The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. If you want to watch the FIFA World Cup 26 for free online, you’ve come to the right place.
Not much is known about the next World Cup tournament at the moment, but our sports experts are closely tracking new details, and we’re eager to watch the World Cup online in the summer of 2026.
You can watch the 2026 World Cup free online by following the same steps we used to stream the 2022 tournament:
- Create a VPN account. We recommend NordVPN for streaming live sports.
- Download and install the VPN software on your device.
- Connect to a server in a country where the stream you wish to watch is available. We watched the 2022 FIFA World Cup free on BBC iPlayer using a UK IP address.
- Navigate to the BBC iPlayer website to stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free. You’ll need to sign up and register for a free account.
Keep reading the article below for other streaming options and a detailed step-by-step guide showing you how to watch the World Cup.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the 23rd edition of the tournament, and it’s the first time we’ll see 48 teams go head-to-head. It’s also the first time in over two decades we’ll see a World Cup hosted jointly by different countries — Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The last time the tournament was hosted jointly by different countries was the 2002 South Korea/Japan World Cup.
Full details, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule, are yet to be announced. But we know the 2026 World Cup final is scheduled for July 19, 2026. It’s a long road ahead for the 48 competing teams, and we’ll be on the lookout for more details as they emerge.
The World Cup is arguably the biggest sporting event in the globe. Despite its global popularity, many people can’t watch the FIFA World Cup. Luckily, there is an easy solution — use a virtual private network (VPN). Below, we’ll show you how to use NordVPN to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free wherever you are in the world!
How to Watch the FIFA World Cup Free Online All Over the World
If you’re looking to watch the World Cup online and don’t know how to go about it, there are three things you can do.
- Use a (local) online stream: Chances are local broadcasters are streaming World Cup games online. Whether you’re on holiday or at home, you may be able to find a stream to watch a FIFA match live online for free.
- Watch via local television: Aside from live TV streaming services, many networks also broadcast FIFA matches on local TV channels — for example, Sky Sport in Germany, BBC and ITV in the UK, and Fox in the US.
- Use a stream from a different country with a VPN: Sometimes, the best FIFA streams aren’t available in your location. This may be the case when you’re abroad and don’t have access to your usual streaming services. In these situations, a VPN can help you access these platforms or find free streams in a different country.
Using a VPN is the easiest and most popular way to access World Cup live streams for free, no matter where you are in the world.
How to watch World Cup matches live with a VPN: Step-by-step guide
Here’s a quick guide to help you get started with a VPN and watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 online, free from anywhere:
- Get NordVPN. This highly reliable VPN is the best option to watch the World Cup live. It’s relatively cheap, has unlimited data for streaming, and its lightning-fast speeds prevent any lags or buffering. Get NordVPN now with a 30-day money-back guarantee!
NordVPNOur choiceDeal Save big with 69% off a two-year subscription + three months free!From$ 2.999.3- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
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- Download and install NordVPN on your streaming device. Want to watch on a smart TV or a different device? You can cover all of your devices with a single installation! Read our guide to installing a VPN on your router for more information.
- Log in to the VPN software with the credentials you created in step one.
- Connect to a VPN server in the country where your World Cup streamer is based. We watched the 2022 World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer and could stream full match replays of each match. We expect the BBC iPlayer to also show the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free — so you’ll need a UK IP address.
- Go to the BBC iPlayer website. Now, you can go to the stream you wish to watch and press play. If you haven’t set up an account yet, it’s a breeze. Check out our guide to accessing the BBC iPlayer from outside the UK.
With a UK IP address, you’ll have access to every 2026 FIFA World Cup live stream shown by the BBC. If you want to access live matches on an American streaming service, simply connect to a US VPN server instead. With 6000+ worldwide servers, NordVPN is your perfect companion for streaming the World Cup!
Why You Need a VPN to Stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup is one of the most popular sporting events in the world. Yet, thousands of people live in regions where streams aren’t easily accessible. And while some platforms offer free streams, you might live in a country that requires you to pay. A VPN can help if:
- You live in a country without official FIFA World Cup broadcasters and cannot access any streams.
- You have no access to free streams due to geographical restrictions.
