How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Germany

Update: This article was updated to correct the list of performances at the second opening game in Toronto.

All eyes will turn to Mexico, Canada and the US as the FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11. Here’s how you can watch the tournament from Germany.

2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in 16 cities across Canada, Mexico and the US from June 11 to July 19. Teams from 48 different nations will compete in 104 games to determine the World Cup champion. 

When is the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony?

There will be three separate opening ceremonies, each taking place in one of the host countries. On June 11, the first will take place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with performances by J Balvin and Tyla before the first game between Mexico and South Africa kicks off.

The second opening ceremony will take place the next day, on June 12, at BMO Field in Toronto. Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara and Alanis Morissette, among others, will perform before Canada takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the opening match. 

Also on June 12, the third and final opening ceremony will be held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where Katy Perry will perform yet again, this time with Future. After the live performance, the US will take on Paraguay. 

Where can I watch the World Cup football?

In Germany, ZDF’s Sportschau will stream all of the World Cup Games. If you are registered at an address in Germany, you are obliged to pay the TV and radio tax (Rundfunkbeitrag), which gives you access to all public broadcast media. This means that you can simply head to the ZDF Mediathek to watch the game.

For anyone who wants to enjoy the games with fellow football fans, there is some bad news: there will be no public viewing fan mile at Brandenburger Tor in Berlin this year. However, there are 14 other public viewing locations across the capital. Most large German cities will have multiple public viewing areas; head to your city's official website to find a list.

But watching a game outside a bar or restaurant often provides the best atmosphere. With the competition being held across the pond, matches will be broadcast at impractical times locally, between 6pm and 6am CEST.

But you’ll still be able to catch a few games live. The federal government has said that during the tournament, bars and restaurants will be permitted to broadcast games that start at or before 10pm. However, municipalities are responsible for setting the specific rules.

When is Germany playing in the 2026 World Cup?

If you’re eager to partake in some banal nationalism in celebration of your adopted homeland, here’s when the German men's national team  (die Mannschaft) is playing:

• June 14, 7pm - Germany vs Curaçao
• June 20, 10pm - Germany vs Ivory Coast
• June 26, 10pm - Germany vs Ecuador

Of course, if Germany advances past the knockout phase, we’ll have more chances to support them! You can see the full fixtures on the FIFA website.