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. 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 at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara and Estadio BBVA in Monterrey. UEFA semi-finals are hosted at each higher-ranked team’s home ground across Europe.
One big story surrounds Iraq. After regional hostilities closed Iraqi airspace in late February 2026, FIFA provided a chartered private jet to fly the Iraqi squad to Mexico. The team arrived in Monterrey on March 21. FIFA denied Iraq’s request to postpone the match.
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 | UEFA Path A Final | March 31 | 3:45 p.m. |
| Path B Final | UEFA Path B Final | March 31 | 3:45 p.m. |
| Path C Final | UEFA Path C Final | March 31 | 3:45 p.m. |
| Path D Final | UEFA Path D Final | March 31 | 3:45 p.m. |
| DR Congo vs winner of New Caledonia/Jamaica | Intercontinental Final | March 31 | 5:00 p.m. |
| Iraq vs winner of Bolivia/Suriname | 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. The Intercontinental Playoffs stream exclusively on Telemundo Deportes Ahora, a free FAST channel available on Peacock, Roku, Prime Video, Google TV, YouTube and Telemundo.com. Every main tournament match also streams in Spanish on Peacock for Premium 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. No resolution is in sight as of March 2026. 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.
Italian-Canadian fans have a bonus option. TLN (Telelatino Network) broadcasts Italy’s playoff matches live in Italian, covering Italy vs. Northern Ireland on March 26 and the Path A final on March 31.
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, DAZN | 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) |
| Poland | TVP Sport | TVP GO (free) |
| Albania | TV Klan, Digitalb | Digitalb app |
| Turkey | TRT 1, beIN Sports Turkey | TRT Izle (free) |
| Romania | Antena | Antena Play |
| 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, TV Nova | CT Sport online (free) |
| Republic of Ireland | RTE 2, Virgin Media Two | RTE Player (free) |
| United Kingdom | BBC, ITV, Amazon Prime Video | BBC iPlayer (free), ITVX (free), Prime Video (£2.49/match) |
| 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.
Hulu + Live TV at $89.99 per month bundles FOX, FS1 and Telemundo with the full Hulu on-demand library plus Disney+ and ESPN+.
DirecTV Stream at $84.99 per month covers FOX, FS1 and Telemundo 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.
Peacock at $7.99 per month streams every main tournament match in Spanish. The Intercontinental Playoffs stream free on Telemundo Deportes Ahora via Peacock at no extra cost.
Fubo carries FOX and FS1 but lost Telemundo in November 2025. Spanish-speaking fans on Fubo should add Peacock separately.
UK fans can watch non-home-nation playoff matches on Amazon Prime Video for £2.49 per match with no Prime subscription needed.
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 free options vary by country and by match.
In the US, FOX airs 70 of the 104 total World Cup matches free over the air. A digital antenna picks up FOX in most US markets at no cost. FS1 matches require a pay TV or streaming subscription. Tubi streams the opening ceremony and two group stage matches free in 4K but has no confirmed free playoff coverage as of March 2026.
Telemundo Deportes Ahora streams the Intercontinental Playoffs free on Peacock, Roku, YouTube and other platforms with no subscription needed.
FIFA and YouTube announced a deal on March 17, 2026 that lets all official broadcasters stream the first 10 minutes of every match free on YouTube. FIFA also made TikTok a preferred platform, so broadcasters can post match clips at a dedicated TikTok hub.
FIFA+ on YouTube is free worldwide and covers select live matches plus all highlights. It is the best global backup for fans whose local broadcaster does not carry a specific match.
Across Europe, most playoff nations have a free public broadcaster option. RaiPlay, TVP GO, CT Sport, RTE Player, BBC iPlayer and ITVX all stream free. UK fans get Path A matches free on BBC. All other UEFA playoff paths are on Amazon Prime Video for £2.49 per match in the UK. Australia gets all 104 matches free on SBS On Demand.
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 Deportes Ahora streams the Intercontinental Playoffs free in Spanish on Peacock, Roku, YouTube and Telemundo.com. All main tournament matches stream in Spanish on Peacock with a paid subscription.
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. Pathway 1 matches are at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. Pathway 2 matches are at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey.
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. A penalty shootout decides the winner if scores are still level. 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 highest-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.
