Official FIFA World Cup 2026 live screening set after WWE SmackDown in London & reason behind Cincinnati event cancellation revealed
(Courtesy : WWE)
WWE has come to an agreement with FIFA and the O2 Arena to host a live screening.
Following the conclusion of the June 19 edition of SmackDown, WWE has traveled back to Europe to deliver live events and weekly shows. Notably, the promotion will deliver the June 22 edition of Raw from the O2 Arena in London. The episode will serve as the go-home show for Night of Champions.
A day later, on June 23, the promotion will pre-tape the June 26 edition of SmackDown, which will air on tape delay on its usual time of Friday at 8 PM ET. The taping is set for an earlier time on Tuesday so that fans are able to watch England take on Ghana in their second World Cup group game of the 2026 season.
WWE has taken things a step further, making it even more convenient for UK fans, as the promotion has announced that it will hold a live screening of England vs Ghana on WWE jumbotron screens at The O2 Arena. The official announcement stated:
“WWE SmackDown attendees will get an added bonus following the conclusion of the event on Tuesday, June 23, at O2 Arena in London, when they will be able to remain in the arena for an Official FIFA World Cup ’26™ Viewing, brought to you by Budweiser, which will be a live screening of England vs Ghana.
Doors open for SmackDown at 4:30 PM BST and the live football viewing, starting shortly before 9pm, will allow fans to watch the full game live from their seat, on WWE screens at The O2.”
SmackDown show cancellation in Cincinnati
The September 4, 2026, edition of Friday Night SmackDown, originally scheduled for Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, was recently canceled. The news first came to light when the event was removed from Ticketmaster, and later WWE’s official ticketing website also removed the show from its schedule.
Dave Meltzer, in the latest Wrestling Observer Daily Update, has now revealed the reason behind the cancellation. Per Meltzer, the cancellation was the result of several logistical and production-related issues.
Additionally, according to a report from PWInsider, the promotion is considering holding an extensive television taping on August 31 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The company would film content for both Raw and SmackDown during the same event. Doing so would help WWE maintain its programming schedule while also providing production staff and crew members with time off during Labor Day weekend.
The outlet further noted that WWE has quietly removed the canceled September 4 Friday Night SmackDown edition in Cincinnati, as well as the August 31 Monday Night Raw event in Charlotte, from the schedule on WWE.com.
Is WWE hosting a live screening of the FIFA World Cup 2026 match?
Yes, WWE has announced an official live screening of the FIFA World Cup 2026 match featuring England vs Ghana following SmackDown in London, allowing fans attending the event to stay and watch the game at the O2 Arena.
Why was the September 4 edition of SmackDown in Cincinnati canceled?
According to reports, the cancellation was due to a combination of logistical and production-related factors. It will help WWE maintain its programming schedule while also providing production staff and crew members with time off during Labor Day weekend.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.