Where to Watch France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Schedule, Channels, and Streaming Options
France kicks off its 2026 World Cup campaign against Senegal at the MetLife Stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This opening group stage game promises to be a thrilling clash between two strong teams, ensuring broad coverage across both free-to-air and premium channels.
Group I Opponents for France
France is grouped with Senegal, Iraq, and Norway for the tournament. The schedule of group matches includes:
- June 16 vs Senegal at New York New Jersey Stadium, 21:00 CEST
- June 22 vs Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium, 23:00 CEST
- June 26 vs Norway at Boston Stadium, 21:00 CEST
Broadcasting Rights in France
The 2026 World Cup marks a notable change in French broadcasting. For the first time in nearly five decades, TF1 will not air any matches. Instead, M6 holds exclusive free-to-air rights, airing 54 matches live, including all French games, semifinals, and the final. These matches are also available on the digital streaming platform M6+ at no cost.
Premium coverage is handled by beIN SPORTS, which broadcasts every match live. Of the 104 games, 54 are simulcast with M6, while beIN SPORTS exclusively airs the remaining 50. Subscribers can enjoy additional features like multi-screen access and full replays via the beIN SPORTS CONNECT app.
Streaming Options in North America
For viewers in North America, Fubo offers an alternative way to watch France’s matches. It streams official broadcaster feeds such as FOX and FS1 for English commentary or Telemundo and Universo for Spanish. Fubo’s service includes options like 4K HDR streaming for select games, Cloud DVR for recording matches, and multi-device streaming.
New users can try Fubo’s free trial, which is handy for catching the group stage action. However, since Fubo restricts content regionally, travelers might need a VPN to access their home country’s broadcasts.
France’s Road to the 2026 World Cup
After a heart-stopping final loss to Argentina in Qatar 2022, France returns eager to reclaim its place among football’s elite. Their squad blends experienced leaders like captain Kylian Mbappé with emerging talents such as Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise.
France qualified impressively, finishing their European group undefeated with five wins and a draw. Mbappé was pivotal, netting five goals during qualifiers to lead his team.
Coach Didier Deschamps, who has been at the helm since 2012, uses a pragmatic approach focused on strong defense and swift counterattacks. Though effective, this system will be challenged by top-tier opponents in Group I, requiring creative solutions in attack beyond individual brilliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which group is France in? Group I, facing Senegal, Iraq, and Norway.
- When is France's first match? June 16, 2026, against Senegal.
- Where is France based during the tournament? Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Who are key players for France? Captain Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, and William Saliba.
- How many World Cups has France qualified for? Including 2026, seventeen times.
