Kickoff Times Around the World
| City | Time | Timezone | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTC | 23:00 | UTC | Tuesday 23 June 2026 |
| London | 00:00 | BST | Wednesday 24 June 2026 |
| Paris | 01:00 | CEST | Wednesday 24 June 2026 |
| Madrid | 01:00 | CEST | Wednesday 24 June 2026 |
| Budapest | 01:00 | CEST | Wednesday 24 June 2026 |
| Bucharest | 02:00 | EEST | Wednesday 24 June 2026 |
| New York | 7:00 PM | EDT | Tuesday 23 June 2026 |
| Los Angeles | 4:00 PM | PDT | Tuesday 23 June 2026 |
| Mumbai | 04:30 | IST | Wednesday 24 June 2026 |
| Sydney | 09:00 | AEST | Wednesday 24 June 2026 |
United Kingdom
BBC and ITV share the UK broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and both are free-to-air — meaning viewers do not need a pay-TV subscription to watch a single minute of the tournament. This match, Panama vs Croatia, will be broadcast on one of those two channels; the specific assignment is typically confirmed closer to matchday on each broadcaster’s schedule pages.
For streaming, BBC iPlayer carries all BBC coverage at no cost, while ITVX — formerly ITV Hub — streams every ITV fixture live and on demand. Both platforms require a free account registration and, in practice, a valid UK TV licence for live BBC content. Neither service is locked behind a paywall, which makes this one of the more accessible World Cup matches for British viewers regardless of whether they are near a television.
Kickoff is at midnight BST, tipping into the early hours of Wednesday 24 June 2026, so viewers settling in for a late night should have their streaming device or TV app ready before 00:00.
United States and Canada
In the United States, FIFA World Cup 2026 rights are held by FOX Sports and Telemundo. English-language coverage sits with FOX, which means the match could air on either the main FOX broadcast channel or FS1 depending on scheduling. FOX Sports’ digital platform, the FOX Sports app, carries all FOX and FS1 fixtures as a live stream, accessible with a participating pay-TV provider login or certain live-TV streaming subscriptions.
Telemundo and its sister cable channel Universo handle Spanish-language rights. Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, streams Telemundo’s World Cup coverage, making it the primary on-demand option for Spanish-speaking fans. Kickoff in the Eastern time zone is 7:00 PM EDT on Tuesday 23 June 2026 — a prime-time slot on the East Coast — while viewers in Los Angeles catch it at 4:00 PM PDT.
Streaming Without a Subscription
Viewers outside their home country may find that official broadcast apps return geo-restriction errors. A VPN can route your connection through a server in a country where a free-to-air stream is available — for instance, the UK (BBC iPlayer or ITVX) or Germany (ARD/ZDF). This is a factual observation about how VPNs function; whether using one complies with a given platform’s terms of service is a separate question each viewer should assess independently. This article does not endorse any specific VPN product.
FIFA’s own platforms may offer highlight packages and official content, but full live-stream rights sit exclusively with regional broadcasters. YouTube is not an official live-stream destination for FIFA World Cup matches; any live stream appearing there is unauthorised.
Our Match Preview
For a deeper look at how Panama and Croatia line up tactically, which players to watch, and a full prediction, read our dedicated preview: Panama vs Croatia – FIFA World Cup 2026 Preview & Prediction.
FAQ
- What time is Panama vs Croatia in the UK?
- Panama vs Croatia kicks off at 00:00 BST in the early hours of Wednesday 24 June 2026 — midnight between Tuesday and Wednesday for UK viewers.
- Is Panama vs Croatia on free TV?
- Yes, in several major markets. In the UK, either BBC or ITV will broadcast the match free-to-air. In the US, FOX carries English-language coverage and is available on standard cable and antenna in many areas. In Germany, ARD or ZDF will show it free-to-air, and in Italy, RAI's free channels hold the rights.
- Where can I stream Panama vs Croatia online?
- UK viewers can stream via BBC iPlayer or ITVX for free. In the US, the FOX Sports app (with a TV provider login) and Peacock (for Telemundo's Spanish-language stream) are the main options. Canadian fans can use TSN Direct or check CTV's digital platform. German and Italian viewers can use ARD/ZDF Mediathek and RaiPlay respectively, all free.
- What channel is Panama vs Croatia on in the US?
- English-language coverage is on FOX or FS1 — the specific channel is confirmed closer to matchday on the FOX Sports schedule. Spanish-language coverage is on Telemundo or Universo, with streaming via Peacock.
- Can I watch Panama vs Croatia on YouTube?
- No official live stream of the match will be available on YouTube. FIFA World Cup broadcast rights are licensed exclusively to regional broadcasters. Any live stream on YouTube would be unauthorised. FIFA may post official highlights on its YouTube channel after the match.