- You are traveling abroad and can’t log into your usual streaming service due to similar geo-restrictions.
We believe in internet freedom. That’s why we spent time conducting tests to figure out the best ways to watch the World Cup online. We can confidently say that using a VPN is the easiest, most convenient, and cost-effective way to stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Channels and Streams that Broadcast the FIFA World Cup
Many sports channels all over the world broadcast FIFA World Cup matches for free. With a VPN, you can access plenty of them. Depending on which language you’d like to watch the match in, there are countless streams available to you.
Here are a couple of well-known FIFA World Cup broadcasters:
| COUNTRY | ONLINE BROADCASTER | STREAMS | REQUIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | RTSH | Live Stream | None |
| Austria | Servus TV | Live Stream | None |
| Australia | SBS.com | Live Stream | Sign-up and registration |
| Italy | Raiplay.it | Live Stream | Sign-up and registration |
| Luxembourg | RTL | Live Stream | None |
| Switzerland (Recommended) | SRF INFO | Live Stream | None |
| United Kingdom (Recommended) | BBC iPlayer ITV.com | Live Stream | Email, Name, and UK address |
| United States (via FOX Network) | SlingTV FuboTV YouTube TV Hulu + Live TV DirecTV Stream | Live Streams | Subscription (Some offer free trials) |
Of course, there are many more platforms to watch FIFA matches live online, free or at a fee. If you’d like to watch a FIFA game with commentary in a specific language, you can connect to streams from any country using a VPN.
Simply find the stream, connect to a VPN server in the country where that stream is available, and start watching the action.
The Best VPN Providers for Football and the World Cup
In our step-by-step guide above, we recommended a great VPN service. If you want more options, there are plenty of good VPN providers around, as long as you know what to look for. For watching FIFA matches, you want a VPN with:
- Servers in the country you want to watch the World Cup from (so UK servers for a stream with BBC commentary).
- A fast and stable connection ensures that your stream won’t lag or get stuck buffering at crucial moments.
- Cheap subscriptions, so you don’t have to spend a lot of money. Free VPNs aren’t good for streaming, as they almost always cap speed and data.
After extensive tests, our cybersecurity experts picked the three best VPN services for streaming the World Cup.
1. NordVPN: The fastest, most stable FIFA World Cup VPN
NordVPN is one of the most popular VPNs in the world — and for good reason. This VPN’s fast, stable servers are great for streaming. With a network of 6000+ servers that span 61 countries, you can find the right location to stream FIFA games in any language.
Even if you’re a newbie, you’ll find that NordVPN is extremely easy to use. It’s easy to find your way around the NordVPN app. You can even use NordVPN on your PlayStation, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch by installing it on your router, letting you watch World Cup matches on all devices.
- NordVPN 24 months $2.99mth Deal View offer
- NordVPN 12 months $4.49mth View offer
- NordVPN Monthly $12.99mth View offer
NordVPN offers great value for money. You can get a 30-day money-back guarantee on new subscriptions, allowing you to test the service before you commit. And right now, you can get a limited-time discount on NordVPN!
NordVPN is currently our top-ranking VPN. Check out our NordVPN review for a full breakdown of this VPN’s features, speeds, and security.
2. Surfshark: Affordable VPN for streaming the FIFA World Cup
Surfshark has a strong roster of 3200+ servers in 100 countries. This means, besides the likes of the BBC (UK) or ESPN+ (US), you can easily find servers from any part of the world to tune in to World Cup matches.
Our rigorous testing of Surfshark shows that this is one of the most consistent and reliable VPNs for bypassing geographical restrictions. It’s our go-to VPN when we want to unblock sports streams in other countries. Speed-wise, you can count on high-definition, lag-free streams with Surfshark.
- Surfshark 24 months $1.99mth Deal View offer
- Surfshark 12 months $3.99mth View offer
- Surfshark 1 month $10.99mth View offer
Surfshark’s super affordable too. With low-cost subscriptions and a 82% discount, it costs less than a pre-game beer. Surfshark is an excellent choice for soccer fans tuning in from countries with stringent internet restrictions thanks to its NoBorders mode that can smash through geo-block defenses.
