Telecom's Agreement for 2026 World Cup Broadcasting: Which Network Will Air the German Team?
Germany's Qualifying Matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to Be Broadcast Free-to-Air
Berlin - Telekom has secured the rights to broadcast all matches of the 2026 World Cup, taking place on their MagentaTV pay-TV channel. This telecommunications company will showcase all 104 games, leaving an essential question unanswered; where can fans view Germany's matches without additional cost if they qualify?
The comprehensive rights package not only includes the 2026 World Cup but also the 2027 Women's World Cup and the U20 World Cups in 2025 and 2027, totaling an impressive 272 live broadcasts.
Given the Interstate Broadcasting Treaty, Germany's national team matches at the World Cup must be broadcast on free-to-air and accessible television channels. Other significant matches such as the opening match, both semi-finals, and the final are also subject to this rule.
Despite qualification yet to be confirmed, Telekom TV's chief, Arnim Butzen, firmly believes in Germany's qualification, eagerly anticipating an unique tournament. The team's qualifying campaign begins in September, featuring opponents Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg, each to be met twice.
Although Telekom could offer Germany's World Cup matches for free, as it does with other sports, it is more probable that Telekom will share some rights with major broadcasters like ARD, ZDF, or RTL. "The ink is barely dry," said Telekom manager Wolfgang Metze, implying that discussions are imminent.
Telekom has already confirmed a portion of its TV personnel, with Johannes B. Kerner acting as the moderator, and commentator Wolff Fuss providing updates on the games involving the German national team. Cooperation with other broadcasters appears sensible, particularly from an economic perspective.
To comply with Germany's broadcasting law, it is likely that Telekom will sublicense major matches to public broadcasters or commercial networks. The forthcoming 2024 Euro championship presents an opportunity for renegotiation, where Euro 2028 matches could potentially serve as a bargaining chip.
With this knowledge, fans can follow these steps to tune into Germany's matches for free, assuming they qualify for the tournament:
- Check public broadcasters, specifically ARD and ZDF, for matches featuring the German national team.
- Look for sublicensed matches on commercial networks such as RTL and ProSiebenSat.1.
- Keep an eye out for any free-to-air offerings on MagentaTV, although this option is less likely.
- In the event of Germany qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it's advisable to check public broadcasters like ARD and ZDF for matches involving the German national team, as these matches are likely to be broadcast free-to-air due to the Interstate Broadcasting Treaty.
- Additionally, commercial networks such as RTL and ProSiebenSat.1 might also sublicense some of the major tournament matches featuring Germany, so keep an eye out for their broadcast schedules.
