2026 World Cup Ends with Spain Win: Full Schedule & Viewing Guide

The 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup concluded Sunday with Spain narrowly defeating Argentina 1-0 in a tense final, bringing an extraordinary five-week, 104-match tournament to a close. Co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the event drew global attention, with US captain Tim Ream noting it was like 'a Super Bowl every single day for five weeks.' With tickets scarce and expensive, broadcast and streaming options made the action accessible to millions. Here's a complete guide to viewing, along with a recap of the tournament's key moments.

How to Watch the World Cup

FOX and NBCUniversal held the English-language broadcast rights for the 78 matches played in the US, while Telemundo and Universo provided Spanish-language coverage. For viewers with a TV antenna or access to FOX via smart TV, 70 matches aired for free on the network. An additional 34 matches were split between Fox Sports 1 and Universo, both cable channels. In Spanish, 92 of the 104 matches aired free on Telemundo, with the remainder on Universo. Streaming was available through the FOX One app and the FOX Sports app, while Peacock held exclusive Spanish-language streaming rights. Other subscription services like YouTube TV, Fubo, and Hulu + Live TV also carried all matches. Highlights and news were available at CBSSports.com.

Tournament Overview

The tournament kicked off June 11 in Mexico City, where co-host Mexico faced South Africa. The US and Canada played their first matches a day later in Los Angeles and Toronto, respectively. The group stage concluded June 27, and the knockout rounds began June 28. In the final, Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina secured the championship, capping a tournament that saw 5 billion viewers, according to Ream.

US Team's Performance

The US men's team competed in Group D alongside Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey. They opened June 12 with a 4-1 win over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. On June 19, a 2-0 victory over Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle clinched their spot in the Round of 32. Their final group match ended in a 3-2 loss to Turkey at SoFi. In the knockout stage, the US defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 on July 1 in Santa Clara, California, but were eliminated July 6 with a 4-1 loss to Belgium.

Looking Ahead

With the 2026 tournament concluded, attention now turns to the next World Cup cycle. The expanded format and multi‑nation hosting proved logistically complex but delivered a month of high‑stakes soccer. For broadcasters and streaming platforms, the event underscored the growing demand for live sports content across free‑to‑air and digital channels. As fans digest the results, the US team's competitive run offers a foundation for future growth.