Check out our detailed Surfshark review for more information about this VPN and discover the results of our comprehensive speed tests!
3. CyberGhost: Streaming-optimized servers and a vast server network
Like NordVPN and Surfshark, CyberGhost is an excellent VPN for streaming World Cup matches. It has 11500+ servers across the world and offers excellent connection speeds, although it scored just below NordVPN and ExpressVPN in our speed tests.
CyberGhost is another beginner-friendly choice. Like NordVPN, it has dedicated servers for streaming, which is particularly helpful when trying to watch football. These servers are optimized for high-bandwidth activities, reducing the chances of lags or freezing during key moments of a game.
- CyberGhost 2 Years $2.03mth Deal View offer
- CyberGhost 6 Months $6.99mth View offer
- CyberGhost 1 Month $12.99mth View offer
CyberGhost’s biggest advantage is its low price: it’s the cheapest option in our top three. While it may be marginally slower than the other VPNs, it’s still a fantastic option that’ll help you watch all the highly anticipated matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. CyberGhost offers a money-back guarantee you can use to get a free trial — and it’s the longest in the industry, at 45 days.
CyberGhost is usually our go-to VPN for watching live streams or content on-demand, thanks to its streaming-optimized servers. Find out what we love about this VPN service in our comprehensive CyberGhost review!
Important:
Before using a VPN to watch the FIFA World Cup online, check the broadcaster’s user agreement. Some platforms prohibit the use of VPNs in their terms and conditions.
2026 FIFA World Cup Calendar
While qualifiers are ongoing, details of the 2026 FIFA World Cup are limited. Since the event isn’t slated to start until the summer of 2026, we don’t have a calendar for the tournament yet. Check back regularly to make sure that you don’t miss out on free 2026 World Cup streams and key dates!
The 23rd World Cup will be held across Canada, Mexico, and the US. In total, matches will take place across 16 different stadiums, with Olympic venues included.
2022 FIFA World Cup Recap
The 2022 FIFA World Cup took place in Qatar between November 20 and December 18 and featured 32 teams. This was the first World Cup tournament with a Middle Eastern host country and the second World Cup to take place entirely on the continent of Asia!
Argentina defeated France to claim the 2022 World Cup title, almost four decades after their last World Cup win. The final was a fierce battle between both teams led by Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, respectively. After a 3–3 draw, the game went to penalties, and Argentina claimed the trophy.
Kylian Mbappé made his mark as the first player to score a World Cup hat-trick since 1966 when Geoff Hurst carried England to the country’s first and only victory in World Cup history.
Plenty More Free Sports Streaming Where That Came From
Besides the FIFA World Cup, you can use a VPN to stream other sporting events like the Champions League and the UEFA Europa League. You can even watch the Women’s World Cup or stream the FA cup on BBC iPlayer or the Fox Sports app with a VPN.
Would you rather watch a different sport? A VPN can also help you watch other sporting events for free, like the Tour de France, Formula 1, and even the Olympics.
Do you have a question about watching FIFA World Cup matches? We’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions below. Click on a question to see the answer.
The FIFA World Cup 26 will be broadcast on numerous channels and streams all over the world. In most places, you’ll be able to find a TV channel or online stream that shows live coverage of the matches. Some online streams are even available for free. For more options to watch the World Cup online for free, check out our list of the best free sports streaming sites.
The networks and websites that have bought licenses to broadcast FIFA 2026 matches usually only work in specific countries. This means that your usual stream will stop working once you go abroad. Luckily, there’s an easy way around this. Simply use a locally available stream or use a VPN to access to your usual live stream.
Yes, several online platforms offer free live streams of FIFA World Cup matches. There are also several paid platforms, like HULU + Live TV in the US, that offer free trials. Most live streams will only allow local access. However, with a VPN, spoof your location and access them no matter where you are in the world.
NordVPN is one of the best VPNs to watch football. This goes for the FIFA World Cup and other international competitions, such as the Champions League. NordVPN is known for its stable connections and fast speeds, ideal for sports streaming.
Little is known about the 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule at this time. But once details are released, VPNOverview’s sports experts will be sure to give you a full rundown of the schedule.
