With 104 matches in 39 days, following the 2026 World Cup takes a plan. Up to four matches a day during the group stage, spread across three time zones and three countries, means you need the right apps, the right broadcasters and a strategy for the games you cannot watch live.

The official FIFA app: your first stop

The FIFA app is the single most useful tool for the tournament. It carries live scores for every match, line-ups, statistics, video highlights and push notifications for goals, red cards and full-time results. It is also where your tickets live, so if you are attending matches you will have it installed anyway. Set up notifications for your team only, or you will be buzzed awake at 3am by a goal in a game you do not care about.

Where to watch: broadcasters by country

Broadcast rights vary by country, so check your local listings early. In the USA, matches are split between Fox Sports and Telemundo, with streaming on their apps. In the UK, the BBC and ITV share the games. In Canada, Bell Media and TSN carry the tournament. In Mexico, Televisa and TV Azteca broadcast the matches, and in most of Europe the games are on free-to-air or major sports channels. If you are travelling between host countries, your streaming subscriptions may not work abroad — download matches or use the broadcaster's app for the country you are in.

Live scores when you cannot watch

Sometimes you will be in transit, at work, or in a stadium watching one match while another is happening. For live scores, the big sports apps — FotMob, LiveScore, OneFootball and the official FIFA app — all offer fast, reliable minute-by-minute updates with goal alerts. FotMob is particularly good for detailed statistics and player ratings. Pick one app, set it up before the tournament, and stick with it: switching apps mid-tournament is how you miss goals.

Time zones: the hidden challenge

The tournament spans four time zones, from Pacific Time in Vancouver to Eastern Time in New York, with Mexico in between. Kick-off times are set for the host city, so a 6pm match in Vancouver is 9pm in New York. If you are following from home, build a personal schedule in your own time zone before the tournament starts — the FIFA app lets you set your time zone, and a simple spreadsheet of your team's matches will save you from missing kick-offs.

Fan zones and watch parties

If you are in a host city without a ticket, the official FIFA Fan Festivals show every match on giant screens, free to enter in most cities. Beyond that, every host city has sports bars and supporter pubs showing the games — the best atmosphere is usually in the neighbourhoods where a team's diaspora gathers. For the biggest matches, arrive early: the popular bars fill up hours before kick-off.

Frequently asked questions

Following from home: the second-screen habit

If you are watching from home, the tournament rewards a second screen. Keep the live scores app open on your phone while the main match plays on the TV, and you will catch goals from the other games as they happen. Many fans run a group chat during matches, sharing clips and reactions in real time. It is the closest thing to being in a fan zone from your sofa — and for the 3am kick-offs, it is the only thing that keeps you awake.

What is the best app for World Cup 2026 live scores? The official FIFA app, plus FotMob or LiveScore for detail. Where can I watch in the USA? Fox Sports and Telemundo, with streaming on their apps. Do scores update in real time? Yes — the main apps update within seconds of a goal. Can I watch matches on my phone at the stadium? Yes, but stadium Wi-Fi is unreliable, so use mobile data. How do I handle time zones? Set your time zone in the FIFA app and build a personal schedule before the tournament.