The FIFA World Cup 2026 promises to be the most spectacular edition of the tournament yet, with 48 nations competing across North America in an expanded format that will deliver more matches, more drama, and more unforgettable football moments.
The excitement surrounding the tournament is already building worldwide, with YouGov reporting that 42% of global adults say they are likely to follow the FIFA World Cup 2026, highlighting the event’s immense international appeal.
In New Zealand, football fans can catch the action live on TVNZ 1, the country’s official free-to-air broadcaster for the tournament. From the opening match to the final whistle, TVNZ 1 will bring comprehensive World Cup coverage directly to viewers across the nation.
However, due to broadcasting agreements, TVNZ 1’s online streams are generally available only within New Zealand. If you’re traveling abroad or living outside the country, accessing the coverage can be challenging.
Fortunately, PureVPN makes it easy to stay connected by allowing you to connect to a New Zealand server and access TVNZ 1’s official World Cup broadcasts from virtually anywhere in the world to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 on TVNZ 1
Why Do You Need VPN to Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 on TVNZ 1
TVNZ 1’s online streaming service is mainly available in New Zealand. If you are traveling abroad or living outside New Zealand, you may not be able to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 live because of regional limitations.
TVNZ checks your IP address to see where you are connecting from. If it detects that you are outside New Zealand, access to the live stream may be blocked.
PureVPN can help by connecting you to a server in New Zealand and giving you a New Zealand IP address. This allows you to access TVNZ 1’s official coverage and watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 on TVNZ 1 from anywhere.
How to Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on TVNZ 1
If you are a football fan and want to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 on TVNZ 1, you can easily do so by following a few steps. TVNZ is New Zealand’s official broadcaster, and its coverage is available through TV channels and the TVNZ+ streaming platform.
Get a PureVPN Subscription
First, go to the official PureVPN website and choose a plan that suits you. Then download and install the PureVPN app on your device, such as a mobile, laptop, or smart TV.
Connect to a New Zealand Server
Open the PureVPN app and sign in. After that, search for a New Zealand server and connect to it. This helps you access New Zealand-based streaming services.
Open TVNZ 1 or TVNZ+
Once connected, go to TVNZ 1 on your TV or visit the TVNZ+ website or app. These are the official platforms where World Cup coverage is expected to be available in New Zealand.
Start Watching Live Matches
Search for FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage and select the live match or highlights you want to watch. Make sure your VPN connection stays active for smooth streaming without interruption.
Where to Watch FIFA World Cup 2026 on TVNZ 1 on Different Devices
You can watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ on many different devices. If you are outside New Zealand, you may need a VPN like PureVPN to access the content safely and smoothly.
Android Devices (Phones & Tablets)
On Android devices, download the TVNZ+ app from the Google Play Store or open the TVNZ website on your browser. After installing PureVPN, connect to a New Zealand server, then open TVNZ+ and start watching live matches or highlights in HD.
iOS Devices (iPhone & iPad)
For iPhone or iPad users, install the TVNZ+ app from the App Store or use Safari to visit the TVNZ website. First connect PureVPN to a New Zealand server, then open TVNZ+ and enjoy live FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage easily.
Smart TVs and Streaming Devices
On Smart TVs, you can download the TVNZ+ app directly if available, or use casting options from your mobile device. If you are outside New Zealand, connect to a server in New Zealand via PureVPN before accessing the platform.
Laptops and Desktop Computers
On laptops or PCs, simply visit the official TVNZ+ website using Chrome, Firefox, or any browser. Turn on PureVPN, connect to New Zealand, and then log in to watch live matches or replays without interruption.
The FIFA Fan Festival is BACK for 2026. 🎉
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 3, 2026
Where you don’t just watch football … you feel it. Visit https://t.co/zJTWWlvUsi for more information.#FIFAFanFestival #FIFAWorldCup
What are the Replays and On-Demand Options for the FIFA World Cup 2026 on TVNZ 1
If you miss watching the FIFA World Cup 2026 live on TVNZ 1, you don’t have to worry because TVNZ offers replay and on-demand options through TVNZ+. This means you can go back and watch full matches after they have finished, so you never miss important moments like goals, highlights, or exciting match action. It is a very helpful option for fans who are busy or unable to watch games live.
TVNZ+ also gives you the freedom to watch World Cup content anytime you want. You can pause, rewind, or rewatch matches, and also catch highlights and short clips of key moments. However, some content may only be available in New Zealand due to broadcasting rules. If you are outside the country, you need PureVPN to access TVNZ+ and enjoy replays and on-demand FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage 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 TVNZ 1 for Free
Football fans in New Zealand will be able to enjoy the FIFA World Cup 2026 live and free on TVNZ 1, one of the country’s main public broadcasters. TVNZ 1 will bring World Cup action to viewers across New Zealand, giving access to live matches, highlights, and full tournament coverage without any subscription fees.
Free Live Coverage on TVNZ 1
All selected matches will be shown live and free on TVNZ 1, allowing fans to follow the excitement of the tournament on regular television. This makes it easy for viewers across New Zealand to stay connected to every key moment of the World Cup.
Watch Online on TVNZ+
For those who prefer streaming, TVNZ also provides TVNZ+, a free online platform available on mobile apps, smart TVs, tablets, and web browsers. This lets fans watch live matches and highlights anytime and anywhere with an internet connection.
Tournament Schedule
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place from June 12 to July 19, 2026, across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. TVNZ 1 will provide full coverage throughout the tournament so New Zealand fans do not miss the action.
Watch Anywhere with PureVPN
If you are outside New Zealand, you may face barriers when trying to access TVNZ 1 or TVNZ+. In such cases, PureVPN can help by connecting you to a New Zealand server, letting you access TVNZ’s official coverage and enjoy the FIFA World Cup 2026 from anywhere in the world.
SBS unveils full FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 broadcast plan. Full Details: https://t.co/spcx2in1Wy
— Kevin Perry (@kevinperry) May 25, 2026
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. TVNZ 1 is expected to broadcast FIFA World Cup 2026 matches free-to-air in New Zealand, allowing viewers to watch selected games without a subscription.
No. TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ are geo-restricted and primarily available to viewers located in New Zealand.
Yes. TVNZ+ is available on web browsers, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and supported streaming devices.
If you’re outside New Zealand, you may need a VPN to access TVNZ+, subject to the platform’s terms of service.
