The 2026 tennis season begins with the United Cup, featuring 18 nations competing on hard courts in Brisbane, Perth, and Sydney, Australia. The tournament runs from January 2 to January 11, 2026, with the United States entering as the defending champion after their victory in the inaugural 2023 United Cup.
For tennis fans looking to catch the action, the United Cup will be broadcasted in the U.S. on the Tennis Channel. Here are the best options for streaming the tournament online:
Streaming Options for the United Cup
**DirecTV** offers a comprehensive package starting at $59.99 per month, which includes a five-day free trial. It features over 185 channels, including the Tennis Channel, in its Choice, Ultimate, and Premier streaming packages. The initial cost is $59.99 for the first month, with subsequent months priced at $84.99 and $94.99.
**Fubo** provides another option, with plans beginning at $55.99 per month. This platform also includes a five-day free trial and features over 300 channels, ensuring ample coverage for sports enthusiasts.
**Sling TV** is a cost-effective alternative, starting at $45.99 monthly. Subscribers will need the Sports Extra add-on, which costs an additional $11 per month, as Sling offers the Tennis Channel only through this package. Sling does not currently provide a free trial, but base packages begin at $19.99.
For those wishing to watch without charge, combining the free trials from DirecTV and Fubo can provide up to ten days of complimentary livestreams of the United Cup.
United Cup Schedule and Teams
The tournament’s schedule includes a group stage from January 2 to January 7, followed by the quarterfinals on January 7 and 8, the semifinals on January 10, and culminating with the final on January 11.
This year’s tournament features a diverse lineup of mixed-gender teams, each comprised of six players. Among the notable competitors are four of the top ten men’s players, including Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz, as well as three top women’s players, such as Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the teams participating in the 2026 United Cup:
– **United States**: Taylor Fritz, Coco Gauff, Mackenzie McDonald, Varvara Lepchenko, Christian Harrison, Nicole Melichar-Martinez (Captain: Michael Russell)
– **Canada**: Felix Auger-Aliassime, Victoria Mboko, Alexis Galarneau, Kayla Cross, Cleeve Harper, Ariana Arsenault (Captain: Gabriela Dabrowski)
– **Italy**: Flavio Cobolli, Jasmine Paolini, Andrea Pellegrino, Nuria Brancaccio, Andrea Vavassori, Sara Errani (Captain: Stefano Cobolli)
– **Australia**: Alex de Minaur, Maya Joint, Jason Kubler, Maddison Inglis, John-Patrick Smith, Storm Hunter (Captain: Lleyton Hewitt)
– **Great Britain**: Billy Harris, Emma Raducanu, Neal Skupski, Katie Swan, Lloyd Glasspool, Olivia Nicholls (Captain: Tim Henman)
– **Germany**: Alexander Zverev, Eva Lys, Patrick Zahraj, Laura Siegemund, Kevin Krawietz, Mina Hodzic (Captain: Alexander Zverev Sr)
– **Belgium**: Zizou Bergs, Elise Mertens, Kimmer Coppejans, Greet Minnen, Sander Gillé, Lara Salden (Captain: Christopher Heyman)
– **France**: Arthur Rinderknech, Lois Boisson, Geoffrey Blancaneaux, Léolia Jeanjean, Édouard Roger-Vasselin, Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah (Captain: Lucas Pouille)
– **Poland**: Hubert Hurkacz, Iga Swiatek, Daniel Michalski, Katarzyna Kawa, Jan Zieliński, Katarzyna Piter (Captain: Mateusz Terczyński)
– **Spain**: Jaume Munar, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Carlos Taberner, Andrea Lázaro García, Íñigo Cervantes, Yvonne Cavallé Reimers (Captain: Miguel Sanchez)
– **Czech Republic**: Jakub Mensik, Barbora Krejcikova, Dalibor Svrčina, Linda Fruhvirtová, Adam Pavlásek, Miriam Škoch (Captain: Jiri Novak)
– **Greece**: Stefanos Tsitsipas, Maria Sakarri, Stefanos Sakellaridis, Despina Papamichail, Petros Tsitsipas, Sapfo Sakellaridi (Captain: Petros Tsitsipas)
– **Japan**: Shintaro Mochizuki, Naomi Osaka, Yasutaka Uchiyama, Nao Hibino (Captain: Go Soeda)
– **Argentina**: Sebastian Baez, Solana Sierra, Marco Trungelliti, María Lourdes Carlé, Guido Andreozzi, Nicole Fossa Huergo (Captain: Sebastian Gutierrez)
– **Netherlands**: Tallon Griekspoor, Suzan Lamens, Guy den Ouden, Eva Vedder, David Pel, Demi Schuurs (Captain: Tallon Griekspoor)
– **Switzerland**: Stan Wawrinka, Belinda Bencic, Jakub Paul, Luca Castelnuovo, Naïma Karamoko (Captain: Stan Wawrinka)
– **Norway**: Casper Ruud, Malene Helgo, Viktor Durasovic, Astrid Brune Olsen, Ulrikke Eikeri (Captain: Christian Ruud)
– **China**: Zhizhen Zhang, Zhu Lin, Te Rigele, You Xiaodi, Wang Aoran (Captain: Wu Di)
With a competitive lineup and various streaming options, the United Cup promises to deliver thrilling tennis action for fans around the world.
