Kickoff Times Around the World
| City | Local Time | Timezone | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTC | 22:00 | UTC | Sunday 21 June 2026 |
| London | 23:00 | BST | Sunday 21 June 2026 |
| Paris | 00:00 | CEST | Monday 22 June 2026 |
| Madrid | 00:00 | CEST | Monday 22 June 2026 |
| Budapest | 00:00 | CEST | Monday 22 June 2026 |
| Bucharest | 01:00 | EEST | Monday 22 June 2026 |
| New York | 6:00 PM | EDT | Sunday 21 June 2026 |
| Los Angeles | 3:00 PM | PDT | Sunday 21 June 2026 |
| Mumbai | 03:30 | IST | Monday 22 June 2026 |
| Sydney | 08:00 | AEST | Monday 22 June 2026 |
United Kingdom
Viewers in the United Kingdom are in a strong position for this one: the 2026 FIFA World Cup is split between the BBC and ITV, both of which are free-to-air and require no subscription. Coverage of Uruguay vs Cape Verde Islands kicks off at 23:00 BST on Sunday 21 June 2026, which means late-night viewing for most of the country — but the free-to-air access makes it easy to tune in without worrying about a paywall.
The BBC will broadcast its allocated matches on BBC One and BBC Two, with live streams available on BBC iPlayer. ITV will carry its share of fixtures on ITV1, with streaming via ITVX. Both platforms are accessible at no cost with a UK internet connection, though iPlayer requires a TV licence to use legally. Check the BBC Sport and ITV Sport websites in the days before the match for confirmed channel allocation, as individual match assignments between the two broadcasters are typically confirmed closer to game day.
Neither broadcaster offers 4K HDR for live World Cup coverage at this stage of rights negotiations, so standard HD is what most viewers should expect. Both iPlayer and ITVX allow downloads and catch-up, so if you miss kick-off at 23:00, the full match replay should be available shortly after the final whistle.
United States and Canada
In the United States, FOX Sports holds the English-language broadcast rights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Telemundo carrying Spanish-language coverage. The match kicks off at 6:00 PM EDT / 3:00 PM PDT on Sunday 21 June 2026 — a prime-time slot on the East Coast and a comfortable afternoon kick-off on the West Coast, which bodes well for viewing figures.
FOX’s coverage will air on either FOX or FS1, depending on the scheduling tier assigned to this match. Streaming is available through the Fox Sports app and Tubi, FOX’s free ad-supported platform, which has been confirmed as a streaming home for World Cup matches. Telemundo’s coverage streams on Peacock. Cable and satellite subscribers can access both networks through their existing packages; cord-cutters should check whether their live TV streaming service (such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, or DirecTV Stream) carries FOX and Telemundo.
In Canada, TSN and CTV share English-language broadcast rights, while RDS covers French-language markets. CTV is a free-to-air network, meaning Canadian viewers can catch this match without a cable subscription. TSN’s stream is available through the TSN Direct subscription service. Kickoff in Toronto and the Eastern time zone mirrors New York at 6:00 PM EDT.
France
In France, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is broadcast on TF1 and beIN Sports. TF1 is the primary free-to-air broadcaster, carrying a significant portion of the tournament’s matches, including all games featuring the French national team. Because neither Uruguay nor Cape Verde Islands is France, this fixture may fall to beIN Sports rather than TF1 — viewers should confirm closer to the date. beIN Sports streams live via its beIN Connect platform, which requires a subscription. For those without pay-TV access, Canal+ has also held World Cup rights in France historically, so the full broadcast landscape may involve multiple rights holders by the time the tournament begins.
Other Major Markets
Spain: Mediaset España and RTVE share World Cup broadcast rights in Spain. RTVE’s La 1 is the free-to-air option, while Mediaset’s Cuatro has also carried fixtures. The match begins at 00:00 CEST on Monday 22 June 2026 — a midnight kick-off for Spanish viewers. Streaming is available through RTVE Play and Mitele respectively.
Germany: ARD and ZDF hold free-to-air World Cup rights in Germany, with MagentaTV (Deutsche Telekom) providing additional coverage. The midnight CEST kick-off on Monday 22 June 2026 will test late-night audiences. Both ARD and ZDF stream matches via their respective media libraries (ARD Mediathek and ZDF Mediathek), accessible within Germany.
Italy: RAI and Mediaset Italia share rights to the 2026 World Cup. RAI’s free-to-air channels — particularly Rai 1 and Rai 2 — carry the bulk of coverage, with streaming on RaiPlay. The 00:00 CEST start on Monday 22 June 2026 makes this a late fixture for Italian viewers.
Romania: ProTV is the primary commercial broadcaster for World Cup football in Romania, alongside TVR, the public broadcaster. Bucharest viewers face a 01:00 EEST start on Monday 22 June 2026 — the latest local kick-off among the major European markets listed here. TVR streams via TVR+.
Netherlands: The NOS (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting) holds free-to-air rights for major international tournaments in the Netherlands, with RTL also involved in World Cup coverage. Streaming is available via NOS.nl and the NOS app. The Dutch midnight kick-off (00:00 CEST) aligns with the rest of Central Europe.
Streaming Without a Subscription
Viewers travelling abroad or based in markets where rights are unclear sometimes consider VPN services to access home-country streams. While VPNs are legal tools in most jurisdictions, using one to access geo-restricted content may breach a broadcaster’s terms of service — this guide does not endorse circumventing rights agreements.
FIFA does not currently operate a FIFA+ live-streaming service for World Cup matches in the way UEFA.tv provides Europa League coverage; World Cup live rights are sold exclusively to national broadcasters. FIFA+ does offer highlights and archive content, which may be available after the match. Check FIFA’s official platforms for any free-to-air digital offering announced closer to the tournament.
Our Match Preview
For a full tactical breakdown, team news, and our match prediction, read our dedicated preview at Uruguay vs Cape Verde Islands – FIFA World Cup 2026 Preview.
FAQ
- What time is Uruguay vs Cape Verde Islands in the UK?
- Uruguay vs Cape Verde Islands kicks off at 23:00 BST on Sunday 21 June 2026 in the United Kingdom.
- Is Uruguay vs Cape Verde Islands on free TV?
- Yes, in the UK the match will be shown on either the BBC or ITV — both free-to-air. In the US, FOX (English) and Telemundo (Spanish) carry the rights, and Tubi offers free ad-supported streaming. In Canada, CTV is a free-to-air option.
- Where can I stream Uruguay vs Cape Verde Islands?
- UK viewers can stream on BBC iPlayer or ITVX for free. US viewers can use the Fox Sports app or Tubi (free, ad-supported), or Peacock for the Telemundo Spanish-language stream. Canadian viewers can use TSN Direct or watch free on CTV.
- What channel is Uruguay vs Cape Verde Islands on in the US?
- English-language coverage is on FOX or FS1, depending on scheduling. Spanish-language coverage is on Telemundo. Both networks are available through major cable, satellite, and live TV streaming packages.
- Can I watch Uruguay vs Cape Verde Islands on YouTube?
- No official live stream is available on YouTube. FIFA+ does not currently offer live World Cup match streams. Highlights may appear on official FIFA and broadcaster YouTube channels after the final whistle, but live coverage is exclusively with rights-holding broadcasters.