The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the largest edition in the tournament’s history, and beIN SPORTS is building its MENA operation around that scale.
The broadcaster will carry all 104 matches live and exclusive across 24 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, pairing six dedicated beIN SPORTS MAX channels with beIN SPORTS 4K HDR and beIN SPORTS NEWS.
Coverage will run in Arabic, English and French, with long daily live windows, studio programming from Doha and reporters stationed across North America.
At a glance
- beIN SPORTS will show all 104 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches live and exclusive across MENA.
- The plan spans six MAX channels, beIN SPORTS 4K HDR and beIN SPORTS NEWS, with Arabic, English and French programming.
- Daily coverage will reach up to 17-plus hours, supported by 18 on-site reporters across Canada, Mexico and the United States.
A bigger World Cup gets a bigger broadcast footprint
The 23rd FIFA World Cup opens on 11 June in Mexico City and concludes on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey.
With 48 teams, three host nations and 104 matches, the tournament will place unusual pressure on broadcasters, especially for audiences following multiple time zones from MENA.
beIN’s answer is an expanded channel structure designed to keep live matches, studio analysis, news updates and digital programming moving almost continuously through the day.
At its Doha headquarters, four production studios will support the coverage with virtual and augmented graphics, digital integration and dedicated match analysis.
Arabic, English and French channels with long daily windows
Arabic coverage will air across beIN SPORTS MAX 1-4, carrying every match with a daily live window scheduled from 17:00 to 09:30 Makkah time.
English-language studio coverage will also cover every fixture, with beIN SPORTS MAX 5 broadcasting live for 15 hours daily from 18:00 to 09:00 Makkah time.
Two English-language reporters will travel across the United States, Canada and Mexico to bring viewers closer to training grounds, stadiums, press conferences and fan zones.
beIN SPORTS MAX 6 will serve French-speaking audiences, mirroring the coverage of beIN SPORTS France, the official FIFA World Cup broadcaster in France.
Across the MAX portfolio, viewers can expect live match coverage, daily Arabic studio shows, team-focused documentaries, previews, reviews and studio analysis.
The Last Word will air at 15:00 Makkah time, while World Today begins the continuous live coverage block at 17:00.
News coverage, accessibility and family programming
beIN SPORTS NEWS will run live and continuously for 17.5 hours daily during the tournament, from 17:00 to 10:30 Makkah time.
The Arabic-language sports news channel will follow breaking stories, team arrivals, reactions and press conferences, backed by 18 on-site reporters across the three host countries.
The broadcaster has also confirmed sign language interpretation for viewers with hearing impairments, an important accessibility addition for a tournament with a huge regional audience.
For younger viewers, Jeem TV will carry a daily 45-minute entertainment show throughout the World Cup.
The children’s programme will package simplified match highlights, story-led recaps and educational themes around teamwork, diversity, respect and fair play, with daily participation from child guests.
Streaming and digital coverage across beIN CONNECT and TOD
The World Cup plan extends beyond linear television, with beIN CONNECT and TOD by beIN streaming all 104 matches live in HD.
Key studio programming from the TV channels will also be mirrored across the OTT platforms, giving subscribers another way to follow the tournament.
A dedicated digital hub will include team pages, live scores, a prediction game and tournament content, while push notifications will cover kick-offs, final scores, major match moments and breaking developments.
beIN will also use its social channels for short-form video, imagery and interactive content throughout the tournament.
For MENA viewers, the scale is the main story: every match, three languages, multiple viewing formats and a reporting network built around the most geographically ambitious World Cup yet.
