Tubi
Fox Corporation's free ad-supported streaming service. Simulcasts the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony plus two opening matches (Mexico vs South Africa on June 11 and USA vs Paraguay on June 12) live in 4K at no cost.
Football World Cup 2026, Jun 11 2026: TV & Streaming
Football World Cup 2026 opening day: Mexico vs South Africa kicks off at 19:00 UTC (3:00 PM ET) at Estadio Azteca. Watch free on Tubi, FOX, and Telemundo.
All matches on this day
Group Stage · Kickoffs shown in stadium-local time.
Where to watch
FOX Sports
Exclusive English-language broadcaster of the 2026 World Cup in the United States. 70 matches air free over the air on the FOX broadcast network, 34 air on FS1 with a cable subscription. Streaming on the FOX Sports app and FOX One requires TV-provider sign-in for most matches.
Telemundo
Exclusive Spanish-language broadcaster of the 2026 World Cup in the United States. 92 of the 104 matches air free over the air on the Telemundo broadcast network; 12 air on Universo with a cable subscription. The two opening matches also stream free in Spanish on the Telemundo app.
Peacock
NBCUniversal's streaming service and the only place to stream all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup live in Spanish. The two opening matches are also available on the free Peacock Select tier. Streams in Dolby Atmos with multiview, live picks, and catch-up highlights.
The Football World Cup 2026 begins on with a single match on the UTC calendar: Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, kicking off at . The opening match is free to watch in the US on Tubi, FOX, and Telemundo — no cable subscription required.
What time does the World Cup 2026 start on June 11?
Mexico vs South Africa kicks off at . US viewers can tune in at 3:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM MT / 12:00 PM PT. Local kickoff time at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City is 1:00 PM CDT. An opening ceremony is scheduled before the match, so build in time before the 19:00 UTC whistle. The full Football World Cup 2026 schedule has kickoff times for all 104 matches.
What match is played on the opening day?
The only match in the UTC bucket is Mexico vs South Africa, a Group A fixture and the tournament’s opening game. Mexico play on home soil at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where a crowd of up to 87,000 will be overwhelmingly behind the host nation. Kicking the tournament off in the host country’s capital gives the opener a charged, partisan atmosphere. See the full Group A picture for the remaining five group matches across June.
Where can I watch the opening day in the US?
All three free options are available for this match. Tubi streams Mexico vs South Africa live in 4K at no cost — no account needed. FOX carries it free over the air in English; any antenna or TV provider gives you access. Telemundo has the Spanish-language broadcast free over the air and via the Telemundo app. For Spanish-language streaming across all 104 matches, Peacock offers full coverage with a Premium subscription. The broadcaster cards below list links and details for each option.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When does the 2026 World Cup start?
- The Football World Cup 2026 kicks off on with Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The opening match kicks off at 19:00 UTC — that is 3:00 PM ET, 2:00 PM CT, 1:00 PM MT, and 12:00 PM PT in the United States. It is the only match on the UTC June 11 calendar day.
- What time does the World Cup opening match kick off?
- Mexico vs South Africa kicks off at . In US timezones that is 3:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM MT / 12:00 PM PT. Kick off at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City is 1:00 PM local time (CDT). An opening ceremony precedes the match; allow extra time before the 19:00 UTC kickoff.
- What channel is the World Cup opening match on?
- In the US, Mexico vs South Africa airs in English on the FOX broadcast network — free over the air with any antenna. Spanish-language coverage airs free on Telemundo. The opening match is also available free on Tubi, Fox Corporation's ad-supported streaming service, requiring no account or subscription. FS1 and Universo carry selected later matches.
- Can I watch the World Cup opening match for free?
- Yes. The opening match streams free on Tubi — no sign-in required — and also airs free over the air on FOX (English) and Telemundo (Spanish). Tubi is confirmed to simulcast the opening ceremony and Mexico vs South Africa live in 4K at no cost. This free access is specific to the opening match; most later matches require a cable or streaming subscription for English-language coverage.
- Where is the opening match of the 2026 World Cup?
- The opening match is played at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico, which holds a capacity of 87,000. Mexico open the Football World Cup 2026 on home soil here, putting the host nation in front of a capacity home crowd from the tournament's very first match. Local kickoff at the venue is .
- Is there an opening ceremony before the first match?
- Yes. An opening ceremony precedes Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca on . Tubi simulcasts the ceremony free in 4K alongside the match, with no account required. The match itself kicks off at ; the ceremony begins beforehand, so tune in early to catch it.