A 48-team World Cup deserves the big screen, and from June 11 to July 19 the question most fans ask is simple: which app gets the matches onto my TV. In the US, FOX holds the English-language rights and Telemundo the Spanish, with a handful of matches streaming free and the rest behind a subscription. The picture shifts by device too, since the standalone FOX Sports app was retired on connected TVs in May 2026, and FOX One is now the home of FOX Sports on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and the rest. We tested the eight best apps to watch the World Cup 2026 on a Smart TV or streaming device, sorted by what is free, what carries every match, and what streams in 4K. If you would rather watch on your phone, see our guide to streaming the World Cup on Android.
What to look for in a World Cup TV app
The deciding factors are not about picture quality alone. They are about coverage, cost, and whether the app even runs on your specific TV.
- Device support. Confirm the app exists on your platform, whether that is Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV or Google TV, Samsung Tizen, or LG webOS.
- Match coverage. Some apps carry every one of the 104 matches; others stream only a few, or only one language.
- Login walls. A few services need a separate TV-provider or cable sign-in on top of the app.
- 4K and HDR. Only a couple of routes deliver the tournament in true 4K HDR.
- Cost versus length. Paying $80 a month for one tournament makes sense only if you will use the rest of the bundle.
Quick comparison
| App | Coverage | Language | Free | 4K | Login wall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tubi | Select matches | English | Yes | Select live | None |
| FOX One | All 104 | English | No | Yes | Optional |
| Peacock | All 104 | Spanish | No | No | None |
| Fubo | All 104 via channels | English and Spanish | No | Yes, top tier | None |
| YouTube TV | All 104 via channels | English and Spanish | No | Not confirmed | None |
| Sling TV | FOX matches, by market | English | No | No | None |
| Hulu + Live TV | All 104 via channels | English and Spanish | No | No | None |
| BBC iPlayer | About half (UK) | English | Yes (UK) | Yes | UK only |
The 8 best apps to watch the World Cup 2026 on a Smart TV
1. Tubi, the free pick for US viewers
Tubi is the place to start because it is free and runs on nearly every TV platform, including Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Google TV, Samsung, LG, and Vizio. It streams a selection of matches live and free off the FOX feed, including the opening ceremony and the first matches, some in 4K, plus highlights, replays, recaps, and a 24/7 FOX Sports digital channel. No cable login is needed; a free account is only required for the 4K live stream.
It is the no-cost way to catch the marquee early games on the big screen.
Where it falls short: Only a handful of matches are live and free, so Tubi is not a full-tournament solution on its own. Pair it with one of the paid options below for everything else.
Pricing:
- Free.
Platforms: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Google TV, Samsung, LG, Vizio, web, mobile.
Bottom line: The pick for free big-screen viewing of the opening and select matches in the US.
2. FOX One, every match in English
FOX One is the app to install for the full English-language tournament. It carries all 104 matches live and on demand, 70 on FOX and 34 on FS1, and after the FOX Sports app’s retirement on connected TVs it is now the home of FOX Sports on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Google TV, Samsung, LG, and Vizio. Every match is available in 4K through the app.
You can subscribe directly, but existing pay-TV customers can sign in with their provider login and use FOX One at no extra cost, so the login is a way to save money rather than a barrier.
Where it falls short: At about $20 a month it is the priciest single app for English coverage, and owners of older devices that only had the old FOX Sports app must switch over.
Pricing:
- About $19.99/mo or $199.99/yr. Three-day free trial. Included for existing FOX pay-TV subscribers via provider sign-in.
Platforms: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Google TV, Samsung, LG, Vizio.
Bottom line: The pick for watching every match in English in 4K on any major TV platform.
3. Peacock, every match in Spanish
Peacock is the streaming home for the full Spanish-language tournament. It carries all 104 matches through Telemundo and Universo, no cable login required, and runs on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Google TV, Samsung, LG, Vizio, and the game consoles. The Premium tier is the one that includes the live matches.
For Spanish-speaking households, it is the cleanest single subscription to cover the whole event.
Where it falls short: It is Spanish commentary only, with no English option, and the World Cup feed is not advertised in 4K.
Pricing:
- About $10.99/mo Premium, $16.99/mo Premium Plus.
Platforms: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Google TV, Samsung, LG, Vizio, consoles.
Bottom line: The pick for the complete Spanish-language tournament without a cable login.
4. Fubo, the 4K HDR option for both languages
Fubo is the standout for picture quality. It carries FOX, FS1, and Telemundo through its linear channels, so all 104 matches are reachable in either language, and its top tier streams the World Cup in 4K HDR, one of the few US routes that does. It is its own subscription with no cable login, and runs on every major TV platform.
If watching in the best possible quality on the big screen is the goal, this is the route.
Where it falls short: 4K sits behind the priciest tier plus regional sports fees, so the full cost is high. A cheaper promotional sports plan carries FOX and FS1 in HD only.
Pricing:
- Around $84.99/mo for the Pro tier, with the 4K-capable top tiers higher, plus regional sports fees.
Platforms: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Google TV, Samsung, LG, Vizio.
Bottom line: The pick if you want the World Cup in 4K HDR and want both English and Spanish channels in one app.
