FOX Sports is bringing James Corden to the World Cup. The network said during its Upfront ’26 presentation that it will launch FIFA World Cup on Fox After Hours with James Corden, an hourlong comedy show built around the FIFA World Cup 2026 and set to begin Thursday, June 11, on the opening night of the tournament.
The show will air throughout the competition at midnight local time on FOX and originate from the FOX Studio Lot in Los Angeles. Rio Ferdinand and Ian Karmel will join Corden in studio, and each episode is set to include surprise guests from pop culture and the beautiful game.
Brad Zager, the network’s sports chief, said FOX Sports was excited to welcome Corden, Ferdinand and Karmel to the FOX Sports family for what he called an unforgettable summer. The move gives FOX a late-night companion to its World Cup coverage and leans hard into Corden’s public identity as a soccer fan, not just as a television host.
That matters because FOX Sports says it is the America’s English-language home for the FIFA World Cup 2026, and the event will be played on home soil. The new program is being built to spotlight the day’s biggest moments and storylines after the matches are over, turning the tournament’s nightly talking points into a studio show with a comic edge.
Corden was first introduced to American audiences in 2015 as host of The Late Late Show, and his resume now spans BAFTA, Emmy and Tony awards as a host, actor, writer and producer. He is also a devoted West Ham United supporter. Ferdinand brings his own football credentials to the project, with 81 appearances for England during an 18-year playing career.
FOX is not just scheduling another entertainment vehicle around the World Cup. It is betting that a familiar late-night format, a celebrity host who loves the sport and a rotating cast of guests can help hold viewers after the final whistle. The real test begins on June 11, when the first episode has to turn a global sporting event into must-watch late-night television.
