Canada is one of three co-host nations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with group stage matches played at BMO Field in Toronto and BC Place in Vancouver. Bell Media holds the national broadcast rights across three platforms — CTV in English (free), TSN in English (subscription), and RDS in French (subscription).
Bell Media holds comprehensive rights to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada across its portfolio of channels. The arrangement is similar to the UK's BBC/ITV split — one free-to-air option for the biggest matches, and a subscription service for the full tournament.
Canada are in Group B alongside Bosnia & Herzegovina, Qatar, and Switzerland. As a co-host nation, Canada's first two matches are played on home soil. All three group stage games air free on CTV.
| Date | Match | Venue | ET | PT | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 12 | Canada vs Bosnia & Herz. | BMO Field, Toronto | 3:00pm | 12:00pm | CTV / TSN / RDS |
| Jun 18 | Canada vs Qatar | BC Place, Vancouver | 6:00pm | 3:00pm | CTV / TSN / RDS |
| Jun 24 | Switzerland vs Canada | BC Place, Vancouver | 3:00pm | 12:00pm | TSN / RDS |
Canada opens at home against Bosnia & Herzegovina on June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto — the first World Cup match ever played in Ontario. The atmosphere is expected to be extraordinary.
All three group stage kickoffs fall during the afternoon in both Eastern and Pacific time — ideal viewing for Canadian fans. No mid-week late-night commitments required for the group stage.
If Canada advance from Group B, their Round of 32 match would fall between July 1–8. Should they reach the Round of 16, that would follow between July 10–13. All Canada knockout matches are expected to air on TSN and RDS, with CTV likely picking up the most high-profile fixtures. Specific venues and dates depend on group stage results.
If you don't have a cable package, you have solid options for watching every match of the tournament in Canada.
The CTV app and CTV.ca are completely free — no account, no credit card, no catch. This gives you live access to all three of Canada's group stage matches and any other fixtures CTV broadcasts. It works on iOS, Android, web browsers, and most Smart TVs.
TSN Direct is TSN's standalone streaming subscription, available without a cable package. It's the most complete cord-cutter option for English-language coverage of the full tournament — all 104 matches live and on-demand. Available on iOS, Android, web, Apple TV, and Chromecast.
RDS Direct mirrors TSN Direct but for francophone fans. All 104 matches in French, with no cable subscription required. The same price point, same device support, and the same complete coverage of the tournament from opening match to Final.
| Service | Language | Coverage | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTV / CTV App | English | Canada matches + selected fixtures | Free |
| TSN Direct | English | All 104 matches | From $19.99/mo |
| RDS Direct | French | All 104 matches | From $19.99/mo |
| Bell Fibe TV | English & French | All 104 matches (TSN + RDS) | Included with package |
| Rogers / Shaw / Telus | English & French | All 104 matches (TSN + RDS) | Included with package |
| Sportsnet | English | No World Cup rights — Sportsnet does not hold broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada | N/A |
Canada spans six time zones, but most of the population is concentrated in Eastern and Pacific time. The 2026 World Cup is hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico — which means many matches are already playing in North American time zones, a huge advantage for Canadian viewers compared to previous tournaments.
| Match Location | Local Kickoff | Eastern (ET) | Pacific (PT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Coast USA / Toronto (ET venues) | 12:00pm ET | 12:00pm ET | 9:00am PT |
| East Coast USA / Toronto (ET venues) | 3:00pm ET | 3:00pm ET | 12:00pm PT |
| East Coast USA (ET venues) | 6:00pm ET | 6:00pm ET | 3:00pm PT |
| Central USA / Mexico (CT venues) | 2:00pm CT | 3:00pm ET | 12:00pm PT |
| Central USA / Mexico (CT venues) | 5:00pm CT | 6:00pm ET | 3:00pm PT |
| Mountain USA (Denver, Salt Lake City) | 2:00pm MT | 4:00pm ET | 1:00pm PT |
| Mountain USA evening | 5:00pm MT | 7:00pm ET | 4:00pm PT |
| West Coast USA / Vancouver (PT venues) | 3:00pm PT | 6:00pm ET | 3:00pm PT |
| West Coast USA / Vancouver (PT venues) | 6:00pm PT | 9:00pm ET | 6:00pm PT |
The practical picture for most Canadian fans: the majority of group stage matches air between noon and 9pm Eastern — prime daytime and early evening viewing. Even the latest kick-offs from West Coast evening slots land at 9pm ET, unlike tournaments in Europe or Asia where Canadian fans faced overnight broadcasts.
As a co-host nation, Canada has the rare advantage of hosting World Cup matches on home soil. Group stage and knockout round matches are being played at two iconic Canadian venues.
| City | Venue | Capacity | Stages Hosted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto, ON | BMO Field | ~45,000 | Group Stage (incl. Canada's opener), Round of 32 |
| Vancouver, BC | BC Place | ~54,000 | Group Stage (incl. Canada's final two games), Round of 32 |
BMO Field in Toronto is Canada's dedicated football stadium, home of Toronto FC. Expanded for the tournament, it hosts Canada's opening group stage match against Bosnia & Herzegovina on June 12 — one of the most anticipated home fixtures in Canadian football history.
BC Place in Vancouver is a multi-purpose domed stadium that seats over 54,000 for football. It hosts Canada's final two group stage matches, giving Vancouver fans the opportunity to see the national team in person twice in two weeks.
The 2026 World Cup marks the first time Canada has hosted FIFA World Cup matches since 1994 — and the first time the men's national team will play on Canadian soil in a World Cup.
TSN Direct, RDS Direct, and the CTV app are all geo-restricted to Canada. If you're travelling outside Canada during the tournament — whether to the US, Europe, or anywhere else — you won't be able to access any of these services without a VPN.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) lets you connect to a Canadian server and appear to be browsing from Canada, giving you access to TSN Direct, RDS Direct, and the CTV app from anywhere in the world. Top-rated options for streaming World Cup matches include NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark — all available from the How to Watch page.
Note: using a VPN to access geo-restricted streaming services may conflict with the provider's terms of service. Always verify local laws and regulations before use.