5. YouTube TV, the popular cable replacement
YouTube TV carries FOX, FS1, and Telemundo through its channel lineup, so every match is reachable in English or Spanish. It is its own subscription with no separate cable login, runs on every major TV platform, and is the cable replacement many US households already have. A long free trial is often available to new subscribers.
If you already use it for other live TV, the World Cup needs no extra setup.
Where it falls short: At around $83 a month it is expensive for a single tournament, and 4K for the World Cup is not confirmed, so plan for HD. There is an optional 4K Plus add-on, but it is not guaranteed to cover the matches.
Pricing:
- About $82.99/mo base. Optional 4K Plus add-on.
Platforms: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Google TV, Samsung, LG, Vizio.
Bottom line: The pick if you already have it for live TV, since the World Cup channels are built in.
6. Sling TV, the cheapest live-TV route to FOX
Sling TV is the budget live-TV option for the English matches. Its Sling Blue plan carries FOX and FS1 in supported markets at around $46 a month, well below the bigger cable replacements, and it runs on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Google TV, Samsung, and LG.
For a fan who wants FOX coverage without an $80 bundle, it is the value play.
Where it falls short: FOX availability on Sling depends on your local market, so if FOX is not offered in your ZIP code, Sling Blue will not get you those matches. Check coverage for your address before subscribing.
Pricing:
- Sling Blue around $45.99/mo, often with a first-month discount.
Platforms: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Google TV, Samsung, LG.
Bottom line: The pick for the cheapest live-TV path to the English matches, if FOX is carried in your market.
7. Hulu + Live TV, for households already in the Disney bundle
Hulu + Live TV carries FOX, FS1, and Telemundo through its channels, so all 104 matches are reachable in either language. It runs on every major TV platform and comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+, which makes it a sensible pick for a household that wants the broader bundle anyway, not just the tournament.
It is its own subscription, with no separate cable login required.
Where it falls short: It is pricey at roughly $83 a month, and you are paying for a full live-TV and Disney bundle to watch football. There is no confirmed 4K for the World Cup.
Pricing:
- Around $82.99/mo, bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+.
Platforms: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Google TV, Samsung, LG, Vizio.
Bottom line: The pick if you want the Disney bundle anyway and the World Cup channels alongside it.
8. BBC iPlayer, the free big-screen option in the UK
BBC iPlayer is the free route for UK viewers, and it streams roughly half the tournament. The BBC and ITVX split all 104 matches between them, with the BBC’s share, around 54 matches, available free on iPlayer, and many in 4K UHD. It runs on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Google TV, Samsung, and LG, and needs only a free BBC account and a valid UK TV Licence.
For anyone watching from the UK, it is the best-quality free option on the big screen, with ITVX covering the other half.
Where it falls short: It is geo-locked to the UK and requires a TV Licence, so it does not work abroad without meeting the BBC’s location rules. Half the matches sit on ITVX rather than iPlayer.
Pricing:
- Free with a valid UK TV Licence.
Platforms: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV and Google TV, Samsung, LG.
Bottom line: The pick for free, often 4K, big-screen viewing in the UK, paired with ITVX for the other matches.
How to pick the right one
- If you want free in the US: Tubi, for the opening and select matches, plus a FOX or Telemundo antenna for over-the-air games.
- If you want every match in English: FOX One.
- If you want every match in Spanish: Peacock.
- If you want the best 4K HDR picture: Fubo in the US, BBC iPlayer in the UK.
- If you already pay for live TV: YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV cover it with no extra setup.
- If you want the cheapest English route: Sling Blue, as long as FOX is carried in your market.
- If you are in the UK: BBC iPlayer and ITVX, both free with a TV Licence.
Traveling and finding your home service blocked abroad? See our guide to the best VPN apps for the World Cup 2026.
FAQ
How can I watch the World Cup 2026 free on a Smart TV? In the US, Tubi streams the opening ceremony and select matches free on nearly every TV platform, and FOX and Telemundo air over the air with an antenna. In the UK, BBC iPlayer and ITVX show all 104 matches free with a TV Licence.
Which app has every World Cup 2026 match? FOX One streams all 104 matches in English, and Peacock streams all 104 in Spanish. Live-TV services like Fubo, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV also reach every match through the FOX, FS1, and Telemundo channels.
Can I watch the World Cup 2026 in 4K? Yes. FOX One offers all matches in 4K, and Fubo streams them in 4K HDR on its top tier. In the UK, BBC iPlayer carries its share of matches in 4K UHD. YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV have not confirmed 4K for the tournament.
Do I need a cable login to watch on a Smart TV? Most of these apps are standalone subscriptions with no cable login, including Tubi, Peacock, Fubo, YouTube TV, Sling, and Hulu + Live TV. FOX One can be subscribed to directly, and existing FOX pay-TV customers can also sign in with their provider to use it at no extra cost.
What happened to the FOX Sports app on my TV? The standalone FOX Sports app was retired on connected-TV devices in May 2026. On Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung, and LG, FOX One is now the home of FOX Sports. The FOX Sports app remains on phones and tablets as a companion.
