The 2026 World Cup will be the largest ever staged, bringing together 48 nations and 104 matches across three host nations. This expansion doubles the tournament’s footprint compared to the 2022 edition and sets the stage for a new era of global football consumption.
A Record‑Breaking Broadcast Landscape
Fox Sports has secured rights to air two‑thirds of the games on its flagship broadcast network, with the remaining matches slated for FS1. Every fixture will also be streamed on Fox’s proprietary platform, Fox One, while a curated selection will be available on Tubi, the ad‑supported service owned by the same parent.
Telemundo’s Bilingual Playbook
Telemundo plans to leverage its Spanish‑language expertise to draw viewers into its broader programming slate. By positioning World Cup matches as lead‑ins, the network hopes to convert a sizable bilingual audience — 35 % of its 2022 consumption occurred in English — into regular viewers of its non‑sports content.
Production Innovation and Viewer Experience
For the first time, all matches will be broadcast in high‑dynamic range (HDR), delivering richer colors and contrast. Fox will deploy an LED‑backed augmented‑reality wall boasting 50 million pixels, a technology it has been refining since its World Cup coverage began in 2015.
The tournament’s schedule has been calibrated with climate data to reduce the likelihood of weather‑related interruptions, a logistical consideration that underscores the event’s scale.
Fox’s current rights agreement expires after this edition, marking the end of a decade‑long partnership that has shaped U.S. soccer coverage. The company’s continued investment in production infrastructure signals a commitment to maintaining its leadership role.