By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit: Michael Gill/ Duncan Riley.
Pay TV channel Supersport has announced that all 104 matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be broadcast live across DStv and GOtv.
Supersport CEO Rendani Ramovha made announcement during a media briefing.
As part of the build-up, SuperSport recently launched the campaign with a surprise on-air appearance by Idris Elba, who announced that all 104 matches would be available live on DStv and GOtv.
More celebrity appearances, studio guests including the likes of Jose Mourinho and strategic partnerships are expected ahead of the tournament.
Ramovha described the tournament as the most eagerly anticipated World Cup from an African perspective since South Africa hosted in 2010.
The tournament has also expanded from 32 to 48 nations and runs from 11 June in Mexico City to the final in New Jersey on 19 July.
He confirmed SuperSport will not broadcast the tournament in 4K, a departure from previous experiments with ultra-high-definition sports coverage. Investment has instead gone into localisation infrastructure: in-market production crews feeding regional studios, remote commentary technology for select territories, and commentary in seven African languages.
“Previously we’ve been criticised about being heavily South African-focused and South African-lensed,” Ramovha said. “This, in my opinion, is going to be the most hyper-localised content slate.”
The broadcaster is also compressing its highlights window. Match highlights will be available within 10 minutes of the final whistle, Ramovha said.
SuperSport is working with Fifa on geo-blocking, territorial takedowns and anti-piracy war rooms, with Ramovha describing piracy as a bigger threat that competitor broadcasters.
Pay-TV broadcasters across the continent have seen significant leakage to unauthorised streams during major sporting events.
Meanwhile SABC Sport announced a free-to-air broadcast partnership with Hollywoodbets covering both the 2026 Fifa World Cup and the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with rights acquired from New World TV – the official rights holder for sub-Saharan Africa.
The SABC will carry coverage across SABC 1, SABC 3, SABC Sport, SABC Plus and radio, meaning any South African household can watch Bafana Bafana’s return to the tournament – its first since the country hosted in 2010 – without a pay-TV subscription.