Canada host Qatar on Thursday, June 18 at BC Place in Vancouver, a Group B fixture that could shape both nations’ hopes of reaching the round of 32 at football World Cup.
In this blog, you will find everything you need to know about how to watch and stream Canada vs Qatar online, along with full team news, kick off times, squad lists, broadcaster details and a complete tactical preview.
Key Details
- Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026
- Kick off Time: 3 p.m. PDT / 6 p.m. EDT / 11 p.m. BST
- Venue: BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
- Where to Watch: FOX and FS1 (USA) | BBC and ITV (UK) | CTV, TSN and RDS (Canada) | SBS (Australia)
Where to Watch Canada vs Qatar Football World Cup Match?
Canada vs Qatar airs on FOX and FS1 in the United States, on the BBC and ITV in the United Kingdom, across CTV, TSN and RDS in Canada, and on SBS in Australia.
FOX’s broadcast network coverage and the BBC and ITV simulcast are all free to air, while FS1, TSN and RDS sit behind a cable or streaming subscription.
How to watch Canada vs Qatar with a VPN
If the match is unavailable in your region, a VPN unlocks free access to ITVX, the BBC and ITV’s joint streaming service for the World Cup. ITVX is geoblocked to the United Kingdom, so a VPN that assigns a British IP address is required to stream from outside the country.
- Sign up for PureVPN and install the app.
- Connect to a UK server to get a British IP address.
- Visit ITVX and sign in, or create a free account.
- Search for the Canada vs Qatar match and start streaming live.
Canada Vs Qatar Football World Cup Team News
Canada Team News
Jesse Marsch has managed Canada since May 2024, having previously coached Leeds United, RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, the New York Red Bulls and the Montreal Impact. The American led Canada to the semi finals of Copa America in his first major tournament in charge, finishing fourth after a penalty shootout defeat to Uruguay.
Canada opened Football World Cup with a 1 1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on June 12, with Larin’s strike rescuing a point after Lukic’s early goal for the Europeans. The hosts have managed only one win in their last five matches heading into the tournament, a run that included a 0 1 loss to Australia and scoreless draws with Colombia and Ecuador.
Captain Alphonso Davies entered the tournament managing a hamstring issue but remained available for selection, with vice captain Stephen Eustaquio providing leadership in central midfield. Jonathan David, Canada’s all time leading scorer, leads the attacking line alongside wide threats Tajon Buchanan and Jacob Shaffelburg.
Marsch typically deploys Canada in an aggressive, high pressing system built around quick transitions, with Alistair Johnston and Moise Bombito anchoring the back line. Canada will be looking to turn home advantage into their first ever World Cup win, having failed to win a match across their previous two tournament appearances in 1986 and 2022.
Qatar Team News
Julen Lopetegui has led Qatar since being appointed during their AFC qualifying campaign, previously managing Spain, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Ham United. The Spaniard guided Qatar through a fourth round qualifying win over the United Arab Emirates to reach their second ever World Cup, eight years after losing the Spain job on the eve of the 2018 tournament.
Qatar opened their campaign with one of the shocks of the group stage, falling behind to Breel Embolo’s first half penalty before captain Boualem Khoukhi headed a stoppage time equaliser to beat Switzerland 1 1 in Santa Clara. It was only Qatar’s second goal in World Cup history and their first ever point at the finals, having lost all three games on home soil in 2022.
Veteran captain Hassan Al Haydos continues to lead the side at 35 years old, with 35 year old defender Khoukhi providing an unlikely match winning moment against the Swiss. Akram Afif and Almoez Ali, the stars of Qatar’s 2019 Asian Cup triumph, remain the side’s most dangerous attacking outlets alongside target man Mohammed Muntari.
Lopetegui set Qatar up to defend deep and compact against Switzerland, conceding 3.24 expected goals while registering just 0.76 of their own, a pattern likely to repeat against a stronger Canadian attack. Lopetegui has shifted his focus from making history to springing another upset, saying after the Switzerland draw that Qatar will keep dreaming of a positive result against the co hosts.
