The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to become the biggest tournament in football history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. FIFA’s engagement report for the 2022 edition showed nearly 5 billion global viewers across TV, streaming, and digital platforms, highlighting the event’s massive worldwide reach.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has described the FIFA World Cup 2026 as “the most inclusive and spectacular World Cup ever,” pointing to its expanded format and growing global appeal.
In Italy, RAI is expected to remain a key broadcaster for major international football coverage, offering FIFA World Cup 2026 matches through its television channels and the RaiPlay platform.
If you are traveling outside Italy, access to RAI may be restricted due to regional broadcasting rights. Using PureVPN allows you to connect to an Italian server so you can securely watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 on RAI live online from anywhere.
Why Do You Need VPN to Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on RAI
You need a VPN because RAI and RAIPlay are primarily available only within Italy due to broadcasting agreements. If you try to stream FIFA World Cup 2026 matches from outside Italy, access to the content may be limited or unavailable.
If you are traveling or living abroad, connecting to an Italian server using PureVPN allows you to access RAIPlay as if you were browsing from Italy. This helps you continue watching FIFA World Cup 2026 live matches, highlights, replays, and football coverage on RAI without interruptions.
How to Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on RAI
You can watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 live in Italy through RAIPlay and RAI television channels. Follow these steps to prepare your streaming setup before the tournament begins:
1. Create a RAIPlay Account
Sign up for a free RAIPlay account to access live football streams, match highlights, tournament coverage, and sports content online.
2. Install the RAIPlay App
Download the RAIPlay app on your smartphone, tablet, Smart TV, streaming device, or laptop to stream FIFA World Cup 2026 matches across multiple platforms.
3. Sign In on Your Devices
Log in to your RAIPlay account on all the devices you plan to use during the tournament, including mobile phones, Smart TVs, tablets, and web browsers.
4. Enable Match Notifications
Turn on notifications through the RAIPlay app to receive live match reminders, football updates, breaking news, and tournament alerts throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026.
5. Start Streaming FIFA World Cup 2026
Once your setup is complete, you can stream live matches, football highlights, expert analysis, and tournament coverage directly through RAIPlay.
If you are outside Italy during the tournament, you can still access RAIPlay by using a VPN to connect to an Italian server and continue streaming FIFA World Cup 2026 online.
Where to Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on RAI on Other Devices
RAIPlay allows viewers to stream the FIFA World Cup 2026 across smartphones, Smart TVs, streaming devices, and gaming consoles. Users can watch live football matches, highlights, and tournament coverage on both mobile devices and larger home entertainment setups. Here is how you can access RAIPlay on different devices during the FIFA World Cup 2026:
Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on Android & iOS
Download the RAIPlay app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store on your smartphone or tablet. If you are outside Italy, connect to an Italian server before opening the app to continue streaming FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage.
Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on Amazon Fire TV
RAIPlay is available on Amazon Fire TV Stick devices through the Amazon Appstore. Install the app, sign in with your RAIPlay account, and stream FIFA World Cup 2026 matches directly on your TV. Users outside Italy can use a VPN-enabled router for uninterrupted access.
Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
RAIPlay can be accessed on Xbox consoles through supported web browsers. Users can stream live football coverage, highlights, and tournament content directly from their gaming consoles. If access is limited outside Italy, a VPN router configuration can help restore streaming availability.
Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on Roku
RAIPlay does not offer dedicated Roku support in some regions. However, users can still watch FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage through screen mirroring, AirPlay, or VPN-enabled Smart DNS/router configurations connected to Roku devices.
Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on Smart TVs
RAIPlay supports several Smart TV platforms, including Samsung Smart TVs, LG Smart TVs, Android TV, and Google TV devices. Users can install the app directly through their TV app store and stream FIFA World Cup 2026 matches live on larger screens.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Highlights and Match Coverage on RAI
RAI and its streaming platform RaiPlay are expected to provide FIFA World Cup 2026 highlights, including goals, key moments, match replays, analysis, interviews, and post-match discussions throughout the tournament. Viewers in Italy can access this content on smartphones, Smart TVs, tablets, laptops, and web browsers to stay updated even if they miss live matches.
