country's squad which means it's now official.

There were the inevitable shock omission which were met with horror in their respective countries, and that was just Harry Maguire's mum who was horrified he was snubbed from the England squad. However, there's no going back now as all 48 countries have submitted their 26 players - which include three goalkeepers - so bring on the tournament!

There will be inevitable fallout and controversy with a little over a week before the World Cup kicks off so make sure you stay tuned here for the rollercoaster that is international football.

We'll let you know how you can stream the action for free from anywhere around the globe using Norton VPN.

The England squad have landed in Miami

Palm Beach, Miami. Normally a place you'd visit for a relaxed holiday with its vibrant nightlife and scenic delights. However, it's also the location where the England squad landed for their training before the World Cup yesterday.

Although they've escaped the dregs of the British heatwave, the Florida temperature will be no comfort to them. The humidity and tropical storms will be their first big challenge before they've even kicked their first ball, and this will be a recurring theme throughout their games across the country and Mexico as well, maybe less so Canada.

Before their tournament officially kicks off with their first group stage against Croatia on 17th June, they've got a few Florida friendlies to complete. First up is a game against New Zealand on 6th June. The 'All Whites' may be considered the lowest-ranked team in the tournament but they'll be hungry to get a first win against the England squad.

The second and final friendly for England will be against Costa Rica on 10th June. Having just lot a friendly today, 3-1, against the mighty Colombia they will surely be looking for a boost in morale. While on paper these friendlies count for nothing and are certainly favourable teams for England to win against, it'll certainly help the squad get into their rhythm and acclimatise to this unique World Cup across three massive countries.

Follow all the latest updates here.

Iran and Iraq announce their squad (or who won’t be in their squad)

One Iranian player that won’t be making the trip to the World Cup is Sardar Azmoun who has been accused of disloyalty to his country’s government.

The crime? Posting a picture of himself with the UAE ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a country with whom Iran has traded blows with. With Iran’s current war with America ongoing, this is the last drama that the squad needs particularly with questions as to whether they’ll be able to enter the country.

Iraq on the other hand announced their squad will include Ipswich’s Ali Al-Hamadi and Manchester United’s Zidane Iqbal. Two big names from the English football league is only good news for Iraq’s chances of qualifying from the group stages, which albeit are slim. Joining them in their group is France, Senegal and Norway…they may be the underdogs but stranger things have happened.

Join us tomorrow for more of the latest World Cup drama in the build up to this epic tournament.

From the most-prolific player...to the least-prolific player

Friday saw confirmation of the most prolific player's inclusion in the Argentina squad: Lionel Messi.

This will mark the 38-year-old's sixth World Cup, a record he will share with 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, and begs the question: will this be the last World Cup featuring both football legends? Sports science is better than it ever was but they're two of the most senior players in a tournament of fresh blood.

And now on to the least-know player: New Zealand defender Tim Payne.

This humble kiwi player was minding his own business before TikTok personality Valen Scarsini, aka 'elscarso', decided to boost the profile of who he deemed the 'least-known' World Cup player. He helped boost Payne's Instagram account from under 5,000 followers to a whopping 3.8 million.

The bemused player put out a post thanking Valen and his fans for the "pretty crazy 48 hours". A reminder: New Zealand is the lowest-ranked team of the whole tournament and has never won a single World Cup game. They are a small nation much more interested in their rugby and Aussie rules football...but if they can beat Iran, Egypt or Belgium they will make history.

For all the breaking news World Cup stories and how to watch it ahead of the tournament on Thursday 11th June, watch this space.

Welcome to our World Cup build-up LIVE!

The World Cup is just 10 days away as it all kicks off next Thursday with Mexico vs South Africa.

We'll keep you up-to-date with all the latest news and how you can stream the action for free from anywhere on the globe using Norton VPN.