Canada World Cup squad
- Goalkeepers: Dayne St Clair, Maxime Crepeau, Owen Goodman
- Defenders: Alistair Johnston, Luc de Fougerolles, Alfie Jones, Joel Waterman, Derek Cornelius, Moise Bombito, Alphonso Davies, Richie Laryea, Niko Sigur
- Midfielders: Mathieu Choiniere, Stephen Eustaquio, Ismael Kone, Liam Millar, Jacob Shaffelburg, Tajon Buchanan, Ali Ahmed, Jonathan Osorio, Nathan Saliba
- Attackers: Cyle Larin, Jonathan David, Tani Oluwaseyi, Promise David
Qatar World Cup squad
- Goalkeepers: Mahmud Abunada, Salah Zakaria, Meshaal Barsham
- Defenders: Pedro Miguel, Lucas Mendes, Issa Laye, Ayoub Al Oui, Homam Ahmed, Boualem Khoukhi, Sultan Al Brake, Al Hashmi Al Hussain
- Midfielders: Jassem Gaber, Abdulaziz Hatem, Karim Boudiaf, Ahmed Fathy, Assim Madibo, Mohamed Al Mannai
- Attackers: Ahmed Alaaeldin, Edmilson Junior, Mohammed Muntari, Hassan Al Haydos, Akram Afif, Yusuf Abdurisag, Ahmed Al Ganehi, Almoez Ali, Tahsin Jamshid
Canada Vs Qatar Match Preview
Canada and Qatar meet on Thursday, June 18 at BC Place in Vancouver, a venue hosting its first ever World Cup matches as Canada stages the tournament for the first time. Both nations arrive level on one point from their opening games, making this a genuine four way scrap for the two automatic qualification spots in Group B.
Canada qualified automatically as co hosts and have built toward this tournament through more than a year under Jesse Marsch, mixing a Copa America semi final run with a mixed run of warm up friendlies. Qatar reached North America by beating the United Arab Emirates in the fourth round of AFC qualifying, then stunned Switzerland with a stoppage time leveller in their opening match.
The stakes are significant for both teams. Canada need a win to avoid the pressure of needing a result against Switzerland in their final group game, while Qatar are chasing a first ever World Cup victory in their history. A draw would leave the group finely balanced heading into the final round of fixtures on June 24.
Tactical Outlook
Canada are expected to press high and attack down the flanks through Buchanan and Shaffelburg, looking to feed Jonathan David in central areas against a Qatar defence that sat deep against Switzerland.
Qatar will likely mirror their approach from the Switzerland game, defending in a compact shape and relying on quick counters led by Akram Afif and Almoez Ali.
The key individual battle pits Jonathan David’s movement in the box against the experienced central pairing of Boualem Khoukhi and Pedro Miguel, while Alphonso Davies’ fitness on the left flank will be closely watched throughout.
Canada need control of midfield through Eustaquio and Ismael Kone to avoid the kind of late lapse that cost Switzerland their three points against this same Qatar side.
Football World Cup Match Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| June 18 | Canada vs Qatar | Vancouver |
| June 18 | Switzerland vs Bosnia Herzegovina | Los Angeles |
| June 18 | Czechia vs South Africa | Atlanta |
| June 19 | Mexico vs Korea Republic | Guadalajara |
| June 19 | USA vs Australia | Seattle |
| June 19 | Scotland vs Morocco | Boston |
| June 20 | Brazil vs Haiti | Philadelphia |
| June 20 | Netherlands vs Sweden | Houston |
Football World Cup Preview
This year’s Football World Cup is shaping up to be the most ambitious and expansive edition of football’s grandest stage. The 23rd edition of the tournament will be held from June 11 to July 19, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
For the first time ever, three nations are co-hosting the World Cup; a milestone that reflects both the scale of the event and the growing global footprint of the beautiful game.
Football World Cup Format Explained: 48 Nations, 104 Matches
An expanded World Cup will feature 48 teams, 16 more than in Qatar 2022, and take place across three host nations for the first time. This expansion fundamentally changes the tournament’s structure.
