The way the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be followed in the United Kingdom is expected to take a strong turn towards digital platforms.
According to The Times, traditional broadcasters BBC and ITV, which own the tournament's television rights, have received the green light from FIFA to experiment with a new format: publishing the first 10 minutes of each match on YouTube, as well as broadcasting up to five full matches each.
This is an unprecedented move aimed at attracting a new audience, who are increasingly following sport through online platforms rather than just traditional television. However, the content on YouTube will only be accessible within the UK, through geo-restrictions, so as not to violate agreements with other international broadcasters.
Along the same lines, FIFA is looking at YouTube as one of the key channels to increase the impact of the tournament ahead of 2026. The agreement also allows partners to publish additional content such as extended summaries, interviews and “on demand” material.
In parallel, an agreement has also been reached with TikTok, but in a more limited form, allowing only partial live broadcasts of specific moments from matches.
Both the BBC and ITV are looking at how to make the most of the new space within their own organisations. If the plan is finalised, they will have to select matches to be broadcast in full on YouTube and submit them to FIFA for approval. Theoretically, the final could be included in the list.
The 2026 tournament, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, will feature a total of 104 matches. Their distribution in the British market has already been decided: ITV will cover 34 group stage matches, including England's opening match against Croatia and the third match against Panama.
Meanwhile, the BBC will broadcast 38 other group matches, including England v Ghana and Scotland v Brazil. The BBC will also have first pick for the round of 32 and round of 16, while ITV will have the first pick from the quarter-finals onwards.
The grand final on July 19, 2026, will be broadcast simultaneously by both networks, guaranteeing maximum audience for the biggest event in world football.
