The second round of World Cup 2026 group stage fixtures gets underway from Thursday with co-hosts Mexico and Canada in action. This article provides details on which games are broadcast on BBC and ITV.
Today's World Cup Games on BBC or ITV
The World Cup 2026 tournament has now been underway for a full week, already delivering several unexpected outcomes and surprises. This Thursday, the group stage schedule progresses to the second round of games, with multiple fixtures held across North America.
Upcoming Match Overview
This coming Thursday features an important line-up of three matches. Additionally, one fixture is scheduled to take place during the early hours of Friday morning for viewers based in the United Kingdom.
Czechia vs South Africa
Czechia will face South Africa on Thursday, with the start time officially set for 5pm in the UK. This Group A match is scheduled to take place at the Atlanta Stadium in Georgia. Supporters in the UK can watch the complete match free of charge on terrestrial television through the BBC. For mobile viewers, the game will also be accessible to stream live at no cost via the BBC iPlayer website and application.
Switzerland vs Bosnia
Switzerland will compete against Bosnia and Herzegovina later that evening, with the game commencing at 8pm. This Group B match will be held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. This meeting between the two European nations will be broadcast live and free of charge across the UK on ITV1. Audiences wishing to stream the game online can access the coverage for free on any compatible device via the ITVX platform.
Canada vs Qatar
Tournament co-hosts Canada are scheduled to play Qatar in a late-night match starting at 11pm on Thursday. This Group B fixture will take place on Canadian soil at BC Place in Vancouver. British broadcasting agreements ensure this fixture is completely free to view on the BBC. Enthusiasts can also utilise a free live stream of the match through the BBC iPlayer service.
Mexico vs South Korea
The final fixture of this specific block features co-hosts Mexico playing South Korea at 2am in the early hours of Friday morning. This Group A match will be staged at the Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico. Despite the early morning scheduling, the broadcast remains entirely free to watch for UK audiences on ITV1. Viewers staying awake or catching up on the action can stream every minute free of charge using ITVX.
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