❚ We may earn commission from links on this page. Our editorial is always independent (learn more).

World Cup 2026 radio coverage: Listen to live matches on radio and online

Your complete guide to listening to World Cup 2026 live on radio and online.

Ivory Coast player Odilon Kossounou, in a cream shirt, listens to headphones as he walks past a World Cup logo.

(Photo by Joosep Martinson - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Published: Tuesday, 16 June 2026 at 11:16 am

Subscribe to Radio Times: 10 weeks for £10, including the Christmas double issue

The biggest World Cup ever is upon us and radio coverage is one of the best ways to drink in the North American atmosphere.

Ad

Live football and the radio are a match made in heaven, as evidenced by the coverage of the opener at the Estadio Azteca, to USA running riot in LA, Qatar's late equaliser against Switzerland, and Cape Verde's stunning performance against Spain,

The best radio commentaries – and in the UK, the offering is second to none – transport you to the stadium and into the heart of the drama as it unfolds.

Given the 2026 tournament is the biggest ever, with 48 teams and 104 matches, and is being played halfway around the world in Canada, Mexico and the United States, being able to tune in to live commentaries from anywhere is vital to ensure you don't miss any of the big moments.

Radio Times brings you all the details for listening to World Cup 2026 on the radio this summer.

Read more football features: Best players in the world | Best players of all time | Live football on TV today

Want to see this content?

This page contains content provided by Squirrel. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Squirrel may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Squirrel and its required purposes.

Accept and continue

World Cup 2026 on radio

Fans can tune in for extensive radio coverage of World Cup 2026 via BBC and talkSPORT this summer.

BBC Radio 5 Live will have 92 live commentaries and coverage of all 104 games, while there will be live commentary of every single match on talkSPORT.

BBC Radio 5 Live is available on DAB radio, MW 693 kHz, 909 kHz and 990 kHz, or you can tune into the station via most TV packages. Radio 5 Sports Extra is only available on DAB radio, online or via the BBC Sounds app.

talkSPORT is available on DAB radio, predominantly MW 1089 kHz though you may need to check their official website for some localised frequencies for talkSPORT, and like the BBC, you can tune in via most TV packages.

Stay on top of the biggest World Cup ever and catch all the moments that matter with the Radio Times wall chart

Download your FREE World Cup 2026 wall chart and have every fixture at your fingertips.

A preview of Radio Times's World Cup wall chart

Listen to World Cup 2026 online

You can listen to every match broadcast on BBC via BBC Sounds online and through the app. This includes matches on Radio 5 Live and Radio 5 Sports Extra.

This is the easiest way to tune in to listen, with coverage available on a host of devices from laptops and computers to portable devices such as smartphones and tablets.

talkSPORT is available via its website and through the talkSPORT app, also available on a range of mobile devices.

World Cup 2026 radio schedule

All UK time. Subject to change. On BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT unless specified.

Group stage

Thursday 11 June

Friday 12 June

Saturday 13 June

Sunday 14 June

Monday 15 June

Tuesday 16 June

Wednesday 17 June

Thursday 18 June

Friday 19 June

Saturday 20 June

Sunday 21 June

Monday 22 June

Tuesday 23 June

Wednesday 24 June

Thursday 25 June

Friday 26 June

Saturday 27 June

Sunday 28 June

Round of 32

Sunday 28 June

Monday 29 June

Tuesday 30 June

Wednesday 1 July

Thursday 2 July

Friday 3 July

Saturday 4 July

Round of 16

Saturday 4 July

Sunday 5 July

Monday 6 July

Tuesday 7 July

Quarter-finals

Thursday 9 July

Friday 10 July

Saturday 11 July

Sunday 12 July

Semi-finals

Tuesday 14 July

Wednesday 15 July

Third-place play-off

Saturday 18 July

Final

Sunday 19 July

Want to see this content?

This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes.

Accept and continue

Ad

Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of Ned Holmes, smiling against a lime green background.

Ned Holmes

Ned is a sports writer at RadioTimes.com. He has covered a host of sports from EFL football, international cricket and golf all the way through to bike polo and triathlon.

Ad

Ad

Get the Christmas double issue

Too much to watch at Christmas? Let Radio Times do the choosing to find something the whole family will enjoy.

Subscribe by 3 Dec

Loading...

Ad

Loading...