Kenyan football fans will be able to watch 34 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches free of charge after Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) entered into a partnership with SportyTV to broadcast selected fixtures from the global tournament.
The two broadcasters announced on Thursday that KBC Channel 1 and SportyTV will provide live free-to-air coverage of 34 matches, giving millions of Kenyans access to some of the biggest games from the tournament being hosted across Mexico, Canada and the United States.
According to the broadcasters, the rights package includes 17 group-stage matches and 17 knockout-stage fixtures, among them the tournament opener and the FIFA World Cup final.
The opening match, featuring Mexico and South Africa, is scheduled to kick off at 10:00 p.m. Kenyan time.
The partnership marks a major boost for football fans who would otherwise rely on paid television subscriptions to follow the tournament.
In addition to traditional television broadcasts, the matches will also be available through digital platforms, although access will be restricted to viewers within Kenya through geo-blocking measures.
Beyond live match coverage, viewers can expect enhanced programming, including match previews, player and team profiles, fixture analysis, highlights, and player-of-the-match features.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest in the tournament’s history, featuring 48 national teams and 104 matches across three host nations.
Broadcasters said the expanded competition is expected to attract record global audiences and provide fans with more matches than any previous edition of the World Cup.
However, Kenyan viewers have been advised that some fixtures will be played during late-night and early-morning hours due to time differences between East Africa and the host countries.
The announcement positions KBC and SportyTV among the key broadcasters bringing the tournament to local audiences as anticipation builds for the month-long football spectacle.
The move is also expected to boost audience numbers for both broadcasters, with the World Cup traditionally ranking among the most-watched sporting events globally.
Fans will be able to follow the selected matches on KBC Channel 1 and through the digital platforms operated by KBC and SportyTV throughout the tournament.
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