Fox to air record 70 World Cup matches, with 40 in primetime

Fox Sports will air 70 matches and its sister station FS1 will show an additional 34 of the games being played in the 2026 World Cup, the networks announced Thursday.

Those matches are the 104 to be contested in what is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams. They will total 304 hours of live coverage.

All matches also will stream on Fox One.

The 70 matches on Fox are double the number to air on broadcast TV than in the 2022 World Cup, which was played in Qatar.

Forty of the matches will be broadcast in primetime hours - 21 on Fox and 19 on FS1. Fox also will have the coverage of all three U.S. matches in the group stage, beginning with the June 12 opener against Paraguay.

There will be expanded pregame shows for the opening matches of the host countries -- the United States, Canada and Mexico. A three-hour pregame show will precede the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.

"FIFA is putting on the biggest World Cup in history, and Fox Sports is living up to that standard," said Eric Shanks, the CEO and executive producer on Fox Sports. "Our broadcast schedule affirms FOX is truly going to be America's home for the beautiful game over a span of 39 incredible days. We look forward to bringing the country together for its 250th birthday with all the world here for the greatest event on the planet."

The U.S. team is in Group D alongside Paraguay, Australia, and the winner of a European playoff still to be determined.

Mexico will host the opening game of the tournament on June 11 with Team Mexico playing South Africa.

--Field Level Media