The opening ten minutes of every match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be broadcast live on YouTube in selected countries following a new collaboration between the platform and FIFA.

The initiative, announced as part of a partnership between the two organisations, aims to expand the tournament’s digital reach while offering fans new ways to engage with the competition.

Under the arrangement, the first ten minutes of each match will be made available for free on YouTube through official channels operated by FIFA’s media partners.

The measure is designed to broaden coverage of the tournament and allow broadcasters greater flexibility in the type of content they publish online.

FIFA says the partnership will enable partner networks to share more material related to the competition, including extended highlights and behind-the-scenes footage.

By doing so, the governing body hopes to increase global visibility for the World Cup and create new opportunities for fans to follow the tournament through digital platforms.

The agreement also gives media partners the option to stream the opening stages of matches directly on their own YouTube channels.

This approach is expected to complement traditional broadcast rights while encouraging wider online engagement with football’s biggest international event.

In some cases, FIFA has indicated that full matches could also become available on YouTube.

However, such broadcasts would depend on approval from rights-holding broadcasters and the regulatory framework of the countries where the matches are shown.

FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström welcomed the agreement, highlighting the opportunities it offers for both broadcasters and fans.

“We are delighted to welcome YouTube as the number one platform for this World Cup. This agreement offers unprecedented opportunities for media partners and content creators. It will be a unique experience for fans around the world.”

The move reflects the growing importance of digital platforms in sports broadcasting and signals FIFA’s intention to reach audiences beyond traditional television coverage.

With the 2026 tournament approaching, the collaboration between FIFA and YouTube represents a new step in how global football events are delivered to supporters, combining conventional broadcasting with expanded online access for viewers worldwide.