IShowSpeed ​​will broadcast official matches of the World Cup 2026 on YouTube with a signal from FIFA and Fox

IShowSpeed has closed an official agreement with FIFA, Fox Sports and YouTube to broadcast matches from the 2026 World Cup with the live signal of the tournament integrated into its streams. The creator – Darren Watkins Jr., 21 years old – will be able to do watch parties with an official image from the host stadiums or from his studio, a formula that Fox describes as a first for the American public.

The announcement came on Wednesday, June 17 during a live broadcast on YouTube. "We are doing something that has never been done before," Speed ​​declared. "You're going to be able to watch some World Cup matches right here, on my stream." Fox Sports and Fox Direct to Consumer confirmed the deal on their official channels, including a promotional video on FOX Sports and a LinkedIn post detailing the exclusive simulcasts on FOX One.

What matches will Speed broadcast

Fox and Speed have confirmed a partial schedule. The table below updates itself when there is news, without reloading the page or saturating your connection.

The creator posted viewing instructions on his social media, including a post on X on June 17 with the tagline "FIRST IN THE WORLD AT THE WORLD CUP!"

«Fans have always wanted to watch the games with me, with creators like me. I want to continue pushing the boundaries of streaming and help all creators."

How to see it: the geographic trap

Here is the nuance that many summaries poorly simplify. It's not that it can only be seen from the US. The distribution works the other way around depending on the region:

In practice, American viewers who want to watch the match and Speed with the official signal must subscribe to FOX One, Fox's streaming service available as a Primetime YouTube channel. The price is $19.99 per month, with a three-day free trial. Those who follow the live broadcast on Speed's usual channel from the US will be able to see the creator, but Fox confirms that they will not see the match signal on that platform.

For the rest of the world, the agreement opens the door to watching the official image matches directly on Speed's YouTube channel, as part of its "World Cup 26 Tour" — without having to pay for FOX One.

Why does this agreement matter?

The alliance is a pioneer on several fronts. For the first time, FIFA hands over live feed rights to an independent content creator to integrate them into a live reaction format. Fox, which has the exclusive rights in English to the World Cup in the US until 2026, seeks to capture the young audience that consumes sports outside of traditional television — and that already follows Speed ​​massively.

The numbers justify it: Speed's live broadcast during Portugal's debut on Wednesday, June 17, reached 9.2 million viewers, a figure that, according to Awful Announcing, probably exceeds the audience of Fox's open television network for that same match. The closest precedent is CaséTV in Brazil, which this year acts as exclusive distributor of many World Cup matches for the Brazilian market. Speed, for his part, had already made a simulcast of NFL Week 1 on YouTube last fall.

What remains to be confirmed

Rows marked “To be announced” on the calendar will be updated as soon as Fox releases the playoffs. It has also not been detailed whether simulcasts from the stadium will include access to restricted areas or exclusive interviews, nor whether other creators will be able to replicate the model in future tournaments.

What is clear is that streaming and traditional sports have taken another step towards fusion. A YouTube creator with tens of millions of followers can now broadcast the World Cup final with an official signal—something unthinkable just a few years ago. Speed ​​knows this, and that is why he repeats that it is "something that has never been done before." This time, official sources agree with him.