If RaiPlay is unavailable in your region, you can use PureVPN to connect to an Italian server and continue watching FIFA World Cup 2026 highlights and full match coverage online from anywhere.
FIFA World Cup 2026: The Biggest Football Tournament in History
The 2026 FIFA 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.
FIFA World Cup 2026 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, the 2026 World Cup will last 39 days instead of the roughly 32 days of previous tournaments.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule
| Date | Day | Match |
|---|---|---|
| June 12, 2026 | Friday | Mexico vs South Africa |
| June 12, 2026 | Friday | South Korea vs Czechia |
| June 13, 2026 | Saturday | Canada vs Bosnia-Herzegovina |
| June 13, 2026 | Saturday | United States vs Paraguay |
| June 14, 2026 | Sunday | Qatar vs Switzerland |
| June 14, 2026 | Sunday | Brazil vs Morocco |
| June 14, 2026 | Sunday | Haiti vs Scotland |
| June 14, 2026 | Sunday | Australia vs Türkiye |
| June 14, 2026 | Sunday | Germany vs Curaçao |
| June 15, 2026 | Monday | Netherlands vs Japan |
| June 15, 2026 | Monday | Ivory Coast vs Ecuador |
| June 15, 2026 | Monday | Sweden vs Tunisia |
| June 15, 2026 | Monday | Spain vs Cape Verde |
16 Host Cities Across 3 Nations in FIFA World Cup 2026
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 in order to comply with FIFA’s corporate name policy.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed the 2026 World Cup final will have a half-time show. Coldplay will be involved in putting together the event at MetLife Stadium, in a move inspired by the NFL’s Super Bowl.
The Stars to Watch in FIFA World Cup 2026
The 2026 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.
FIFA World Cup 2026 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 FIFA World Cup 2026
The prize money for the 2026 World Cup was confirmed at a FIFA Council 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.
FIFA World Cup 2026 official broadcasters
Here’s a list of the official broadcasters for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2026 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 |
2026 FIFA World Cup: A Tournament for the Ages
The 2026 FIFA 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.
Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on RAI for Free
Watch Live FIFA World Cup 2026 Matches
RAI is expected to provide FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage in Italy through its television channels and the RAIPlay streaming platform. Viewers will be able to stream selected live matches, football coverage, and tournament programming online across multiple supported devices during the competition.
Full Match Highlights and Replays
If you miss a live match because of time zone differences or travel, RAIPlay typically provides football highlights, match recaps, and replay coverage after the live broadcast ends. Users can also access important tournament moments and football-related content directly through the RAIPlay platform.
Expert Football Analysis and Commentary
RAI’s sports coverage usually includes football commentary, pre-match discussions, post-match analysis, interviews, and tournament insights from presenters, analysts, and former football players throughout major international competitions.
Live Scores and Match Updates
RAI Sport and RAIPlay provide football news, match schedules, tournament updates, and live score coverage during major sporting events. Users can also follow match reminders and football updates through supported apps and online platforms.
Easy Streaming Across Devices
You can stream FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage on RAI across smartphones, tablets, laptops, Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV devices, and web browsers using RAIPlay. This allows viewers to watch matches both at home and while traveling.
Frequently Asked Questions
The tournament will be hosted across United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature 48 national teams for the first time in tournament history.
The expanded tournament format will include 104 matches.
The competition will include 12 groups with knockout rounds following the group stage.
Argentina national football team won the previous FIFA World Cup.
Tickets will be available through the official FIFA website
Yes, FIFA World Cup 2026 matches will be available through RaiPlay, RAI’s official streaming platform.
Yes, RaiPlay typically provides FIFA World Cup 2026 highlights, replays, and match analysis.
Yes, the RaiPlay app is available for both Android and iOS devices.
