MultiChoice-owned broadcaster SuperSport has announced that it will air all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 live across English and Portuguese-speaking African markets, in what is set to be the most accessible edition of the tournament yet for its subscribers.
In a statement issued on April 17, the broadcaster said the expanded tournament will be available to DStv, DStv Stream, GOtv and GOtv Stream customers in several African countries, with full live coverage, highlights and repeat broadcasts planned from the opening match on June 11, 2026 to the final on July 19, 2026.
The 2026 edition, to be co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States, will be the biggest in FIFA World Cup history, expanding from 32 to 48 teams and increasing the number of matches from 64 to 104. The tournament will open in Mexico City and conclude in New Jersey, making it the longest World Cup ever staged.
SuperSport said the competition will, for the first time, be available to DStv subscribers from the Access package up to Premium, a move expected to significantly widen viewership across the continent. The broadcaster is positioning the tournament as a landmark moment not only for global football, but also for African audiences, given the continent’s increased representation.
Africa is set to send its largest-ever contingent to a FIFA World Cup, with 10 countries qualifying from the Confederation of African Football. The teams listed by the broadcaster are Ghana, South Africa, Senegal, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
That expanded African presence is likely to heighten local interest in the tournament, particularly in markets where football remains one of the most watched broadcast products. In Kenya and across the region, the World Cup is typically one of the biggest drivers of audience engagement, subscriptions and sports-related marketing activity.
To support the rollout, DStv partnered with actor Idris Elba, who on Wednesday revealed that all 104 matches would be broadcast live on DStv and GOtv. Elba, whose parents are from Ghana and Sierra Leone, features in the campaign as the company seeks to build excitement around what it describes as a historic World Cup for Africa.
MultiChoice says its coverage will go beyond live matches, with SuperSport preparing new magazine shows, fresh on-air talent and expert football analysis drawn from across Africa and other parts of the world.
Rendani Ramovha, CANAL+ Director for Content, Sports, in English and Portuguese-speaking Africa, said the broadcaster was looking forward to delivering another major global event to African viewers, particularly at a time when the continent will have unprecedented representation on football’s biggest stage.
He said the company was also planning special broadcast features tailored to different cultures and some local African languages, in a sign that regional customisation will form part of its World Cup coverage strategy.
The World Cup will be available on SuperSport in 26 African countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa among others.
For MultiChoice, the rights announcement is both a programming milestone and a major commercial play as competition for live sports audiences continues to intensify across Africa.
