World Cup 2026 matches today, June 18th: kickoff times and how to watch
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Four group-stage matches take center stage on Wednesday, June 18th in the FIFA World Cup 2026, running from 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM ET. Czechia vs South Africa and Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina kick off the day, followed by Canada vs Qatar and Mexico vs Korea in the evening. Fans of Czechia can stream free on CT Sport, while Mexico supporters get free coverage on TV Azteca and Korea fans can tune in to KBS. All four matches are also available free with a VPN on BBC iPlayer and ITVX in the UK and SBS On Demand in Australia.
Every match streams live and free in English on BBC iPlayer and ITVX in the UK and on SBS On Demand in Australia. These broadcasters geo-block streams outside their home country, so you need a VPN to watch from abroad. We recommend NordVPN for reliable unblocking, fast HD streaming, and broad device support across all three broadcasters.
World Cup 2026 matches on June 18th: kickoff times
| Match | Stage | Venue | ET / PT | UK (BST) | Where to watch |
| Czechia vs South Africa | Group A MD2 | Atlanta | 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT | 5:00 PM BST | CT Sport (free), Fox Sports, ITVX |
| Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | Group B MD2 | Seattle | 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT | 8:00 PM BST | SRF (free), Fox Sports, BBC iPlayer |
| Canada vs Qatar | Group B MD2 | Vancouver | 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT | 11:00 PM BST | CTV (free), Fox Sports, ITVX |
| Mexico vs Korea | Group A MD2 | Santa Clara | 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT | 2:00 AM BST | TV Azteca / KBS (free), Fox Sports, BBC iPlayer |
Australian viewers: Canada vs Qatar starts at 8:00 AM AEST on June 19th; Mexico vs Korea starts at 11:00 AM AEST on June 19th.
How to watch World Cup 2026 for free with a VPN
CT Sport streams the Czechia match free in the Czech Republic, SRF carries Switzerland's game free in Switzerland, CTV has Canada's match free in Canada, and TV Azteca and KBS offer free coverage of the Mexico and Korea match in their respective countries. All four matches also stream free in English on BBC iPlayer or ITVX in the UK and SBS On Demand in Australia. These broadcasters geo-block streams outside their home country, but a VPN lets you watch from anywhere. See our full FIFA World Cup 2026 free streaming guide for every country.
How to use a VPN to watch the World Cup 2026 for free
CT Sport streams the Czechia match free in the Czech Republic, SRF carries Switzerland's game free in Switzerland, CTV has Canada's match free in Canada, and TV Azteca and KBS offer free coverage of the Mexico and Korea match in their respective countries. All four matches also stream free in English on BBC iPlayer or ITVX in the UK and SBS On Demand in Australia. These broadcasters geo-block streams outside their home country, but a VPN lets you watch from anywhere. See our full FIFA World Cup 2026 free streaming guide for every country.
BBC iPlayer asks for a UK postcode at signup. Any valid UK postcode works — try SW1A 1AA (Westminster, London) or M1 1AE (Manchester city center). The postcode is for regional stats only; it doesn't lock your account to a specific region within the UK.
June 18th World Cup match guide
Czechia vs South Africa
Czechia opened with a narrow 2-1 loss to Korea, while South Africa fell 2-0 to Mexico in the tournament opener. Both teams are hunting their first points of the group stage, making this a must-win for their knockout hopes. Czechia will look to midfielder Tomáš Souček to control the tempo, while South Africa's attacking threat runs through Percy Tau. Czech fans can watch free on CT Sport, while South Africa supporters can tune in on SuperSport.
Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina both drew 1-1 in their opening matches — Switzerland against Qatar, Bosnia against Canada — leaving all four Group B teams level on one point. Switzerland's Granit Xhaka anchors the midfield, while Bosnia's Edin Džeko remains their key goal threat. Swiss fans can stream free on SRF, and Bosnian supporters can access Arena Sport with a VPN.
Canada vs Qatar
Canada and Qatar both earned 1-1 draws on matchday one, and a win here would put the victor in strong position to reach the knockout rounds. Canada's Alphonso Davies is the standout attacking weapon, while Qatar will rely on Akram Afif to unlock the Canadian defense. Canadian fans can watch free on CTV, and Qatari supporters can tune in on beIN Sports MENA.
Mexico vs Korea
Mexico won their opener 2-0 against South Africa, while Korea edged Czechia 2-1 in a thrilling comeback. A win for either side would all but secure a place in the Round of 16. Mexico's Hirving Lozano and Korea's Son Heung-min are the headline attacking stars. Mexico fans can watch free on TV Azteca, while Korea supporters can stream free on KBS.
FAQ
What World Cup matches are on today, June 18th?
Four matches are scheduled for Wednesday, June 18th: Czechia vs South Africa at 12:00 PM ET, Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina at 3:00 PM ET, Canada vs Qatar at 6:00 PM ET, and Mexico vs Korea at 9:00 PM ET. All four are second-round group-stage matches.
What time do the World Cup matches start on June 18th?
The first match, Czechia vs South Africa, kicks off at 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT / 5:00 PM BST / 6:00 PM CEST. Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina starts at 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM BST / 9:00 PM CEST. Canada vs Qatar begins at 6:00 PM ET / 3:00 PM PT / 11:00 PM BST / 12:00 AM CEST (June 19th). Mexico vs Korea kicks off at 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT / 2:00 AM BST (June 19th) / 3:00 AM CEST (June 19th).
Can I watch today's World Cup matches for free?
Yes. CT Sport streams the Czechia match free in the Czech Republic, SRF carries Switzerland free in Switzerland, CTV has Canada free in Canada, and TV Azteca and KBS offer free coverage of the Mexico and Korea match in their respective countries. All four matches are also available free in English on BBC iPlayer and ITVX in the UK and SBS On Demand in Australia. You need a VPN to access these streams from outside their home countries.
What channel is Mexico vs Korea on?
In the United States, the match airs on Fox Sports (English) and Telemundo (Spanish). Mexico fans can watch free on TV Azteca and ViX, while Korea supporters get free coverage on KBS. In the UK, BBC iPlayer streams it free. Australia viewers can watch on SBS On Demand for free.
How can I watch today's World Cup matches in Spanish in the US?
All four matches on June 18th are available in Spanish on Telemundo (free over-the-air with an antenna) and on Peacock (from $10.99/month for all 104 matches in Spanish). Telemundo carries 92 of the 104 World Cup matches free, with the remaining 12 on Universo (cable only). Peacock streams all 104 matches in Spanish, making it the only US service with complete Spanish-language coverage under one subscription.
