World Cup 2026 Knockouts: Your BBC and ITV Watch Guide

• Every Round-of-32 tie live on free-to-air: BBC, ITV and STV
• UK-friendly kick-offs at 6pm and 8pm BST, with late-night clashes too
• England face DR Congo on Wed 1 July, 5pm BST, BBC One

The biggest World Cup ever has hit the business end across the USA, Canada and Mexico, and every knockout game is on free-to-air TV in the UK. If you’re plotting your week, here’s the smart way to watch it all without missing a beat — kettle on, sofa claimed.

Where to Watch Every Knockout Tie

Between BBC One/Two, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website — plus ITV1, ITVX and STV/STV Player in Scotland — every single Round-of-32 clash is covered. Do factor in the time zones: the prime UK windows are 6pm and 8pm BST, but plenty kick off between midnight and 4am.

We’ve already had early drama: Canada edged South Africa 1-0 in Los Angeles, while Brazil saw off Japan 2-1 to reach the last 16.

Coming up in the Round of 32, standout fixtures and channels include: Germany vs Paraguay (Mon 29 Jun, 9:30pm BST, BBC One); Netherlands vs Morocco (Tue 30 Jun, 2am, ITV1/ITVX/STV); Ivory Coast vs Norway (Tue 30 Jun, 6pm, BBC One); France vs Sweden (Tue 30 Jun, 10pm, ITV1); Mexico vs Ecuador (Wed 1 Jul, 2am, ITV1); England vs DR Congo (Wed 1 Jul, 5pm, BBC One); Belgium vs Senegal (Wed 1 Jul, 9pm, ITV1); then USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (Thu 2 Jul, 1am, BBC One), Spain vs Austria (Thu 2 Jul, 8pm, BBC One), Portugal vs Croatia (Fri 3 Jul, 12am, BBC One), Switzerland vs Algeria (Fri 3 Jul, 4am, BBC One), Australia vs Egypt (Fri 3 Jul, 7pm, BBC One), Argentina vs Cape Verde (Fri 3 Jul, 11pm, ITV1) and Colombia vs Ghana (Sat 4 Jul, 2:30am, ITV1).

Fancy a flutter while you study the form? Our guide to the football betting sites UK has you covered before the last-16 picture locks in.

This Week’s Pundit’s View

England should back themselves against DR Congo if they bring the zip we saw in that opener against Croatia and the control they showed versus Panama. Get Jude Bellingham on the half-turn, keep Harry Kane in the box, and the chances will come. With the travel and late kick-offs, though, game management is everything.

Germany and France look ominous, Spain are purring, and Argentina have Lionel Messi easing through the gears. Upset watch? Keep an eye on Ivory Coast, and don’t rule out fireworks in Belgium vs Senegal.

Beyond the Round of 32, the showpiece stays in prime-time BST: quarter-finals between 9–12 July, semi-finals on 14–15 July, and the Final on Sun 19 July at 8pm BST. Clear your evenings — this tournament’s only just getting warmed up.

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