Copyright Deadline
Fox Sports will play a record 69 live games from the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. That is a record for network TV, accounting for 66% out of the total 104 matches for which Fox Sports has the rights. FS1 will play the other 35. The figure for live matches is from 53% in 2022, when Lionel Messi led Argentina to the title by defeating France in a penalty shootout. That year, 34 games were played live, but the 2026 edition has been enlarged to feature 48 teams, up from 32. Overall, Fox Sports will offer over 340 hours of first-run programming from the tournament, which is being held in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. This includes pre- and post-match analysis and more live games than any previous World Cup, and is up 100 hours on 2022, as the U.S. love affair with soccer continues to blossom. “Fox Sports’ presentation of FIFA World Cup 26 is going to be the biggest production in our company’s 32-year history, and we couldn’t be more excited to showcase this once-in-a-lifetime event with more matches on broadcast television than ever before,” said Eric Shanks, CEO and executive producer at Fox Sports. “The largest World Cup ever means this is going to be a television event unlike any other with more teams, superstars, storylines and moments that will captivate audiences everywhere.” The tournament runs from Thursday, June 11 to Sunday, July 19, 2026, and will see the likes of holders Argentina, Brazil, England and others from Europe battling it out to be crowned the 23rd winner of a World Cup. The U.S. qualify as lead hosts as will play their games on June 12 and June 25 in Los Angeles, June 19 in Seattle.
