Qatar's beIN to broadcast 2026 World Cup opening ceremony across free-to-air channels

BAGHDAD, Iraq — beIN Sports will air the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony on its free-to-air channel beIN SPORTS HD and on beIN Haber, allowing viewers across the Arab world to watch without a subscription. The ceremony will also be carried on beIN SPORTS MAX 1, MAX 2 and MAX 5, as well as El Kass 1, the broadcaster said. The first ceremony will be held in Mexico on Thursday, June 11, two hours before the opening match between Mexico and South Africa, with kickoff set for 20:00 local Turkish time. Additional second and third opening ceremonies will be available only to MAX package subscribers, alongside alternative broadcasts from select foreign channels. Viewers can also stream the events online via beIN Connect, TOD and Shahid. The 2026 World Cup will be the first hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, featuring 48 national teams playing 104 matches across 16 host cities.