We know: Our boys in red, white, and blue almost ruined the fun. Panama leap-frogged the United States and claimed North America’s final World Cup berth in October. And just think, the poor suits at Fox spent $200 million to pry away the TV rights for Russia 2018, surely hoping the momentum for the United States Men’s National Team would swell like 2010 and 2014. But you’re going to love watching all the same. If not for the world-turning soccer, then because you can easily stream at the office. Here’s how to watch the World Cup online.
Here’s how to watch the World Cup online
In the U.S., Fox and Telemundo have the rights this time out. (Not ESPN and Univision.) That means all 64 games, taking place June 14 – July 15, are available via over-the-air TV for free—if you don’t mind a little Spanish.
In English, 38 games are on Fox, while the remaining 26 will be available on cable network Fox Sports. (Details below.)
The easiest way to watch is to log in to your cable or satellite provider via the Fox Sports app or the Telemundo app. Of course, many of us have already cut the cord. In this case, I recommend talking to your parents (only if they have a have satellite or cable subscription) and creating a login ID for their account. They won’t realize that you’re using it to, essentially, watch their cable content on your Apple TV.
If that option is off the table, DirectTV Now is where you want to start. The “Live a Little” bundle covers the ground you need. Ditto Sling TV‘s Blue tier. Fubo TV is another smart investment if you crave live sports. I’m a longtime subscriber as a soccer dork who needs his Bein Sports, and it’s a delightful menu of action with a strong user experience.
All three offer iOS and Android apps.
READ MORE:
- Learn more about DirecTV Now
- Here’s what you should know about Sling TV
- Learn more about FuboTV
- The ultimate guide to live TV streaming
Alternatively, YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV, and PlayStation Vue all carry Fox Sports.
Who should Americans root for?
This is a long-running talking point on sports radio. I believe with all my heart that Mexico is the truest choice unless you’re highly tuned into your ancestry. They’re our neighbors and they’re under attack by racist scape-goating. I’d never vouch for fans of the Houston Rockets to support the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals because of geography, but then again Mark Cuban isn’t separating the Houston Rockets from their children at the border.
Plus Mexico is one of the most supported teams in the U.S. It’s one of 13 reasons why you should watch the tournament, and we unpack it on this week’s bonus Upstream podcast. Give it a listen below:
Subscribe to the Upstream Podcast on iTunes.
Who is going to win the World Cup?
Spain has the depth and the tools. France and Belgium are loaded. Argentina looks ready to implode. Uruguay has the managerial consistency to make a run to the semis. But if it isn’t Germany or Brazil, then color me pickled.
World Cup fixtures
In England, a “fixture” is basically a game. I know, that’s only slightly less confusing than every anglophile soccer podcast host using plural verbs to describe countries. (As in “Argentina are hoping to best Iceland.” Come on mates, this is America. I mean blimey that’s pretentious!)
Anyway, here are the games.
Group play
All times Eastern.
Thursday, June 14
11am – Russia vs Saudi Arabia (Group 1), Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Fox
Friday, June 15
8am – Egypt vs Uruguay (Group A), Ekaterinburg Arena, Ekaterinburg, FS1
11am – Morocco vs Iran (Group B), St. Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fox
2pm – Portugal vs Spain (Group B), Fisht Stadium, Sochi, Fox
Saturday, June 16
6am – France vs Australia (Group C), Kazan Arena, Kazan, FS1
9am – Argentina vs Iceland (Group D, Spartak Stadium, Moscow, Fox
noon – Peru vs Denmark (Group C), Mordovia Arena, Saransk, FS1
3pm – Croatia vs Nigeria (Group D), Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, FS1
Sunday, June 17
8am – Costa Rica vs Serbia (Group E), Samara Arena, Samara, Fox
11:00am – Germany vs Mexico (Group F), Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, FS1
2pm – Brazil vs Switzerland (Group E), Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, FS1
Monday, June 18
