Fox Secures English-Language Broadcast Rights for Expanded 2026 World Cup

The upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest iteration of the tournament in history, expanding the field to 48 teams. Jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the event will feature a total of 104 matches, marking a significant increase from previous formats. With the tournament scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19, media coverage will be extensive across North American markets.

Fox Corporation has positioned itself as the primary destination for English-language viewers in the U.S. The broadcaster will televise the entire slate of 104 matches across its network platforms. According to the released details, 70 matches will be broadcast on the main FOX network, while the remaining 34 contests are scheduled to air on FS1. Digital streaming options will be available via the FOX Sports app and the Fox One platform.

For Spanish-language audiences, coverage will be led by Telemundo and Universo. Peacock, the streaming service, will stream all 104 matches live in Spanish. On the linear television side, Telemundo is set to air 92 matches, with Universo carrying the other 12.

The group stage is structured to run from June 11 through June 27, divided into three rounds of play. Following the group stage, the knockout rounds will commence, culminating in the final on July 19. Pre-tournament international friendlies are currently scheduled for May 29 through June 7.

As the exclusive English-language broadcaster for home soil, Fox Corporation stands to capture significant viewership during the summer tournament. The company’s stock was recently trading at $56.0, giving it a market capitalization of approximately $23.46 billion within the Communication Services sector. The broadcast rights to major sporting events like the World Cup are a critical component of the company’s content strategy, driving advertising revenue and engagement for its Cable Network Programming and Television segments.

What to watch

• Fox Corporation earnings reports for updates on advertising revenue growth linked to major sports events.
• Viewership metrics released by Fox following the group stage rounds in June.
• Future guidance regarding the company’s sports content licensing and production costs.

Source: original release