The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature eight Arab national teams, marking the highest regional representation in the tournament’s history, as streaming platform TOD prepares to broadcast every match across the MENA region starting June 11.
The eight Arab sides confirmed for the tournament are Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. This surpasses all previous editions and follows Morocco’s run to the semi-finals at the 2022 edition in Qatar, which raised expectations for Arab teams on the global stage.
TOD to Stream FIFA World Cup 2026 Across MENA
TOD, the subscription-based streaming platform operated by beIN MEDIA GROUP, holds the official streaming rights for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the MENA region. The platform, launched in 2022, will deliver all matches in 4K with multilingual commentary options available to subscribers across the region.
Peter Mrkic, Managing Director of TOD-MENA, addressed the significance of this edition for regional audiences.
“From the first whistle to the final moments, FIFA World Cup 2026 represents a defining chapter not only for global football, but for the Arab world. After proudly hosting the tournament for the first time, the region returns with its biggest-ever presence at the FIFA World Cup, featuring more Arab teams on the world stage than ever before. This is a moment of pride, progress, and possibility. Our role is to ensure fans experience every unforgettable moment of the tournament on the device of their choice through the most immersive, digital-first experience possible.”
Peter Mrkic, Managing Director, TOD-MENA
Arab Stars and Global Icons Headline the Tournament
Several Arab players are expected to draw significant attention during the tournament. Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Jordan’s Mousa Al-Taamari, and Qatar’s Akram Afif will each carry national expectations into the competition. They will compete alongside international figures including Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé, as well as a new generation of players making their mark on the global stage.
High-Stakes Group Stage Matchups for Arab Sides
The group stage draws have placed Arab teams against some of the world’s top-ranked sides. Morocco faces Brazil, Tunisia meets the Netherlands, Egypt takes on Belgium, and both Algeria and Jordan are drawn against Argentina, the reigning world champions. These fixtures mean Arab teams will face immediate pressure from the opening rounds of the competition.
The matchups reflect a broader shift in how Arab football is perceived internationally, particularly after Morocco’s 2022 semi-final run demonstrated that regional teams can compete at the highest level. Fans across North Africa and the Gulf are expected to follow the tournament closely, with results carrying weight beyond the pitch.
Platform Features for the Tournament
TOD has outlined several viewing features it plans to offer during the tournament broadcast. These include 4K streaming, multilingual commentary, personalised content discovery, and catch-up functionality. The platform’s TOD360 suite adds interactive timelines, automated highlights, FanZones, and a MultiView option that allows viewers to watch multiple matches simultaneously.
The platform covers MENA and Turkey, offering content in family-friendly formats across multiple devices. With two months remaining before the June 11 kick-off, TOD said it continues to prepare its infrastructure to handle the expected surge in viewership during the tournament.
beIN MEDIA GROUP, the parent company of TOD, has held broadcast rights for major football competitions across the MENA region for over a decade. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, making it the first edition held across three countries and the largest in terms of participating teams, with 48 nations competing.
