Get fit for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ with new SBS On Demand features for the ultimate viewing experience

Now is the time for Australian fans to prepare for SBS’s live, free and exclusive broadcast of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ by exploring the new features available on SBS On Demand and ensuring they have their free account login details before the first kick-off on Friday, 12 June at 5am (AEST).

SBS On Demand has introduced pause, restart, and rewind for live television, along with other innovations designed to make every moment of the tournament easier to follow for the millions of Australians expected to tune in to cheer on the Socceroos and other teams close to their hearts.

The biggest World Cup in history, featuring 48 teams playing 104 games across host countries Canada, Mexico and the United States, will unfold in a favourable time zone for Australian audiences, so more fans than ever are expected to watch the tournament broadcast over six magical weeks.

The new SBS On Demand features include:

Live Restart –There will be no more missed starts or goals for fans watching SBS On Demand, with viewers now able torestart orrewind to the kick-off for every one of the 104 matches. They can also pause when needed, rewind to relive a goal or major moment, and fast forward to get back to the live play.

1080p HD Picture Quality – For the greatest show on Earth, picture quality matters. Every live match of the tournament – plus replays, match highlights, mini matches and more – will be streamed in full 1080p HD at up to 4.5 megabits per second.

One Stop Shop – A dedicated FIFA World Cup™ hub on the SBS On Demand platform will make viewing simple and personalised. A new Favourites feature lets fans earmark team pages and collections for quick access to their own World Cup destination, with fixtures, replays, highlights and related content all in one place.

Second Screen – Every live match will be covered via the SBS Sport Match Centre, featuring live statistics and commentary designed to complement the broadcast. Updated in real time, the Match Centre will give fans deeper insight into the story of the game and a way to follow key moments live to complement their viewing experience.

SBS Director of Television, Kathryn Fink, said: “SBS’s broadcast of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ will bring Australians together like no other event and we want football fanatics and casual fans alike to have their best ever viewing experience this year.

“We’ve made significant upgrades since the 2022 broadcast, with innovations designed to make every match easier to follow, more immersive and more accessible for everyone tuning in, whether you’ve been with us for 40 years or you’re coming along on the ride for the first time.

“Be prepared by making sure you’ve created an SBS On Demand account, or located your login details, before the tournament begins. But if you don’t, Live Restart is there to help you out. Once you log in, the entire World Cup will be at your fingertips.” 

The FIFA World Cup 2026™ Hub is already available on SBS On Demand, so fans can use the Favourites tab now to plan their World Cup journey and prepare for the tournament.

Australia is in Group D for the first stage of the tournament and will play its first three matches against Türkiye on Sunday, 14 June at 2pm (AEST); USA on Saturday, 20 June from 5am (AEST); and Paraguay on Friday, 26 June at 12pm (AEST). All broadcasts start one hour before kick-off.

Watch live, free and exclusive on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand from 12 June to 20 July (AEST). Learn all the ways to watch, read and listen, including updating your SBS On Demand app (iOS or Android) and subscribing to SBS Sport newsletters here.

Follow SBS Sport across YouTube, TikTok, X, Instagram and Facebook for all the latest from the FIFA World Cup 2026™. 

Broadcast schedule and more information here.

Hyundai, Hisense, Macca’s, Rexona, bet365, Commonwealth Bank and Youi are commercial partners of SBS’s broadcast of the FIFA World Cup 2026™. 

For a PDF of this media release, click here.