World Cup 2026 matches can be shown live on YouTube in the UK

World Cup 2026 matches will be shown live on YouTube in the UK this summer as part of a shake-up to the coverage of the tournament, which will impact both the BBC and ITV.

FIFA and YouTube announced an official partnership this week in a bid to "provide audiences with more ways to enjoy" the festival of football that is set to unfold in North America across June and July.

World Cup 2026 is the first since the expansion to 46 teams, with 104 matches over the 39 days between the opener on Thursday 11 June and the final on Sunday 19 July. Every single game will be free to watch for fans in the UK, with BBC and ITV providing coverage on TV and online – but, in another first, viewers will also be able to tune in on YouTube as well.

FIFA's media partners, including the BBC and ITV, will be able to broadcast the first 10 minutes of every game live on YouTube, with fans then directed to their channels to watch the rest of the action – and some games will be permitted to be shown live on the online platform in full.

The news comes after a landmark deal between YouTube and the BBC earlier this year, which will see the broadcaster produce content specifically for the platform.

Radio Times has reached out to the BBC and ITV for comment to determine whether they will make live coverage available on YouTube.

As part of the deal, broadcasters will also have access to FIFA's library of match footage, which means the "opportunity to publish extended highlights, behind-the-scenes footage, Shorts and video-on-demand content".

That's not all – the agreement will also see FIFA making the most of its archive and posting "full-length past matches and many more iconic moments" from football history, including past World Cups, on its official YouTube channel.

To aid its bid to connect with younger fans, the organiser is set to give "a global cohort of YouTube creators unparalleled access to matches and more" to allow them to "bring a fresh perspective to the FIFA World Cup, including human stories, tactical breakdowns, and behind-the-scenes action that further brings to life the legendary tournament as it unfolds".

FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafström said: "FIFA is delighted to welcome YouTube as a Preferred Platform for the FIFA World Cup 2026. By spotlighting FIFA’s premium content and unlocking new opportunities for Media Partners and creators, this agreement will engage global fans in ways never seen before.

"As the world’s attention turns to the action in Canada, Mexico and the United States, this collaboration with YouTube reinforces our ambition to maximise the tournament’s impact across the ever-evolving media landscape, offering fans everywhere easy access to an immersive view of the biggest single-sport event in history."

England and Scotland have already qualified for this summer's tournament, but Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Wales are among the teams that will try to secure one of the six remaining spots in the qualifying play-offs later this month.

World Cup 2026 begins on Thursday 11 June with Mexico v South Africa (ITV1) and is set to conclude with the final, which will be on both ITV and BBC, on Sunday 19 July.

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