Rai reshapes prime‑time schedule for 2026 World Cup

Italy’s public broadcaster Rai will air 35 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches free on Rai 1, covering most prime‑time slots. To accommodate the tournament, the network will suspend popular programmes such as the daytime quiz show Affari Tuoi, with interruptions scheduled from 11 June through mid‑July whenever matches are broadcast in the 21:00 slot. The World Cup, co‑hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will also be streamed in full on the subscription service Dazn.

The shift in the TV schedule comes amid concerns that extreme summer weather in North America could trigger lightning alerts and cause match delays, potentially extending the tournament’s broadcast window and affecting advertising revenues and sponsor confidence.