How to Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 Playoffs: TV Channels and Streaming Guide
Six World Cup spots are still up for grabs. Twenty-two nations get one last shot to claim them across two days in March 2026.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Playoffs run as two separate tournaments. The UEFA Playoffs settle four European berths. The Intercontinental Playoffs settle two more spots drawn from Africa, Asia, South America, CONCACAF, and Oceania. Both tournaments share the same FIFA window. All semi-finals fall on March 26. All finals fall on March 31.
This guide tells you exactly what channel to watch and how to stream it no matter where you are in the world.
What are the 2026 World Cup Playoffs?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup expands to 48 teams for the first time. Europe earned 16 total spots. Twelve went to group stage winners during qualifying. The final four European places get decided here in the UEFA Playoffs.
Outside Europe, the Intercontinental Playoffs hand out two more spots to nations from five confederations: CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia), CONMEBOL (South America), CONCACAF, and OFC (Oceania).
Both tournaments use a single-leg knockout format. One game decides everything. A draw after 90 minutes moves to extra time and then penalties if needed. There are no second legs and no away goals rule. Lose once and your World Cup is over.
All four Intercontinental Playoff matches take place in Mexico. FIFA requires stadiums to use official competition names during the tournament, so the venues are Estadio Guadalajara and Estadio Monterrey for the duration of the event. UEFA semi-finals are hosted at each higher-ranked team’s home ground across Europe.
2026 World Cup Playoff Schedule and Dates
Semi-finals run on March 26, 2026. Finals run on March 31, 2026. All times are Eastern.
Note: Ukraine plays Sweden at Mestalla in Valencia, Spain, as a neutral venue due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
| Match | Tournament | Date | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey vs Romania | UEFA Path C Semi | March 26 | 1:00 p.m. |
| Italy vs Northern Ireland | UEFA Path A Semi | March 26 | 3:45 p.m. |
| Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | UEFA Path A Semi | March 26 | 3:45 p.m. |
| Ukraine vs Sweden | UEFA Path B Semi | March 26 | 3:45 p.m. |
| Poland vs Albania | UEFA Path B Semi | March 26 | 3:45 p.m. |
| Slovakia vs Kosovo | UEFA Path C Semi | March 26 | 3:45 p.m. |
| Denmark vs North Macedonia | UEFA Path D Semi | March 26 | 3:45 p.m. |
| Czechia vs Republic of Ireland | UEFA Path D Semi | March 26 | 3:45 p.m. |
| Bolivia vs Suriname | Intercontinental Semi | March 26 | 7:00 p.m. |
| New Caledonia vs Jamaica | Intercontinental Semi | March 26 | 10:00 p.m. |
| Path A Final (Italy/N.Ireland vs Wales/Bosnia) | UEFA Path A Final | March 31 | 3:45 p.m. |
| Path B Final (Ukraine/Sweden vs Poland/Albania) | UEFA Path B Final | March 31 | 3:45 p.m. |
| Path C Final (Slovakia/Kosovo vs Turkey/Romania) | UEFA Path C Final | March 31 | 3:45 p.m. |
| Path D Final (Czechia/Ireland vs Denmark/N.Mac) | UEFA Path D Final | March 31 | 3:45 p.m. |
| DR Congo vs New Caledonia/Jamaica winner | Intercontinental Final | March 31 | 5:00 p.m. |
| Iraq vs Bolivia/Suriname winner | Intercontinental Final | March 31 | 11:00 p.m. |
Where each playoff winner goes at the World Cup:
| Playoff Path | Winner Joins | Group |
|---|---|---|
| UEFA Path A | Canada, Switzerland, Qatar | Group B |
| UEFA Path B | Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia | Group F |
| UEFA Path C | United States, Paraguay, Australia | Group D |
| UEFA Path D | Mexico, South Africa, South Korea | Group A |
| Intercontinental 1 | Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan | Group K |
| Intercontinental 2 | France, Senegal, Norway | Group I |
FIFA World Cup 2026 Playoffs TV Channels
United States
FOX Sports holds exclusive English-language rights for all 2026 World Cup coverage in the US. All 104 tournament matches air across FOX (70 matches) and FS1 (34 matches). Playoff matches air on FOX and FS1. Every match streams live and on demand in 4K on the FOX One app and FOX Sports app.
Telemundo and Universo carry Spanish-language coverage. Every match also streams in Spanish on Peacock for Premium and Premium Plus subscribers.
| Service | Channels Included | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube TV | FOX, FS1, Telemundo | $82.99 |
| Fubo | FOX, FS1 only (no Telemundo)* | $84.99+ |
| Hulu + Live TV | FOX, FS1, Telemundo | $89.99 |
| DirecTV Stream | FOX, FS1, Telemundo | $84.99+ |
| Sling Blue | FOX, FS1 (no Telemundo) | $45.99 |
| Peacock | Spanish stream only | $7.99+ |
*Fubo lost all NBCUniversal channels including Telemundo on November 21, 2025 due to an ongoing carriage dispute. As of March 2026 no resolution is in sight. Spanish-speaking Fubo subscribers should use Peacock for the Spanish feed.
Canada
Bell Media holds all 2026 World Cup rights in Canada. Matches air on TSN in English, RDS in French, and CTV free over the air. Stream on TSN+ or the CTV app with a cable login.
Mexico
The Intercontinental Playoffs are physically hosted in Mexico. All matches air free on TUDN, Canal 5 (Televisa), and TV Azteca. Stream on the TUDN app or ViX+.
