France's TV Broadcasting Schedule for 2026 FIFA World Cup: M6 and beIN Sports Coverage

France's TV coverage for the 2026 FIFA World Cup includes free matches on M6 and full coverage on beIN Sports across all tournament stages.

    Key details

  • • The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 104 matches with 48 national teams.
  • • In France, beIN Sports will broadcast all matches, including all knockout games.
  • • M6 will air 54 matches, including all involving the French team and key knockout games.
  • • Match times are adjusted to French time, with a complete schedule available for the group stage.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, kicking off on June 11 and running through July 19, will feature a record 48 nations competing in 104 matches held across the United States. In France, television viewers have two primary options for watching the tournament: M6 and beIN Sports.

beIN Sports will broadcast all 104 matches, including every game from the group stage through the knockout rounds and final, ensuring comprehensive coverage for dedicated fans. M6, available on free-to-air TNT, will air 54 matches, including all games involving the French national team, as well as the semifinals, third-place playoff, and the final.

Among these, M6 will also broadcast 22 of the 31 knockout stage matches, providing viewers with access to key fixtures without a subscription. The detailed schedule for the group stage has been released, highlighting notable opening games such as Mexico vs. South Africa and Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, with kickoff times adjusted to French local time for convenience.

This dual-channel strategy allows greater accessibility, balancing free-to-air availability with subscription coverage. Fans planning to watch can refer to the complete TV programming, which clearly outlines match dates and times to ensure they won’t miss any of the action.

As this marks the first World Cup expanded to include 48 teams, the extensive match lineup and extended duration offer an unprecedented scope for football enthusiasts in France. The coordinated broadcast efforts by M6 and beIN Sports aim to provide full access to the tournament’s excitement, from the initial group matches to the final showdown.

This article was translated and synthesized from French sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.

Source comparison

Knockout matches coverage

Sources report different numbers of knockout matches aired by M6

ouest-france.fr

"M6 will also air 22 of these knockout matches."

lequipe.fr

"M6 showing 54 selected games, including every match featuring the French national team, both semi-finals, the third-place match, and the final."

Why this matters: One source claims M6 will air 22 knockout matches, while the other source does not specify how many knockout matches M6 will show. This affects understanding of M6's coverage of the tournament.

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