8am – Sweden vs Korea Republic (Group F), Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, FS1
11am – Belgium vs Panama (Group G), Fisht Stadium, Sochi, FS1
2pm – Tunisia vs England (Group G), Volgograd Arena, Volgograd, FS1
Tuesday, June 19
8am – Colombia vs Japan (Group H), Mordovia Arena, Saransk, FS1
11am – Poland vs Senegal (Group H), Spartak Stadium, Moscow, Fox
2pm – Russia vs Egypt (Group A), St. Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fox
Wednesday, June 20
8am – Portugal vs Morocco (Group B), Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, FS1
11am – Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia (Group A), Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Fox
2pm – Iran vs Spain (Group B), Kazan Arena, Kazan, Fox
Thursday, June 21
8am – Denmark vs Australia (Group C), Samara Arena, Samara, FS1
11am – France vs Peru (Group C), Ekaterinburg Arena, Ekaterinburg, Fox
2pm – Argentina vs Croatia (Group D), Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Fox
Friday, June 22
8am – Brazil vs Costa Rica (Group E), St. Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, FS1
11am – Nigeria vs Iceland (Group D), Volgograd Arena, Volgograd, Fox
2pm – Serbia vs Switzerland (Group E), Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Fox
Saturday, June 23
8am – Belgium vs Tunisia (Group G), Spartak Stadium, Moscow, Fox
11am – Korea Republic vs Mexico (Group F), Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Fox
2pm – Germany vs Sweden (Group F), Fisht Stadium, Sochi, Fox
Sunday, June 24
8am – England vs Panama (Group G), Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, FS1
11am – Japan vs Senegal (Group H), Ekaterinburg Arena, Ekaterinburg, Fox
2pm – Poland vs Colombia (Group H), Kazan Arena, Kazan, Fox
Monday, June 25
10am – Group A: Uruguay vs Russia, Samara Arena, Samara, Fox; Saudi Arabia vs Egypt, Volgograd Arena, Volgograd FS1
2pm – Group B: Iran vs Portugal, Mordovia Arena, Saransk, Fox; Spain vs Morocco Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, FS1
Tuesday, June 26
10am – Group C: Denmark vs France, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Fox; Australia vs Peru, Fisht Stadium, Sochi, FS1
2pm – Group D: Nigeria vs Argentina, St. Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fox; Iceland vs Croatia, Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, FS1
Wednesday, June 27
10am – Group F: Mexico vs Sweden, Ekaterinburg Arena, Ekaterinburg, Fox; Korea Republic vs Germany, Kazan Arena, Kazan, FS1
2pm – Group E: Serbia vs Brazil, Spartak Stadium, Moscow, Fox; Switzerland vs Costa, Rica Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, FS1
Thursday, June 28
10am – Group H: Senegal vs Colombia, Samara Arena, Samara, Fox; Japan vs Poland, Volgograd Arena, Volgograd, FS1
2pm – Group G: England vs Belgium, Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad, Fox; Panama vs Tunisia, Mordovia Arena, Saransk, FS1
Sweet 16
Saturday, June 30
10am – Group C1 vs Group 2D, Kazan Arena, Kazan, Fox
2pm – Group A1 vs Group B2, Fisht Stadium, Sochi, Fox
Sunday, July 1
10am – Group B1 vs Group A2, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Fox
2pm – Group D1 vs Group C2, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Fox
Monday, July 2
10am – Group E1 vs. Group F2, Samara Arena, Samara, FS1
2pm – Group G1 vs. Group H2, Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don, Fox
Tuesday, July 3
10am – Group F1 vs Group E2, St. Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, FS1
2pm – Group H1 vs Group G2, Spartak Stadium, Moscow, Fox
Elite eight
Friday, July 6
10am – A1-B2 winner vs C1-D2 winner, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, FS1
2pm – E1-F2 winner vs G1-H2 winner, Kazan Arena, Kazan, FS1
Saturday, July 7
10am – E2-F1 winner vs G2-H1 winner, Samara Arena, Samara, Fox
2pm – A2-B1 winner vs. C2-D1 winner, Fisht Stadium, Sochi, Fox
Final four
Tuesday, July 10
A1-B2-C1-D2 winner vs E1-F2-G1-H2 winner, St. Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fox
Wednesday, July 11
A2-B1-C2-D1 winner vs. E2-F1-G2-H1 winner, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Fox
Third-place game
Saturday, July 14
10am – St. Petersburg Stadium, St. Petersburg, Fox
Final
Sunday, July 15
11am – Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Fox
Editor’s note: This article is regularly updated for relevance.