All Playoff Nations: Full Broadcaster List
| Nation | TV Channel | Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | RAI 1, RAI 2 | RaiPlay (free) |
| Wales | BBC One Wales, S4C | BBC iPlayer (free) |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | BHRT, Arena Sport | Arena Sport app |
| Northern Ireland | BBC NI | BBC iPlayer (free) |
| Ukraine | Suspilne | Suspilne online (free) |
| Sweden | SVT, TV4 | SVT Play (free), TV4 Play |
| Poland | TVP Sport | TVP GO (free) |
| Albania | TV Klan, Digitalb | Digitalb app |
| Turkey | TRT 1, beIN Sports Turkey | TRT Izle (free) |
| Romania | TVR 1, Pro TV | TVR+ (free) |
| Slovakia | STVR, TV JOJ | STVR online (free) |
| Kosovo | RTK, ArtMotion | RTK Live (free) |
| Denmark | DR1, TV2 | DR TV (free) |
| North Macedonia | MRT, Arena Sport | Arena Sport app |
| Czechia | CT Sport | CT Sport online (free) |
| Republic of Ireland | RTE 2, Virgin Media Two | RTE Player (free) |
| United Kingdom | BBC, ITV | BBC iPlayer (free), ITVX (free) |
| DR Congo | RTNC, Canal+ Afrique | SuperSport app |
| Jamaica | TVJ, SportsMax | SportsMax app |
| New Caledonia | Nouvelle-Caledonie la 1ere | la1ere.francetvinfo.fr (free) |
| Bolivia | Bolivia TV, Tigo Sports | Tigo Sports app |
| Suriname | ABC TV Suriname, SportsMax | SportsMax app |
| Iraq | Iraqi Sports Channel, beIN Sports Arabia | beIN Sports Connect |
How to Watch World Cup 2026 Playoffs Live Online
No cable? No problem. Several streaming services carry FOX and FS1 with no annual contract.
YouTube TV at $82.99 per month is the most complete option. You get FOX, FS1, and Telemundo in one package plus unlimited cloud DVR. It works on phones, tablets, smart TVs, and computers.
Hulu + Live TV at $89.99 per month bundles FOX, FS1, and Telemundo with the full Hulu on-demand library plus Disney+ and ESPN+. Strong overall value if you already use any Disney streaming services.
DirecTV Stream at $84.99 per month covers FOX, FS1, and Telemundo. A solid cable replacement option for viewers who want the full English and Spanish package.
Sling Blue at $45.99 per month is the budget pick. It carries FOX and FS1 but does not include Telemundo. Best for English-only viewers who want to keep costs down.
Peacock at $7.99 per month streams every match in Spanish for Telemundo coverage. It is the cheapest full-coverage option for Spanish-speaking fans in the US.
Fubo carries FOX and FS1 but lost Telemundo in November 2025 due to a carriage dispute with NBCUniversal. Spanish-speaking fans on Fubo should add Peacock separately for the Spanish feed.
Fans outside North America can use FIFA+ on YouTube for free highlights and select live coverage worldwide.
Can I Watch World Cup Playoffs Matches for Free?
Yes, though your free options are limited for the playoffs specifically.
FOX will air 70 of the 104 total World Cup matches on the main FOX broadcast network free over the air in the US. If you have a digital antenna you can pick up FOX in most US markets at no cost. The 34 matches on FS1 require a pay TV or streaming subscription.
Tubi will stream the World Cup opening ceremonies and two specific group stage matches completely free in 4K: Mexico vs. South Africa on June 11 and USMNT vs. Paraguay on June 12. Tubi is owned by Fox Corporation. No confirmed free playoff match coverage on Tubi has been announced as of March 2026.
FIFA+ on YouTube is free worldwide. It streams select live matches and all highlights at no cost. This is the best global backup for fans whose local broadcaster does not carry a specific match.
Across Europe, most nations playing in the playoffs have a free public broadcaster option. RaiPlay in Italy, TVP GO in Poland, CT Sport in Czechia, RTE Player in Ireland, and BBC iPlayer and ITVX in the UK all stream free with no subscription needed. Check the full broadcaster table above for your country.
How to Watch World Cup 2026 Playoffs FAQs
What channel are the 2026 World Cup playoffs on in the US?
FOX and FS1 carry all matches in English. Telemundo and Universo cover them in Spanish. You can stream in English on the FOX One app and FOX Sports app, or in Spanish on Peacock.
Can I watch the 2026 World Cup playoffs for free?
FOX carries 70 of the 104 total World Cup matches free over the air in most US markets with a digital antenna. For the playoffs specifically, check if your match airs on FOX. FIFA+ on YouTube offers free global highlights. European public broadcasters including BBC iPlayer, RaiPlay, TVP GO, and CT Sport also stream free.
When do the 2026 World Cup playoffs start?
Semi-finals kick off on March 26, 2026. Finals are on March 31, 2026. All 48 World Cup teams are confirmed by early April ahead of the tournament opening on June 11.
Where are the Intercontinental Playoffs being played?
All four matches take place in Mexico at two official World Cup host venues. FIFA uses the competition names Estadio Guadalajara and Estadio Monterrey for both stadiums during the tournament.
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup playoffs?
Twenty-two teams in total. Sixteen nations compete in the UEFA Playoffs for four spots. Six nations compete in the Intercontinental Playoffs for two spots.
What happens if a playoff game is tied after 90 minutes?
The match goes to 30 minutes of extra time. Each team gets one extra substitution during extra time for a total of six. If still level a penalty shootout decides the winner. There are no second legs and no away goals rule.
When will all 48 World Cup 2026 teams be confirmed?
All six playoff winners are decided on March 31, 2026. The complete 48-team roster is set by early April, well ahead of the June 11 opening match in Mexico City.
Twenty-two nations. Six spots. Two days. The 2026 World Cup Playoffs are the most high-stakes matches these teams will play before the tournament even begins. Mark March 26 and March 31 on your calendar and use this guide to find the right channel or stream for your location when match day arrives.
