FIFA World Cup 2026 Is Coming to America — Everything You Need to Know About Watching Every Game

The FIFA World Cup is coming to the United States this summer for the first time since 1994 — and with 104 games across American stadiums, a record-breaking format, and the full weight of the global sports world descending on US cities, this is shaping up to be the most significant sporting event ever held on American soil. If you're planning to watch, here's absolutely everything you need to know.

WHERE AND HOW TO WATCH EVERY SINGLE GAME

NBC's Peacock streaming service will carry all 104 World Cup games, making this the first World Cup in American history where every match is available to stream in one place. Fox and Telemundo will cover the tournament in English and Spanish respectively for traditional broadcast audiences. For the US national team games specifically, Fox expects over 15 million American viewers per match — a number that would make each US game one of the most-watched sporting events of 2026.

The expanded 48-team format means there are significantly more games to watch than in any previous World Cup, including a new round of 32 that creates additional knockout drama before the traditional last-16 stage. For American soccer fans, this means a longer period of peak excitement and more opportunities to see diverse global soccer at the highest level. The group stage alone will feature 72 matches across American venues.

THE US HOST CITIES AND WHAT TO EXPECT

Games are being hosted across 16 American cities including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Atlanta, Houston, and others — plus venues in Canada and Mexico as part of the joint North American hosting arrangement. The opening match and the final will both be held in the United States, with the final expected at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Each host city is preparing for an influx of international visitors that will rival or exceed any previous sporting event they've hosted.

The atmosphere around this tournament is genuinely different from previous American-hosted mega-events. Soccer's profile in the United States has risen dramatically since 1994, driven by the growth of MLS, the success of American players in European leagues, and the explosion of global sports content on streaming platforms. This isn't the same America that hosted the World Cup 32 years ago. The fan base is larger, more knowledgeable, and more passionate than at any point in the sport's American history.

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF WORLD CUP 2026

Subscribe to Peacock if you haven't already — it's the only way to guarantee access to every single match regardless of which broadcaster has the rights for a given game. Download the Fox Sports and Peacock apps for mobile viewing. Follow the tournament bracket closely — with 48 teams, the path to the final is more complex than previous editions. And if you can get tickets to even one game at your nearest host city, this is once-in-a-generation experience worth the effort. America gets to host the world this summer. Make the most of it.