The BBC has secured exclusive live TV rights to broadcast Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland men’s international football matches leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This marks the first time the BBC has held the rights for all three nations.
Here’s the Lowdown: The deal with UEFA covers 41 live matches over the next 15 months, starting with this month’s international games. This means fans in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland can watch their teams compete for free.
What This Means Now: Viewers in each nation will be able to watch the matches on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Key fixtures will also be broadcast nationally across the UK. This expands the BBC’s existing international football coverage on its radio stations and the BBC Sport app.
The Bigger Picture: This is a significant win for fans, providing free access to crucial World Cup qualifying matches. It highlights the BBC’s commitment to providing national sports coverage. In Wales, live match coverage will be available in both English and Welsh, showing an important commitment to bilingual broadcasting.
