Published: July 10, 2026
- Every knockout game live and free on BBC, ITV and STV
- UK-friendly kick-offs at 6pm and 8pm BST, plus late-night ties
- England face Norway in the quarters on Sat 11 July, 10pm BST
The business end of the World Cup is here and the telly’s doing the heavy lifting. UK viewers can watch every single knockout match live and free-to-air, with the BBC and ITV sharing duties – and STV handling coverage north of the border. Do mind the time zones: there are handy evening slots, but a few graveyard kick-offs too. If you’re tracking the form and fancy a flutter, our guide to the best football betting sites has you covered.
How to Watch in the UK
It’s simple. BBC shows games across BBC One/Two and BBC iPlayer; ITV has you via ITV1 and ITVX; Scotland viewers can tune in on STV and STV Player. Expect full studio build-up and post-match analysis around the clock. The headline is clear: every match is on free-to-air TV, so no excuses for missing the big moments.
Key Dates, Kick-Offs and What to Expect
The Round of 16 continues tonight: Argentina vs Egypt – 5pm BST (ITV1, ITVX, STV, STV Player), followed by Switzerland vs Colombia – 9pm BST (same channels). After USA’s heavy defeat to Belgium, the bracket is opening up nicely.
Quarter-finals are coming fast: France vs Morocco – Thu 9 July, 9pm BST (TBC); Spain vs Belgium – Fri 10 July, 8pm BST (TBC); and the one that will stop the nation, Norway vs England – Sat 11 July, 10pm BST (TBC). There’s also a late-night quarter-final on Sun 12 July, 2am BST (TBC). Plan the kettle accordingly.
Win there and it’s on to the semis: Tue 14 July, 8pm BST and Wed 15 July, 8pm BST. Then the medals are decided with the Third-Place Play-Off – Sat 18 July, 10pm BST, before the Final – Sun 19 July, 8pm BST.
From a footballing angle, France look to be finding gears at the right time, Spain’s youngsters are playing fearless stuff, and Belgium have slapped a statement win on the board. England’s quarter-final with Haaland’s Norway is a proper test of nerve and game management; win the midfield and protect the space in behind, and Gareth Southgate’s side should fancy it.
Schedules are subject to late tweaks, so double-check listings on matchday. But the key takeaway stands: BBC and ITV have the whole knockout run covered, free, live and in full. Strap in – this is where World Cups are won and lost.
Bio:
Football fanatic, you will often find me on the terraces at lower league matches on a Saturday afternoon. I leave the Premier League matches to the prawn sandwich brigade; grassroots football for me all the way.
Key contributions:
As the lead copywriter, it’s my job to turn my colleagues’ “messy notes” (sorry, guys!) into clear, engaging content. From bookmaker reviews to betting predictions, I make sure everything is polished, accurate, and easy to read
Personnel betting philosophy or quotes:
“Great content, like great football, is all about the fundamentals”
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