The competition now consists of 12 groups of four teams, with each team playing three matches in their respective groups. The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams across the tournament will advance to the knockout Round of 32.
With 32 teams advancing, the knockout stage now includes a Round of 32, a Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final, meaning there will be 104 matches in total, 40 more than in Qatar. As a result, this World Cup will last 39 days instead of the roughly 32 days of previous tournaments.
16 Host Cities Across 3 Nations in Football World Cup
There will be 16 host cities in total, with 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
The cities where these games will take place include Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; Monterrey, Mexico City, and Guadalajara in Mexico; and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, and New York/New Jersey in the United States.
The opening match is especially historic. The tournament kicks off at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Mexico will face South Africa, making it one of the most iconic venues in World Cup history, and the first stadium to host games at three different men’s World Cups.
The final is set for an equally iconic setting. The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which has been rebranded as New York New Jersey Stadium for the event.
The Stars to Watch in Football World Cup
The Football World Cup features a massive mix of established superstars and next-generation talent. Here are the names central to the tournament conversation:
Established Legends
- Lionel Messi — Argentina’s captain, widely expected to play his final World Cup
- Cristiano Ronaldo — Portugal’s all-time icon, also likely bowing out on the biggest stage
Elite Europeans
- Kylian Mbappé — France’s generational superstar and title favourite
- Erling Haaland — Norway’s goal machine making his World Cup debut
- Jude Bellingham — England’s midfield engine and creative force
- Jamal Musiala — Germany’s technically gifted young star
- Lamine Yamal — Spain’s teenage sensation
- Harry Kane — England’s all-time top scorer hunting major honours
South American Powerhouses
- Vinícius Júnior — Brazil’s electric winger and Ballon d’Or contender
- Federico Valverde — Uruguay’s tireless and technically brilliant midfielder
North American Heroes
- Alphonso Davies — Canada’s captain and fan favourite on home soil
- Christian Pulisic — The face of US soccer playing in front of a home crowd
African Star
- Mohamed Salah — Egypt’s legendary forward bringing vast club experience to the global stage
For Messi and Ronaldo, this will likely be their final World Cups, giving the tournament an unmistakably emotional dimension as two of the greatest players in football history bow out on the grandest stage.
Football World Cup Host Stadiums
| Stadium Name | Host City | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Stadium | Toronto | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 45,000 |
| BC Place Vancouver | Vancouver | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | 54,000 |
| Estadio Azteca | Mexico City | Mexico City, Mexico | 83,000 |
| Estadio Guadalajara | Guadalajara | Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico | 48,000 |
| Estadio Monterrey | Monterrey | Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico | 53,500 |
| Atlanta Stadium | Atlanta | Atlanta, Georgia, USA | 75,000 |
| Boston Stadium | Boston | Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA | 65,000 |
| Dallas Stadium | Dallas | Arlington, Texas, USA | 94,000 |
| NRG Stadium | Houston | Houston, Texas, USA | 72,000 |
| Kansas City Stadium | Kansas City | Kansas City, Missouri, USA | 73,000 |
| Los Angeles Stadium | Los Angeles | Inglewood, California, USA | 70,000 |
| Miami Stadium | Miami | Miami Gardens, Florida, USA | 65,000 |
| MetLife Stadium | New York/New Jersey | East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA | 82,500 |
| Philadelphia Stadium | Philadelphia | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | 69,000 |
| San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium) | San Francisco Bay Area | Santa Clara, California, USA | 71,000 |
| Seattle Stadium | Seattle | Seattle, Washington, USA | 69,000 |
Prize Money and Commercial Scale for Football World Cup
The prize money for this World Cup was confirmed at a official meeting in Doha. The prize fund is up 50 per cent on that of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and each team also receives $1.5m to cover preparation costs, meaning every team is guaranteed at least $10.5m.
The United States last hosted the men’s World Cup in 1994, and that tournament still holds the record as the most attended World Cup with 3.6 million fans. But that record will certainly be shattered in 2026 with fans entering turnstiles in three countries.
