Despite Denmark not qualifying for the tournament this time, football fever is still sweeping the country during the 2026 FIFA World Cup – here’s how to watch it.
The world’s biggest football spectacle kicked off on June 11th.
Despite the fact that the Danish team didn’t qualify this time around, many in the country are still following the tournament.
For many foreigners in Denmark, it’s a chance to support their home country.
The event, which this year is jointly held between the US, Mexico and Canada, runs from June 11th until July 19th.
This 2026 tournament is different in that it features 48 teams rather than the usual 32, and will therefore see 104 matches take place.
How to watch the 2026 World Cup on Danish TV
2026 World Cup TV rights in Denmark are shared this year, with coverage split between free-to-air DR and paid channel TV 2.
- DR is showing games on both DR1 spirit DR2 with streaming via DRTV.
- TV 2 is broadcasting through TV 2, TV 2 Sport, TV 2 Sport X and the subscription-based TV 2 Play.
DR1 will show most of the DR matches, including the final, while DR2 will be used for simultaneous DR broadcasts.
TV 2 will broadcast selected key matches, and TV 2 Sport X will show most of the TV 2 matches.
The World Cup final on 19 July at 21:00 will be broadcast on both DR and TV 2.
Are they free?
It depends where you watch.
Matches on DR’s TV channels (primarily DR1 and DR2) will be free.
You can also stream matches through DRTV.
What about TV 2?
No, TV 2 is not a free-to-air channel and matches will be available via TV 2’s paid channels and TV 2 Play.
Prices may vary depending on the package.
When are the matches?
Due to the fixtures being played across North American time zones, kickoffs are spread out and often at very unsociable hours for European audiences.
The East Coast stadiums (New York, Miami, Boston) are 6 hours ahead.
Mexico City is +7 hours. The West Coast hosts (Los Angeles, Seattle) is +9 hours.
Therefore, early evening games kick off around 18:00–21:00 CEST.
There is then another round of fixtures later in the evening, kicking off at around 21:00–00:00 CEST.
Overnight games take place from 00:00–05:00 CEST.
Will there be any big screen or fan zone events?
Given that Denmark didn’t qualify this year, you might expect less overall fan enthusiasm in the country.
However, that’s not to say that Danes and foreigners alike haven’t gotten into the World Cup spirit. Many want to watch outdoors, whether in pubs or bars that stay open later, or at public screenings.
The most popular spot for watching matches outdoors in Copenhagen is at Islands Brygge. You can find information on entry and the match schedule here. In Odense, you can watch any games ending before midnight at Storms Pakhus, while there doesn’t appear to be anywhere in Aarhus showing the games live on a big screen.
Your best bet otherwise is to find a local bar or sports bar – English or Irish bars are a good option.
