Local kick-off times, channels and host-venue info for Chicago.
Verified 4 days ago
In Chicago, every 2026 FIFA World Cup match airs free on FOX (English) or Telemundo (Spanish), with FOX One and Peacock streaming the same feeds for cord-cutters. Chicago is not a 2026 World Cup host venue, but every match still reaches local viewers free over-the-air on FOX (English) and Telemundo (Spanish).
Chicago is on Central (CDT), 1 hours behind Eastern. The four standard 2026 World Cup kick-off windows translate as follows: a noon ET kick-off lands at 11:00 AM CT; a 3:00 PM ET kick-off lands at 2:00 PM CT; a 6:00 PM ET kick-off lands at 5:00 PM CT; a 9:00 PM ET kick-off lands at 8:00 PM CT. The lunchtime and afternoon slots are particularly friendly for daytime viewing in this market, while the late slot finishes well before midnight.
Chicago is not a 2026 host market, but the city sits within a four-hour drive of two World Cup venues: Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City (about eight hours by road, two by air) and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta is the next-closest by air. For viewers staying in the metro, Soldier Field, Wrigleyville and the West Loop are expected to host major fan-zone activations from local breweries and sports bars; the official FIFA Fan Festival list does not currently include a Chicago venue, but every match still airs free over-the-air on FOX (English) and Telemundo (Spanish) for home viewers across Cook County, DuPage County and the surrounding suburbs.
Every match airs free over-the-air on either FOX or Telemundo — a $20 indoor antenna is enough to pull in both networks in any major US metro within reach of a broadcast tower. For streaming, FOX One carries the English feed without a cable login, while Peacock ($7.99/mo) simulcasts every Spanish broadcast. Cable streamers YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Fubo all carry FOX, FS1, Telemundo and UNIVERSO, plus the Fox Sports 4K channel for USMNT matches, both semifinals and the July 19 final.
See the full US channel guide for all 104 World Cup matches →