With a record 48 teams involved this year, the 2026 World Cup will be the biggest international football tournament in history and fans from all over the planet will be tuning in to get a glimpse of the action. With the United States, Canada and Mexico hosting fixtures across the continent, FIFA President Gianni Infantino promised the competition is the equivalent to “104 Super Bowls”, so there is plenty to live up to.

Luckily for Infantino, the star power of teams such as Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Portugal and more will be on display, with some of the best players in the world set to showcase their abundant skills. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are set for one last crusade, while young upstarts such as Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe will be determined to make history.

With the games being played in North America, football fans in the United Kingdom will have to contend with time difference issues, with some matches occurring in the early hours of the morning and others taking place late at night. England supporters have a relatively manageable schedule, but those wishing to watch Scotland will have a few late nights ahead of them.

Here, GIVEMESPORT brings you the full World Cup 2026 television and streaming schedule, with all times in UK time.

World Cup 2026 on UK TV

World Cup 2026 broadcasting rights in the United Kingdom are split between the free-to-air BBC and ITV, with the two networks splitting the fixtures. As well as the channel BBC One, games will be available to stream on the BBC iPlayer, while some games will also be shown on BBC Two. Most of ITV’s games can be watched on ITV1 or ITVX, with occasional games available to watch on ITV4.

BBC One Channel Numbers

• Freeview: Channel 101, Channel 1
• Freesat: Channel 101
• Sky: Channel 101
• Virgin Media: Channel 101
• Sky Glass: Channel 101
• Freely: Channel 1

ITV1 Channel Numbers

• Freeview: Channel 103, Channel 3
• Freesat: Channel 103
• Sky: Channel 103
• Virgin Media: Channel 103
• Sky Glass: Channel 103
• Freely: Channel 3

Full World Cup 2026 TV Schedule

The complete TV schedule for World Cup 2026 fixtures can be seen below. All times are BST.

Games involving England and Scotland are highlighted in bold.

Thursday June 11, 2026

Friday June 12, 2026

Saturday June 13, 2026

Sunday June 14, 2026

Monday June 15, 2026

Tuesday June 16, 2026

Wednesday June 17, 2026

Thursday June 18, 2026

Friday June 19, 2026

Saturday June 20, 2026

Sunday June 21, 2026

Monday June 22, 2026

Tuesday June 23, 2026

Wednesday June 24, 2026

Thursday June 25, 2026

Friday June 26, 2026

Saturday June 27, 2026

Sunday June 28, 2026

Monday June 29, 2026

Tuesday June 30, 2026

Wednesday July 1, 2026

Thursday July 2, 2026

Friday July 3, 2026

Saturday July 4, 2026

Sunday July 5, 2026

Monday July 6, 2026

Tuesday July 7, 2026

Thursday July 9, 2026

Friday July 10, 2026

Saturday July 11, 2026

Sunday July 12, 2026

Tuesday July 14, 2026

Wednesday July 15, 2026

Saturday July 18, 2026

Sunday July 19, 2026

Useful World Cup links

Manchester United had a player who was even better than Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and should have won multiple Ballon d’Or awards.

That’s the verdict of former Man Utd youth player Reece Brown, younger brother of ex-England international Wes.

Lamine Yamal burst onto the scene in 2023, aged just 15, and is now widely regarded as one of the world’s best footballers. The 18-year-old is a contender to become the youngest-ever Ballon d’Or winner later this year and his odds of winning the prestigious individual accolade will shorten further if Spain win this summer’s World Cup.

The teenager has been so impressive that he’s even earned comparisons to Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest footballer in history.

‘Ravel Morrison Was Better Than Lamine Yamal’

However, Brown claims Ravel Morrison was an even better footballer than Lamine Yamal and should have won multiple Ballon d’Or awards during his career.

Speaking on The Long Game podcast, Brown said of Morrison: “Best player I’ve ever seen in my life – no word of a lie. I’ve never seen anything like it, especially witnessing it with my own eyes.

“We came up through the system together. When I was Under-9s, he was Under-8s. Some of the stuff I’ve seen from him is absolutely frightening.

Brown continued: “It was a joke. Every time I got the ball, it was just ‘give it to Rav’.

“What I like to say to anyone who doesn’t know Rav is just watch Lamine Yamal and some of the stuff he does now… [Ravel] was doing that better.”

Brown added: “He should have Ballon d’Or awards, Ravel. One hundred per cent. I’m talking a lot of Ballon d’Or awards as well but it is what it is.

“He still had a good career, though, can’t say he’s not had a good career. But I think he realised it just a bit too late, or tried to change it a little bit too late.” Watch the clip below:

Sir Alex Ferguson Was Also Amazed by Morrison’s Talent

While it may sound like hyperbole, one man likely to concur with Brown is arguably the greatest manager in football history, Sir Alex Ferguson.

Casting his mind back to a training session, former United star Rio Ferdinand said in 2019: “Sir Alex Ferguson, I remember, he called me and Wazza [Wayne Rooney] over one day and said: “look at this kid, he’s better than you, Rooney when you were a kid, he’s better than you, Rio, better than Ryan Giggs when you were kids. This is the best kid you will ever see.”

Two years later, in 2021, Ferdinand asked Ferguson for his honest assessment of Morrison. Fergie replied: “Rio, my first and lasting impression of Ravel as a young lad was he has always got time and space, always available to be on the ball, so unusual for a young lad of his age. Give my regards to him, please.

“Another thing about Ravel which I’ve always treasured because no other young player who made their debut did it. After the first game in the first-team that he played, the next morning he came to my office and gave me a letter thanking me for giving him his debut. I was gobsmacked, Rio.

