BBC Sport and YouTube collective Sidemen are collaborating on a World Cup 2026 watchalong for Germany's group stage match against Ecuador on Thursday. The event streams on BBC Football's YouTube channel and Sidemen's More Sidemen channel, with pre-match coverage beginning at 20:45 BST. Four Sidemen members—Tobi Brown, Simon Minter, Ethan Payne, and Josh Bradley—will provide commentary and analysis.

Germany has already secured a knockout stage spot, while Ecuador can still qualify with a win. "Millions of fans follow football through creators and social platforms alongside traditional broadcasts," said BBC Sport's Alex Kay-Jelski. The partnership blends digital and traditional media audiences for the tournament.

The watchalong is exclusively for UK viewers, while the match also airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Radio coverage runs on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds. The other Group E fixture between Curacao and Ivory Coast kicks off at 21:00.