Fox and NBCUniversal Outline Broadcast Plans for 2026 World Cup

With the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup underway across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, media partners are finalizing their strategies to deliver 104 matches to a global audience. As anticipation builds for the expanded tournament, broadcasters are leveraging both traditional linear channels and digital streaming platforms to maximize reach.

Fox Corporation retains the English-language rights to the tournament in the U.S. The broadcaster plans to air 40 matches during primetime, marking a record for the event. Coverage will be split between the FOX broadcast network and Fox Sports 1, with 70 matches available over-the-air. To capture audiences moving away from cable, Fox is utilizing Tubi, its ad-supported streaming service, to stream select matches for free. Additionally, every game will be available via the FOX Sports app.

On the Spanish-language side, Comcast Corporation subsidiary NBCUniversal is providing comprehensive coverage through Telemundo and Universo. Telemundo will broadcast 92 of the 104 matches, while the remainder will air on Universo. For digital viewers, Peacock holds the exclusive streaming rights for Spanish-language broadcasts.

The logistical scale of the event is significant, with 78 matches taking place in the U.S. and 13 each in Canada and Mexico. The tournament kicked off recently with the U.S. team securing a 4-1 victory over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, followed by a 2-0 win against Australia at Lumen Seattle.

Currently, shares of Fox are trading at $55.87, down 1.08% from the previous close, giving the company a market capitalization of approximately $23.46 billion. Comcast shares are priced at $23.38, reflecting a 1.56% decline, with a market cap of roughly $83.52 billion. Both companies operate in the Communication Services sector.

What to watch

• Viewership ratings data for the U.S. team’s group stage matches.
• Subscriber growth numbers for Peacock and user engagement on Tubi during the tournament.
• Advertising revenue reports related to the World Cup in upcoming quarterly earnings.

Source: original release