Nearly 12 million Colombians watched a single match in 2018
Una vez cada cuatro años, el fútbol convierte el planeta en una sola audiencia, y Colombia —nación donde un partido puede detener el trabajo, las conversaciones y el tiempo mismo— se prepara para vivir el torneo más grande de la historia. El Tiempo Digital y DGO han sellado una alianza para llevar los 104 partidos del Mundial 2026 a las pantallas colombianas, reconociendo que ver el fútbol no es solo entretenimiento, sino un acto colectivo que define identidad y pertenencia. En un torneo que por primera vez reunirá a 48 selecciones y se extenderá 39 días, la pregunta no es si Colombia mirará, sino desde dónde y con quién.
- Por primera vez en la historia, 48 naciones disputarán 104 partidos, convirtiendo el Mundial 2026 en el torneo más largo y masivo jamás celebrado.
- Más del 60% de los partidos caerán en horario laboral colombiano, lo que significa que millones de personas seguirán los juegos desde oficinas, teléfonos y pausas robadas al trabajo.
- El Tiempo Digital y DGO anunciaron esta semana los derechos exclusivos de transmisión, cerrando el acceso a todo el torneo bajo una sola plataforma de streaming.
- Los suscriptores de Digital Pro recibirán 60 días de acceso gratuito a DGO —divididos en dos pases de 30 días— junto con Amazon Prime y cobertura ilimitada de noticias.
- Los códigos de acceso llegarán por correo electrónico en la última semana de mayo, justo antes del pitazo inicial del 11 de junio.
El Mundial 2026 llegará a las pantallas colombianas con una alianza exclusiva entre El Tiempo Digital y DGO, que juntos transmitirán los 104 partidos de lo que será el torneo más grande en la historia del fútbol. Por primera vez, 48 selecciones competirán en lugar de las tradicionales 32, extendiendo la competencia a 39 días —del 11 de junio al 19 de julio— y convirtiendo el Estadio Azteca en el primer recinto en albergar tres Copas del Mundo y tres partidos inaugurales.
Las cifras hablan de la magnitud del evento: en 2018, más de 3.500 millones de personas vieron partidos en todo el mundo; en Qatar 2022, esa cifra trepó a cerca de 5.000 millones. En Colombia, el fútbol mundial no es deporte, es fenómeno cultural. Casi 12 millones de colombianos vieron el partido contra Inglaterra en 2018, marcando 35,2 puntos de rating —récord histórico de la televisión privada— hasta que la final de la Copa América 2024 entre Argentina y Colombia lo superó con 36,1 puntos.
El calendario del torneo favorece a quienes siguen el fútbol desde el trabajo: más del 60% de los partidos se disputarán entre las 11 a.m. y las 5 p.m., hora colombiana. Entre los encuentros diurnos figuran el partido inaugural entre México y Sudáfrica, y cotejos de Francia, Inglaterra, Alemania y Ecuador.
Los suscriptores de El Tiempo Digital Pro recibirán 60 días de acceso gratuito a DGO en dos pases de 30 días, más acceso ilimitado a eltiempo.com y 60 días de Amazon Prime para quienes contraten el plan anual. Los códigos llegarán por correo en la última semana de mayo. La alianza consolida una oferta integral de deportes, noticias y entretenimiento, con beneficios adicionales a través del programa de fidelidad Club Vivamos El Tiempo, extensibles a hasta cuatro personas por cuenta.
The 2026 World Cup is coming to Colombian screens, and two media giants have locked down the exclusive rights to show every match. El Tiempo Digital and DGO announced their partnership this week, offering fans a way to watch all 104 games of what will be the largest tournament in football history.
This World Cup will look different from any that came before it. For the first time, 48 nations will compete instead of the traditional 32, expanding the tournament to 104 matches—a record. Mexico's Azteca Stadium will make its own piece of history by becoming the first venue ever to host three World Cups and three opening matches. The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, stretching across 39 days, longer than any World Cup played before.
The scale of the event is staggering. Global viewership numbers tell the story. During the 2018 World Cup in Russia, more than 3.5 billion people watched matches worldwide, with the final drawing over 1.1 billion viewers. Four years later in Qatar, those numbers climbed again: roughly 5 billion people followed the tournament, and the Argentina-France final reached more than 1.5 billion spectators across the planet. In Colombia, the World Cup is not merely a sporting event—it is a cultural phenomenon. When Colombia played England in 2018, nearly 12 million Colombians tuned in. That match scored 35.2 rating points, the highest ever recorded on Colombian private television at that time. Only the 2024 Copa América final between Argentina and Colombia surpassed it, reaching 36.1 points.
The timing of the 2026 tournament presents a unique advantage for Colombian viewers. More than 60 percent of the 104 matches will be scheduled between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Colombian time—squarely during the working day. This means millions of people will follow the games from offices, on their phones during breaks, or wherever work takes them. Among the daytime matches will be the opening game between Mexico and South Africa, plus encounters featuring France, England, Germany, and Ecuador. Eight round-of-16 matches, three round-of-32 matches, two quarterfinals, and two semifinals will also fall within those hours.
El Tiempo Digital Pro subscribers will receive 60 days of free access to DGO—the exclusive streaming home of all 104 matches—split into two 30-day passes. Those who purchase a 12-month Digital Pro plan will also gain unlimited access to eltiempo.com for news coverage and 60 days of Amazon Prime. The DGO access codes will arrive by email during the last week of May. The partnership positions El Tiempo's digital offering as a comprehensive package: live sports, news, and entertainment bundled together. Subscribers also unlock discounts through the Club Vivamos El Tiempo loyalty program, with benefits extending to up to four people per account.
DGO and DirecTV hold the exclusive broadcasting rights to every match. For Colombian fans who do not want to miss a moment—whether they are in the stadium, at home, or stealing glances at work—this partnership offers a clear path to watch it all unfold.
Citações Notáveis
In Colombia, the World Cup is not merely a sporting event—it is a cultural phenomenon— Editorial context from El Tiempo
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why does the timing of these matches matter so much for Colombian viewers?
Because more than half the games kick off during work hours. In previous tournaments, fans had to choose between their job and the match. This time, they can watch from their desk or phone. It changes how a nation experiences the event.
The numbers around viewership seem almost unreal. Five billion people watching a tournament?
It's the largest sporting event on Earth. Nothing else comes close. And Colombia's numbers are even more intense—12 million people watching a single match in a country of 50 million. The World Cup isn't background noise there. It stops everything.
What makes 2026 different from previous tournaments?
Forty-eight teams instead of 32. That's 104 matches instead of the usual 64. It's longer, bigger, more games to watch. And Mexico's Azteca Stadium becomes the first venue to host three World Cups. The tournament itself is breaking records before it even starts.
Is this partnership just about streaming, or is there something deeper?
It's about access and convenience bundled together. You get the matches, the news, entertainment, discounts. El Tiempo is trying to make itself indispensable during the tournament—the place you go for everything related to the World Cup and beyond.
How long will the tournament actually last?
Thirty-nine days. June 11 to July 19. That's longer than any World Cup in history. It's a month-plus commitment for fans, which is why having reliable, accessible coverage matters so much.