Bell Media Secures Exclusive Canadian Rights for All 104 FIFA World Cup 2026 Matches
Bell Media has secured exclusive Canadian broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, planning to deliver all 104 matches across its TSN, CTV, and RDS television and digital platforms. This multi-platform coverage includes live streaming on TSN+, the TSN App, CTV App, and Crave for cord-cutters and digital viewers. The article details the specific channels and streaming services involved in the broadcast, highlighting the extensive reach for the event in Canada.
Key Takeaways
- Bell Media holds exclusive Canadian broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which includes all 104 matches.
- Matches will be available on English-language TSN channels and French-language RDS, with select marquee games also on CTV.
- Digital streaming will be provided via TSN+, the TSN App, CTV App, and Crave, targeting cord-cutters.
- Canada's opening match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12, 2026, will be widely accessible on free-to-air and premium platforms.
Why It Matters
Bell Media's comprehensive acquisition of FIFA World Cup 2026 rights centralizes a major global sporting event across its convergent media properties in Canada. This strategy ensures extensive reach, spanning traditional linear television and a full suite of digital streaming services, including live CTV feeds on Crave. Competitors will need to consider how this integrated, multi-platform approach impacts audience aggregation and advertising revenue for major live sports events, especially as hybrid broadcast/streaming models become standard. Future rights negotiations for high-demand content will likely prioritize similar cross-platform assurances.
Additional Context
Bell Media's unified approach to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as outlined by a June 3, 2026, Bell Media press release, extends beyond live match coverage. The company plans extensive multi-platform content, including features, interviews, and original programming across CTV News, ETALK, CTV YOUR MORNING, THE SOCIAL, THE GOOD STUFF WITH MARY BERG, iHeartRadio Canada, and MuchMusic. TSN+ subscribers will gain access to exclusive multi-language feeds for matches through a partnership with Spalk, offering play-by-play commentary in the local languages of competing teams. Additionally, a May 25, 2026, Bell Media announcement detailed TSN's broadcast team, which includes a mix of acclaimed sports broadcasters and former Canadian soccer players like Steven Caldwell, Kevin Kilbane, and Atiba Hutchinson, providing in-depth analysis. The Sports hub on Crave will also feature a dedicated FIFA World Cup 2026 experience, offering daily pre-game and recap shows, podcasts, and preview series for all 48 participating teams. Radio coverage of all 104 matches will be available via TSN Radio and iHeartRadio Canada, with all Canada matches airing live on TSN 1050 Toronto, TSN 690 Montreal, and TSN 1200 Ottawa.
Read full article at goal.com
Get this in your inbox → Subscribe
Enjoy our coverage?
Add StreamingMeme as a preferred source on Google to see more of our streaming news at the top of your Search results.
Add as preferred source