SBS have confirmed that they have secured exclusive broadcast rights in Australia for the 2026 World Cup, and will show all 104 matches.
It’s an extension of an ongoing partnership between FIFA and SBS which will now span 40 years, with the Australian broadcaster set to show every single game from across joint-hosts Canada, Mexico and USA live, free and exclusive.
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With 104 tournament matches all set to be shown across SBS, SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand platforms, the World Cup will revert back to its traditional slot over the summer months, and it will be played over June and July in 2026.
“Football is in the DNA of SBS,” said James Taylor, Managing Director of SBS. “SBS has been the home of football on Australian television for almost 40 years and we could not be more thrilled to announce that we will broadcast the 2026 tournament from North America, which will have more teams, more matches and draw more eyeballs than ever before.”
Provided that they qualify for the tournament, the Socceroos will of course be central to the SBS coverage, but the Australian TV audience will be able to track every single game with the competition being expanded to have 48 national teams compete in it, while the digital element of the coverage will continue to expand.
It promises to be a memorable tournament as Argentina look to defend their crown after lifting the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, with further details on global rights deals expected to be announced in the coming months, and closer to the tournament.
As with all major sporting events though, it will be welcome news for all concerned to have this deal in place early and confirmed, with SBS set to be the home of the 2026 World Cup in Australia.
