‍

In just one year, the FIFA World Cup tournament will kick off, returning to North America for the first time in 30 years. Telemundo, NBCUniversal’s Spanish-language television network, is FIFA’s Spanish-language media partner for the global tournament, which will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with games in 16 host cities across Canada, the United States and Mexico.

On Wednesday, which Telemundo has secured as El Día Nacional del Fútbol (National Day of Soccer), the network previewed its coverage plans for the event as well as its multi-platform marketing campaign, “El Mundial Es Nuestro” (The World Cup is Ours). The Telemundo TV stations also premiered an original documentary about fútbol fandom across the Americas.

NBCU will cover the World Cup across Telemundo, Universo and Peacock throughout the next year.

“For us at Telemundo, today is about more than a countdown to FIFA World Cup 2026—we’re not just covering the tournament, we’re preparing to host history, and the road we’re paving to 2026 will prove it,” said Joaquin Duro, executive VP, sports, Telemundo in a statement. “From airing all 104 matches live and showcasing more games on broadcast television than ever before to offering the most extensive coverage in the lead-up to the World Cup and during the tournament, we’re all in.”

Comprehensive Coverage

Telemundo will broadcast all 104 matches live—92 on Telemundo and 12 on Universo—marking the most men’s World Cup matches ever aired on a broadcast network in U.S. media history, regardless of language. Every match will also stream live on Peacock and the Telemundo app. Telemundo’s production will include in-venue presence at all 104 matches, offering live, on-the-ground reporting from each game. Coverage will originate from studios in Mexico City, Miami and New York as well as from additional locations across the other 13 host cities: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle in the U.S.; Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico; and Vancouver and Toronto in Canada. 

Leading up to the Cup, Telemundo also has acquired the Spanish-language rights to the Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers. Coverage of these qualifying rounds will air in September, October and November of this year, followed by the live presentation of the FIFA World Cup 26 draw in December. 

In addition, the network will be launching a new 24/7 sports-focused FAST (free advertising-supported television) channel, Telemundo Deportes Ahora, which will deliver more than 50 hours of live Spanish-language sports content each week—including original programming and live sporting events. Telemundo Deportes Ahora is slated to launch in August.

“El Mundial Es Nuestro”

Telemundo launched its multiplatform marketing campaign, “El Mundial Es Nuestro” (The World Cup is Ours),” on Wednesday to mark the one-year countdown to the event’s start.

The campaign celebrates Latino passion and pride for fútbol, with storytelling that invites everyone to experience the World Cup. It also aims to capture the deep cultural connection between fútbol and Latino communities. The campaign was filmed across several locations and features shots of FIFA World Cup 26 host cities.

Produced in-house, the yearlong production involved more than 300 crew members and extras. The campaign will run across NBCUniversal platforms, including Telemundo, NBC, and Peacock, with on-air promos, editorial segments, digital and social content, and immersive fan experiences at Universal Destinations & Experiences. 

“Tras La Huella Del Fútbol”

The Telemundo station group, which is part of NBCUniversal Local, on Wednesday premiered “Tras La Huella Del Fútbol,” an original documentary that explores fútbol fandom across the Americas as well as the tournament’s economic and cultural impact. 

The half-hour special, produced by Telemundo Local Studios and hosted by Telemundo Los Angeles sports anchor Alejandro Navarro and Telemundo New York sports anchor Verónica Contreras, features figures who have shaped the game and are inspiring its future. The special will air across Telemundo-owned stations and the Telemundo regional news streaming channels Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. CT, and will repeat regularly, including as an extended one-hour format, leading up to the kickoff of the FIFA World Cup 26.

Several Telemundo-owned stations also will debut World Cup specials and segments this week. These will be presented nationwide on Telemundo’s regional news FAST streaming channels, which are available on streaming and connected TV platforms, including the Telemundo-owned stations’ desktop and mobile sites and apps.

Next week, Telemundo-owned stations will launch “Camino Al Trofeo,” a weekly news segment tracking World Cup updates, that will also be available on the stations’ digital platforms. In addition, “Las Mujeres Detrás del Fútbol” (The Women Behind Fútbol), a monthly Spanish- and English-language interview series highlighting the contributions of women in soccer, will debut June 11 across Telemundo- and NBC-owned station platforms.