Despite Nigeria’s absence from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, football enthusiasts across the country will still be able to follow every match of the tournament as StarTimes Nigeria has announced extensive broadcast plans for the global football showpiece.
The pay-TV provider made the announcement during a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, revealing that it will air all 104 matches of the expanded tournament scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Nigeria failed to secure qualification for the World Cup after a disappointing qualifying campaign, extending the Super Eagles’ absence from football’s biggest stage following their failure to reach the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
However, StarTimes says Nigerian fans will not miss any of the action, with dedicated World Cup channels set to provide live match broadcasts, expert analysis, halftime discussions, and post-match reviews throughout the competition.
Speaking at the briefing, StarTimes Marketing Director, Oke Umurhohwo, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to delivering uninterrupted coverage of the tournament.
“We are one of the official broadcasters of the FIFA World Cup 2026, and all 104 matches will be shown live on StarTimes,” he said.
To enhance fan engagement, the company also unveiled a N50 million promotional campaign for subscribers ahead of the tournament.
The promotion includes a grand prize of N10 million, which will be awarded through a live draw on the day of the World Cup final.
According to the company, both existing and new subscribers will have the opportunity to participate in the promotion and win a range of prizes, including television sets, solar home systems, and other exciting rewards.
StarTimes disclosed that subscribers will be able to watch matches through its satellite and terrestrial television platforms as well as the StarTimes ON mobile application, enabling fans to follow games from virtually anywhere.
The company also announced plans to organise special viewing centres and fan engagement events in selected cities during the knockout stages, semi-finals, and final of the tournament.
As part of efforts to make World Cup coverage more accessible, StarTimes revealed that it has reduced the prices of decoders and related accessories ahead of the competition.
The broadcaster said the move is aimed at giving more football fans access to live coverage of what promises to be the biggest World Cup in history.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams for the first time, with a record 104 matches scheduled across three host nations.
Although Nigeria will not be among the participating countries, interest in the tournament is expected to remain high, with fans eager to follow football powerhouses and support Africa’s representatives on the world stage.
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