Every single game of the 2026 World Cup is free to watch in England — all 104 of them, split across ITV and the BBC. No subscriptions, no paywalls. That's the good news. The less good news: some of those kick-offs are at 2am, 3am, and 4am BST, because the tournament is spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
From June 11 to July 19, 48 teams play out 104 fixtures. Plan your sleep accordingly.
England's group games
England are in Group L with Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. All three group fixtures land at reasonable evening hours, which will please pub landlords across the country.
- June 17: England vs Croatia, 9pm — ITV1 & ITVX
- June 23: England vs Ghana, 9pm — BBC One & BBC iPlayer
- June 27: England vs Panama, 10pm — ITV1 & ITVX
Croatia will be the most serious test in that group on paper. The Panama game on June 27 is effectively the group decider if results go to form — and a 10pm kick-off means the pubs will be heaving.
If England get through, the knockout road gets more complicated in terms of scheduling. A potential quarter-final in Miami on July 11 kicks off at 10pm. Both semi-finals on July 14 and 15 are at 8pm. The final on July 19 is also 8pm.
Who's in the studio
ITV broadcasts from Brooklyn, New York, with Roy Keane, Ian Wright, and Gary Neville leading punditry duties. They're also bringing in Ange Postecoglou, USWNT head coach Emma Hayes, and former Spain midfielder Juan Mata — an eclectic mix that should at least make the ad breaks watchable.
The BBC sets up in Salford with Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, and Micah Richards, joined by Olivier Giroud, Cesar Azpilicueta, and Thomas Frank. The Frank addition is interesting — he's barely been out of club management five minutes and he's already on punditry panels.
For the final, both channels broadcast simultaneously. Pick your preferred set of opinions.
Pub opening hours and late-night kick-offs
The government has extended licensing hours for England and Wales. Pubs can stay open until 2am for home nation matches starting at 10pm, and until 1am for quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final starting at or before 9pm. Scotland gets a different arrangement — pubs and bars there can stay open 30 minutes after the final whistle for every World Cup match shown.
Scotland's opening game, against Haiti in Foxborough, is on June 14 at 2am. Someone in Glasgow is going to be very tired the next morning.
BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds carry live commentary for every match — useful for the fixtures nobody is staying up until 4am to watch on television but still wants to follow somehow.