“The boy had a good heart, he was just beaten by his background.”

Morrison showed flashes of his brilliance after leaving Old Trafford in 2012 – most notably a stunning solo goal for West Ham against Tottenham in October 2013 – but ultimately failed to justify the hype.

While the 33-year-old’s career has taken him all over the world, and led to 21 caps for Jamaica’s national team, there will always be a huge question of ‘what if?’ hanging over him.

Morrison currently plies his trade with Arabian Falcons FC, where he plays under former England midfielder Jonjo Shelvey in the UAE Second Division.

The debate regarding who truly is the greatest basketball player of all time is a topic that has always been on the lips of NBA fans. It remains one of the fiercest arguments in all of sport, with a handful of superstars holding equally valid claims to the crown.

To finally settle the debate, the fan-voting platform Ranker put the ultimate question to the public, and the top 20 has been revealed.

10

Bill Russell

There might not be a more prolific winner in the history of North American sports than Bill Russell. Anchoring the legendary Boston Celtics dynasty, Russell collected an unfathomable 11 NBA Championships in just 13 seasons, including eight consecutive titles between 1959 and 1966.

His list of achievements is also staggering: five regular-season MVP awards and 12 All-Star selections. Russell also made history in 1966 when he became the first black head coach in major US professional sports. His defensive genius and unparalleled leadership make him a worthy top-10 lock.

9

Wilt Chamberlain

When Wilt Chamberlain joined the NBA, he was a statistical anomaly that forced the NBA to literally change its rulebook. The 7-foot-1 Philadelphia native holds over 70 NBA records, the most famous being his 100-point game in 1962.

Chamberlain captured two NBA titles, one with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1967 and another with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1972, while picking up four MVP awards along the way. Even with modern debates about the era he played in, the sheer magnitude of Chamberlain’s physical and statistical dominance remains undeniable.

8

Shaquille O’Neal

You would struggle to find a more physically imposing and terrifying force in NBA history than Shaq. O’Neal bulldozed his way to four championship rings, famously teaming up with Kobe Bryant to create one of the most iconic partnerships in NBA history as the Lakers three-peated the championship in the early 2000s.

A three-time Finals MVP and member of the 1996 Olympic “Dream Team”, Shaq was virtually unguardable on his day. In a testament to his lasting impact, three different franchises – the Orlando Magic, LA Lakers, and Miami Heat – have all retired his jersey.

7

Tim Duncan

Nicknamed “The Big Fundamental”, Duncan spent his entire 19-year career with the San Antonio Spurs, quietly transforming them into a dynasty.

Duncan walked away from the sport with five championship rings, three Finals MVPs, and two regular-season MVP awards. Widely considered the greatest power forward to ever pick up a basketball, he remains the only player in NBA history to be selected in both the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams for 13 consecutive seasons.

6

Kobe Bryant

The Los Angeles icon, Kobe Bryant, cemented himself as a global phenomenon during his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Picking up five NBA championships and delivering a legendary 81-point game in 2006, Bryant’s lethal scoring ability and obsessive drive to win made him one of the most feared competitors in sport history. The 18-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medallist tragically passed away in 2020, but his cultural impact and legacy as an all-time great are forever remembered by those connected to the game.

5

Magic Johnson

Before the high-flying heroics of the modern era, there was Magic. Standing at a towering 6-foot-9, Magic Johnson revolutionised the point guard position, orchestrating the famous “Showtime Lakers” of the 1980s with a dazzling array of no-look passes and fast-break offence.

Spending his entire career in purple and gold, Johnson secured five NBA championships, three MVP awards, and three Finals MVPs. He is universally recognised as one of the greatest floor generals to ever step onto the court.

4

Larry Bird

Larry Bird was the ultimate all-around forward and one of the deadliest shooters the league has ever witnessed. Long before the three-point revolution, “Larry Legend” was stretching defences and single-handedly redefining the small forward position.

The undisputed star of the iconic 1980s Boston Celtics squad, Bird captured three NBA championships in the 1980s and managed the incredibly rare feat of winning three consecutive regular-season MVP awards. A legendary trash-talker with the skills to back it up, Bird’s iconic rivalry with Magic Johnson revitalised the NBA and laid the groundwork for its modern success.

3

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Across an astonishing 20-year career split between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers, Kareem secured six NBA championships, 19 All-Star nods, and a record-setting six regular-season MVP awards.

Armed with the unblockable “skyhook” shot, Abdul-Jabbar held the NBA’s all-time scoring record for nearly four decades with 38,387 points.

2

LeBron James

LeBron James is the defining player of the 21st century. Having shattered the seemingly unbreakable all-time scoring record, recently surging past an astronomical 43,000 regular-season points, LeBron’s longevity and sustained peak are completely unprecedented in basketball history.

Boasting four NBA championships with three different franchises, LeBron’s historic 2016 Finals comeback against the Golden State Warriors remains his crowning achievement. Now into his 40s and remarkably still producing at an elite level, his all-around prowess on the court keeps him consistently in the GOAT conversation.

1

Michael Jordan

It comes as no surprise that the fans have crowned “His Airness” with the number one spot. With a flawless 6-0 record in the NBA Finals and six Finals MVPs with the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan dominated basketball, but also transcended sport entirely.

Holding the highest regular-season scoring average in NBA history (30.1 points per game), Jordan was breathtakingly athletic. He defined the culture of 1990s basketball and became a global billionaire icon off the court through his legendary Air Jordan partnership with Nike. For the fans, MJ remains the undisputed greatest of all time.