FIFA 2026: How to watch the football World Cup in the Netherlands

This summer, all eyes have turned to Mexico, Canada and the US as the FIFA World Cup kicks off. While some people will head overseas to watch the football games live, you can still enjoy the World Cup from right here in the Netherlands. Here’s how you can watch the World Cup in the Netherlands.

2026 FIFA World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in 16 cities across Canada, Mexico and the US from June 11 to July 19. Teams from 48 different nations will compete in 104 games to determine the World Cup champion. 

When is the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening ceremony?

There will be three separate opening ceremonies, each taking place in one of the host countries. On June 11, the first will take place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with performances by J Balvin and Tyla before the first game between Mexico and South Africa kicks off.

The second opening ceremony will take place the next day, on June 12, at BMO Field in Toronto. Michael Bublé and Katy Perry will perform before Canada takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the opening match. 

Also on June 12, the third and final opening ceremony will be held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where Katy Perry will perform yet again, this time with Future. After the live performance, the US will take on Paraguay. 

Where can I watch the World Cup football?

The Football World Cup will be broadcast live by Dutch broadcaster NOS on NPO 1, NPO 2 and NPO 3, where you can watch the matches for free without a subscription. If you have a subscription for ESPN, Viaplay or Ziggo Sport, you can also watch the games on these platforms.

If you want to watch the World Cup on the go from your mobile phone or don’t have a TV subscription, there are many live streams of the games on the internet, from YouTube. Another option is to use a VPN to watch matches broadcast by other countries' national broadcasters. 

For anyone who wants to enjoy the games with fellow football fans, several bars and clubs will likely also play live streams on the big screen, especially if the Dutch team is playing. Some cities, like Amsterdam, are even allowing bars to stay open later during the World Cup so residents can watch the football.

When is the Netherlands playing in the 2026 World Cup?

If you want to dress up in orange and have a watch party to support the Dutch football team, you’ll probably need to know when they’re playing. The Netherlands will hit the field on the following days (CEST):

• June 14, 10pm - the Netherlands vs Japan
• June 20, 7pm - the Netherlands vs Sweden
• June 26, 1am - the Netherlands vs Tunisia

Of course, if the Netherlands advances past the knockout phase, we’ll have more chances to support them! You can see the full match schedule on the FIFA website.