Kickoff Times Around the World
| City | Local Time | Timezone | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTC | 19:00 | UTC | Sunday 21 June 2026 |
| London | 20:00 | BST | Sunday 21 June 2026 |
| Paris | 21:00 | CEST | Sunday 21 June 2026 |
| Madrid | 21:00 | CEST | Sunday 21 June 2026 |
| Budapest | 21:00 | CEST | Sunday 21 June 2026 |
| Bucharest | 22:00 | EEST | Sunday 21 June 2026 |
| New York | 3:00 PM | EDT | Sunday 21 June 2026 |
| Los Angeles | 12:00 PM | PDT | Sunday 21 June 2026 |
| Mumbai | 00:30 | IST | Monday 22 June 2026 |
| Sydney | 05:00 | AEST | Monday 22 June 2026 |
United Kingdom
UK viewers are in luck: the FIFA World Cup 2026 is covered by a shared free-to-air deal between the BBC and ITV, meaning Belgium vs Iran will be broadcast at no cost to anyone with a TV licence or a free account on their respective streaming platforms.
The BBC will show its coverage on BBC One or BBC Two — check the TV listings closer to the date to confirm which channel carries the match — and the same feed is available to stream live and on demand via BBC iPlayer. ITV’s matches air on ITV1, with ITV X (formerly ITV Hub) providing the simultaneous live stream. Both platforms require a free account registration but no paid subscription.
Kickoff in the UK is 20:00 BST on Sunday 21 June 2026, placing it squarely in prime-time Sunday evening. Expect pre-match programming to begin roughly 30 minutes before the whistle on whichever broadcaster holds the rights for this specific fixture. If you are travelling within the UK, both iPlayer and ITV X are accessible across all regions without geo-restrictions.
United States and Canada
In the United States, FIFA World Cup 2026 rights are held by FOX Sports (English-language) and Telemundo (Spanish-language). FOX’s coverage typically airs on either FOX or FS1 depending on the schedule — consult the official FOX Sports app for the confirmed channel assignment. FOX matches are streamable via the FOX Sports app and Fubo, both of which require a pay-TV subscription or a live-TV streaming package. Telemundo and its sister streaming service Peacock carry all Spanish-language coverage; Peacock Premium subscribers can watch every match live.
The New York kickoff time is 3:00 PM EDT on Sunday 21 June 2026, and on the West Coast it lands at 12:00 PM PDT — a convenient weekend lunchtime slot for viewers in California, Oregon, and Washington.
In Canada, TSN and CTV share World Cup rights. CTV is free over-the-air and also streams via Crave and the CTV app, while TSN requires a cable or streaming subscription. French-language coverage in Canada is handled by RDS and TVA Sports.
France
French World Cup broadcast rights for the 2026 tournament are held by TF1 and M6, both of which are free-to-air channels. TF1+ (TF1’s streaming platform) and M6’s streaming service carry simultaneous live streams, typically accessible with a free account. Belgium vs Iran does not involve a French club, so no special free-to-air carve-out is triggered under French media law beyond the standard coverage TF1 and M6 already provide. French viewers can expect match coverage to begin at 21:00 CEST on Sunday 21 June 2026.
Other Major Markets
Spain: RTVE holds free-to-air rights to the FIFA World Cup in Spain, with matches broadcast on La 1. Streaming is available through RTVE Play at no cost. Kickoff in Madrid is 21:00 CEST on Sunday 21 June 2026.
Germany: ARD and ZDF share World Cup broadcast rights in Germany on a rotating basis, and both are free-to-air public broadcasters. Their respective streaming platforms — ARD Mediathek and ZDF Mediathek — offer free live streaming without a subscription.
Italy: RAI holds the FIFA World Cup rights in Italy, with matches distributed across RAI 1, RAI 2, and RAI Sport. RAI Play provides free live streaming for all covered fixtures.
Romania: In Romania, World Cup matches are broadcast by ProTV and TVR (the national public broadcaster). TVR is free-to-air; ProTV requires a cable or satellite subscription in most households. Romanian viewers in Bucharest can catch the match at 22:00 EEST on Sunday 21 June 2026.
Netherlands: The Dutch market is served by NOS, the public broadcaster, which holds free-to-air World Cup rights. Matches air on NPO 1 and are streamed via NPO Start, which is free to access.
Streaming Without a Subscription
For viewers who want to watch without a paid subscription, the most reliable legal route is through the free-to-air broadcasters listed above — BBC iPlayer, ITV X, RTVE Play, ARD Mediathek, ZDF Mediathek, RAI Play, and NOS/NPO Start all offer free live streaming within their respective territories.
Some fans research VPN use to access out-of-territory streams. While a VPN technically allows you to appear in another country’s region, doing so to bypass a broadcaster’s geo-restrictions likely violates that service’s terms and conditions. This guide does not endorse that practice.
FIFA’s own platforms and YouTube channels occasionally carry highlights and pre/post-match content, but a live stream of the full match on an official FIFA-owned free channel is not guaranteed. Check FIFA’s official YouTube channel and FIFA+ for any announced free streaming arrangements closer to the tournament.
Our Match Preview
For a full tactical breakdown, form analysis, and prediction ahead of Sunday’s Group Stage fixture, read our dedicated match preview: Belgium vs Iran – FIFA World Cup 2026 Preview and Prediction.
FAQ
- What time is Belgium vs Iran in the UK?
- Belgium vs Iran kicks off at 20:00 BST on Sunday 21 June 2026. That is the standard British Summer Time, which is UTC+1.
- Is Belgium vs Iran on free TV?
- Yes, in the UK the match is free to watch on either the BBC or ITV — both hold free-to-air FIFA World Cup 2026 rights. In the US, FOX and Telemundo require a pay-TV or streaming subscription, though some cable packages include FOX as standard.
- Where can I stream Belgium vs Iran online?
- UK viewers can stream free via BBC iPlayer or ITV X. US viewers can use the FOX Sports app or Peacock (Telemundo/Spanish). Canadian viewers can use the CTV app (free) or TSN (subscription). In Europe, RTVE Play (Spain), ARD/ZDF Mediathek (Germany), RAI Play (Italy), and NPO Start (Netherlands) all offer free streams within their territories.
- What channel is Belgium vs Iran on in the US?
- English-language coverage in the US is on FOX or FS1 — check the FOX Sports app for the confirmed channel closer to the date. Spanish-language coverage is on Telemundo, with streaming available on Peacock Premium.
- Can I watch Belgium vs Iran on YouTube?
- A full free live stream on YouTube is not confirmed. FIFA's official YouTube channel and FIFA+ may carry highlights and supplementary content, but the live match itself is expected to be limited to rights-holding broadcasters listed in this guide. Check FIFA's official channels closer to matchday for any updates.