Football World Cup official broadcasters
Here’s a list of the official broadcasters for the Football World Cup Qatar in different countries across the world.
| Country/Region | Broadcaster(s) |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | ATN |
| Albania | TV Klan |
| Algeria | ENTV |
| Andorra | RTVE, M6, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Angola | Z Sports |
| Argentina | Telefe, TV Pública, TyC Sports |
| Armenia | Fast Sports |
| Aruba | Telearuba |
| Australia | SBS |
| Austria | ORF, ServusTV, Magenta Sport |
| Azerbaijan | İTV |
| Bangladesh | TBA |
| Belize | Nexgen |
| Belgium | VRT, RTBF |
| Bolivia | Red Uno, Unitel, Entel, Tigo Sports |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Arena Sport |
| Brazil | Grupo Globo, CazéTV, SBT/N Sports |
| Brunei | TBA |
| Bulgaria | BNT |
| Cambodia | Hang Meas |
| Canada | Bell Media |
| Caribbean | Rush Sports |
| Chile | Chilevisión |
| China | CCTV, Migu, Xiaohongshu |
| Colombia | Caracol, RCN, Win Sports |
| Costa Rica | Teletica, Tigo Sports |
| Croatia | HRT |
| Curaçao | Nos Pais Television |
| Cyprus | Sigma TV |
| Czechia | ČT, TV Nova |
| Denmark | DR, TV2 |
| Dominican Republic | CDN 37, Pio Deportes |
| Ecuador | Teleamazonas |
| El Salvador | TCS, Tigo Sports |
| Estonia | TV3 Estonia, ERR |
| Ethiopia | Hagerie TV |
| Fiji | FBC |
| Finland | Yle, MTV3 |
| France (Metropolitan) | M6, beIN Sports |
| France (Ultramarine) | Antenne Réunion, La 1ère |
| Georgia | Setanta Sports, Rustavi 2 |
| Germany | ARD, ZDF, Magenta Sport |
| Ghana | ChannelOne TV |
| Greece | ERT |
| Guatemala | Albavisión, Tigo Sports |
| Haiti | TNH |
| Honduras | Televicentro, Tigo Sports |
| Hong Kong | PCCW |
| Hungary | MTVA |
| Iceland | RÚV |
| India | Unite8 Sports (Zee) |
| Indonesia | TVRI, FolaPlay, Telkomsel |
| Ireland | RTÉ |
| Israel | KAN, Charlton |
| Italy | RAI, DAZN |
| Ivory Coast | RTI, NCI |
| Jamaica | TVJ |
| Japan | NHK, Nippon TV, Fuji TV, DAZN |
| Kazakhstan | QAZTRK |
| Kenya | Azam TV |
| Kosovo | RTK, TV Vala, Arena Sport |
| Kyrgyzstan | KTRK, Beeline Ukmush TV |
| Laos | TBA |
| Latvia | TV3 Latvia |
| Liechtenstein | SRG SSR |
| Lithuania | TV3 Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | RTBF, M6, ARD, ZDF |
| Macau | TDM |
| Malawi | Azam TV |
| Malaysia | RTM, Unifi TV |
| Maldives | ICE Networks |
| Malta | Television Malta |
| Mauritius | MBC |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca |
| MENA | beIN Sports |
| Mongolia | EduTV, National Television, Suld TV, MNB, Mobihome VOO |
| Montenegro | RTCG, Arena Sport |
| Morocco | SNRT |
| Mozambique | Miramar, Z Sports |
| Myanmar | TBA |
| Nepal | Himalaya Sports, Dgo |
| Netherlands | NOS |
| New Zealand | TVNZ |
| Nicaragua | Grupo Ratensa, Tigo Sports |
| North Macedonia | Arena Sport |
| Norway | NRK, TV2 |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Tapmad |
| Panama | RPC/COS, TVN Media, Tigo Sports |
| Paraguay | Trece, GEN TV |
| Peru | América Televisión |
| Philippines | Aleph Arena, TAP DMV, Cignal PPV |
| Poland | TVP |
| Portugal | Sport TV, RTP, SIC, TVI, LiveModeTV |
| Romania | Antena |
| Russia | Match TV |
| Rwanda | Azam TV |
| Saint Lucia | Winners Sports TV |
| San Marino | RAI, DAZN |
| Senegal | RTS |
| Serbia | PTC, Arena Sport |
| Singapore | Mediacorp |
| Slovakia | RTVS, TV JOJ |
| Slovenia | RTV SLO, Arena Sport |
| South Africa | SABC, SportyTV |
| South America | DSports, Disney+ |
| South Korea | JTBC, KBS, NAVER Sports, CHZZK |
| Spain | RTVE, Mediapro/DAZN |
| Sri Lanka | TBA |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | New World TV, SuperSport |
