World Cup begins this week: How to watch England, France, and Scotland

The FIFA World Cup kicks off this week in North America, using a revised and expanded 48-team format for the first time. 

In only the second time in its history, the competition will also have multiple host nations, with the USA, Canada, and Mexico all holding matches.

With England and Scotland making it through to the competition proper, Britons in France will have even more reason to watch the matches. 

Only some games are free-to-air

In the UK, all matches at the World Cup are shown on free-to-air TV, split between the BBC and ITV (with both channels covering the final).

Britons in France may find it surprising therefore that not all matches are available for free in France.

Out of 104 games played in the tournament, only 54 are being shown on free-to-air channel M6 (the only free channel showing live matches). 

This includes all of France’s group stage matches (and knockout matches as or if France progresses through the tournament), both semi-finals, and the final. 

Alongside the French national team, it will show a number of matches with major teams throughout the competition, as well as a selection of knockout matches. 

All of England’s group stage matches will be shown on M6, as will two of Scotland’s group fixtures (against Morocco and Brazil). 

In contrast, only one game for Australia and the US will be shown on free-to-air TV. This will be when the two nations face each other in Group D.

Rival broadcaster beIN Sports will show all 104 games on its channel, and is the only way to watch the other World Cup matches at home.

Currently, you can subscribe for €15 per month sans engagement (meaning you can cancel at any point, including as soon as the World Cup is over). 

Subscriptions can be made through a TV box (with any of the major operators and Canal+) or digitally for phones/tablets/laptops through Canal+. More information can be found on its website here. 

Broadcaster DAZN, known for offering special sports packages, does not hold the rights to cover World Cup matches live. 

Games shown in bars… if they are open 

One alternative is to watch the game in public with other people. 

Many sports bars and pubs will be showing games, so check out venues near you.

One idea is to head to a local British- or Irish-themed pub for a more UK-style atmosphere, where you will likely be surrounded by other Britons (or those backing them). 

Note however that many of the games will be held late in the day due to time difference. 

France and England’s group stage matches will kick off between 21:00 and 23:00 French time, but Scotland’s will start at midnight, or in one case at 03:00.

Several other games will also be held exceptionally late or early for European timezones generally between 21:00 to 06:00 the following morning.

Unlike in the UK, where pubs will be able to remain open later throughout the tournament, no such rules are currently in place in France. 

This means establishments must keep to current closing times (although some bars already have permission to stay open late enough to show matches). 

In Paris, terrasses must close at 22:00 as usual, roughly around half-time for matches kicking off at 21:00 French time. 

If France makes another deep run in the competition special time exemptions may be put in place.
A list of all kick-off times can be found through FranceInfo here.