As part of the agreement, the broadcaster will offer 35 World Cup matches through YouTube. Ten of those games will be streamed live and in full, including the opening match.
Canal RCN has announced a strategic partnership with YouTube aimed at expanding the reach of its coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026, bringing part of the tournament to the digital platform free of charge for audiences in Colombia.
As part of the agreement, the broadcaster will offer 35 World Cup matches through YouTube. Ten of those games will be streamed live and in full, including the opening match, Colombia national team matches covered under RCN’s rights package, several key knockout-stage fixtures, and the tournament final.
The remaining 25 matches will feature a complementary digital experience, including 30-minute pre-match shows and live coverage of the first 10 minutes of each game. The initiative takes advantage of new digital distribution opportunities introduced for this edition of the tournament.
“At Canal RCN, we believe major events are best experienced when we are close to our audience, across the spaces, platforms, and formats where they consume content today,” said Santiago Escobar, RCN’s Vice President of Digital.
The initiative forms part of the broadcaster’s broader multi-platform strategy for FIFA World Cup 2026, combining free-to-air television, digital platforms, and social media to maximize the event’s reach.
The upcoming World Cup, to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will mark a historic milestone as the largest edition of the tournament to date, featuring 48 national teams and a total of 104 matches.
From an industry perspective, the agreement highlights the growing integration between traditional broadcasters and digital platforms in the distribution of premium live events, a trend that continues to reshape audience reach and monetization strategies across the media business.