| Suriname | STVS, ATV |
| Sweden | SVT, TV4 |
| Switzerland | SRG SSR |
| Taiwan | ELTA, EBC, TTV |
| Tajikistan | Varzish TV |
| Tanzania | Azam TV |
| Thailand | TBA |
| Timor-Leste | RTTL, ETO |
| Turkey | TRT |
| Turkmenistan | Quest Sports Media |
| Uganda | Azam TV |
| Ukraine | MEGOGO |
| United Kingdom | STV (Central & Northern Scotland), BBC, ITV |
| United States | Fox Sports (English), Telemundo (Spanish) |
| Uruguay | Canal 5, Antel TV |
| Uzbekistan | Zo’r TV |
| Vanuatu | VBTC |
| Venezuela | Televen |
| Vietnam | VTV |
| Zambia | Azam TV |
| Zimbabwe | Azam TV |
Major Football World Cup Matches to Watch This Week
With the group stage now underway, several of the tournament’s biggest storylines are still to come. Here’s what’s on the horizon for the stars listed above.
Argentina vs Algeria — Messi’s Farewell Tour Begins (June 16, Kansas City)
Defending champions Argentina open their campaign against Algeria, marking what is widely expected to be Lionel Messi’s final World Cup appearance. Given Argentina’s pedigree and Messi’s status as one of the most-watched athletes on the planet, this fixture is likely to be one of the most-streamed matches of the opening week.
Iraq vs Norway — Erling Haaland’s World Cup Debut (June 16, Foxborough)
Norway’s long wait for a return to the World Cup stage ends here, and it comes with one of football’s most prolific strikers in Erling Haaland making his tournament debut. Norway will be looking to start strong in Group I against Iraq.
Portugal vs DR Congo — Ronaldo’s Final World Cup Opener (June 17, Houston)
Cristiano Ronaldo makes his Group K bow against World Cup debutants DR Congo. Like Messi, this is expected to be Ronaldo’s last World Cup, adding emotional weight to every appearance he makes throughout the tournament.
England vs Croatia (June 17, Arlington)
A repeat of past tournament classics, this Group L meeting pits Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane’s England against a Croatia side that has reached a final and a semi-final in the last two World Cups.
Football World Cup: A Tournament for the Ages
This year’s Football World Cup is more than a football tournament; it is a cultural event spanning an entire continent. The tournament is expected to be the largest World Cup ever by both attendance and scale, and is also expected to expand the reach of football across North America.
With legendary players potentially playing their last World Cups, host nations hungry for glory, and a brand-new format delivering more football than ever before, the summer of 2026 promises to be utterly unforgettable for fans around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Canada face Qatar on Thursday, June 18, 2026 at BC Place in Vancouver, with kick off at 3 p.m. PDT, 6 p.m. EDT and 11 p.m. BST.
Both teams play in Group B alongside Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with all four sides level on one point heading into matchday two.
Canada drew 1 1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina in their opener and won only one of their five matches before the tournament began.
Akram Afif and Almoez Ali lead Qatar’s attack, with captain Boualem Khoukhi also a threat from set pieces after his stoppage time equaliser against Switzerland.
Using a VPN is legal in most countries, though streaming services have their own terms of service regarding regional access, so check local regulations and the relevant platform’s terms before streaming.
Fans in the UK can watch free on BBC and ITV, while a VPN connected to a UK server allows international viewers to access ITVX.
