Half-Hour Special Debuts this Saturday, Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (December 4, 2025) – The Bay Area’s march toward the world’s biggest sporting tournament begins on NBC Bay Area. The station will debut Countdown to FIFA World Cup 2026, a half-hour special celebrating the passion, history and future of soccer in Northern California, on Saturday, Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m.
Hosted by NBC Bay Area’s Raj Mathai and Gia Vang, the program marks roughly six months until the 2026 FIFA World Cup arrives in Santa Clara, where Levi’s Stadium will host multiple matches.
Long before the world arrives in 2026, the Bay Area helped shape the story of soccer in America. Countdown to FIFA World Cup 2026 explores that influence from community fields and youth clubs to MLS stadiums and international competition, through the voices of some of the sport’s most recognizable figures.
Featured interviews include:
- Landon Donovan, San Jose Earthquakes legend and one of the most celebrated players in U.S. soccer history
- Hugo Pérez, 1994 U.S. World Cup midfielder who helped spark the early momentum of American soccer
- Andrés Cantor, Hall of Fame broadcaster whose iconic “¡Gooooool!” call has united fans across generations
- Bay FC’s Founding Four: Brandi Chastain, Aly Wagner, Danielle Slaton and Leslie Osborne, four U.S. Women’s National Team and Bay Area soccer leaders who discuss the rise of the women’s game and the region’s newest NWSL club
The special highlights the players, pioneers and defining moments that built the Bay Area’s soccer identity and the growing excitement as global competition prepares to take center stage in Santa Clara.
“As the excitement builds toward 2026, we’re focused on giving fans comprehensive and engaging World Cup coverage across every platform,” said Stacy Owen, President and General Manager of NBC Bay Area and Telemundo 48. “We’re proud to lead the region’s coverage and give fans unrivaled access to one of the biggest sporting events on the planet.”
Telemundo: The Exclusive Spanish-Language Home of the FIFA World Cup
NBC Bay Area’s sister station, Telemundo 48, will serve as the Bay Area’s exclusive Spanish-language home of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Telemundo and Peacock will broadcast all 104 matches live, along with pre- and post-match coverage, expert analysis, reporting from host cities and extensive digital content that captures the intensity and emotion of the tournament.
About NBC Bay Area / KNTV
Owned by NBCUniversal, NBC Bay Area/KNTV is the Bay Area’s investigative station located in the heart of Silicon Valley. The mission of NBC Bay Area is to reflect the communities it serves and support its viewers through solution-based journalism that moves the community forward. The station addresses the Bay Area’s most pressing issues across all platforms, featuring the Investigative Unit and NBC Bay Area Responds. NBC Bay Area can be seen locally on Comcast 3 and 703 and over-the-air on 11 as well as streaming platforms NBCBayArea.com, Peacock, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, YouTube, Samsung TV Plus and Xumo Play.
About Telemundo 48 / KSTS
Telemundo 48 / KSTS is Telemundo’s local television station serving the Spanish-speaking community throughout the Bay Area. Owned by NBCUniversal, the station is committed to providing viewers with braking news and in-depth journalism with their award-winning team of reporters, offering the most up-to-date local news, weather, sports and entertainment headlines through a variety of platforms, including online at TelemundoAreadelaBahia.com and via mobile and social media channels. The station can be seen locally on Comcast 18 and 718 and over-the-air on 48. TeleXitos, the station’s multicast network, offers exciting action and adventure programming in Spanish. TeleXitos can be seen locally on Comcast 194 and 1198 and over-the-air on 48.2.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Liza Catalan
liza.catalan@nbcuni.com
