You can stream the World Cup in the UK on BBC iPlayer and ITVX, with BBC and ITV sharing the matches free-to-air in the UK. A TV Licence is required for live viewing on BBC iPlayer and for live streaming on ITVX, while catch-up on ITVX does not require one.

Where to watch

  • BBC iPlayer for BBC matches, including live streams and replays.
  • ITVX for ITV matches, with free streaming supported by ads.
  • BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, and sometimes ITV4 also carry live games on TV.
  • In Scotland, STV Player carries ITV’s matches.

What it costs

Option| Cost| Notes
---|---|---
BBC iPlayer| Free| Requires a BBC account and a TV Licence for live viewing 2.
ITVX free tier| Free| Ad-supported; live viewing still requires a TV Licence 2.
ITVX Premium| £5.99/month| Removes ads 2.

What to expect

For the 2026 tournament, coverage is split across BBC and ITV, and all 104 matches are listed as free-to-air in the UK. UK kick-off times are commonly between 4:00 PM and 1:00 AM BST because the tournament is in North American time zones.

Extra viewing options

  • BBC Radio 5 Live carries full commentary on every match.
  • talkSPORT carries selected matches, including all England games.
  • Some fan zones and pubs also show the games, including official public screenings in major cities.

The simplest setup is: install BBC iPlayer and ITVX, then check which channel has the match you want on the day.