Four years on from Lionel Messi's triumph in Qatar, the FIFA World Cup returns bigger than ever. The 2026 edition spans 16 cities across the United States, Mexico and Canada, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches in total. Argentina could meet Spain in the final, raising the prospect of Messi lifting the trophy once more.

France and England meet in the third-place match on Saturday, July 18, with Spain and Argentina contesting the final on Sunday, July 19. With only two fixtures remaining, catching every moment is essential.

Even with domestic streaming access, travel abroad often blocks live World Cup coverage due to regional restrictions. Viewers may miss free foreign broadcasts that are otherwise unavailable outside their home territory.

Rights are split among local networks such as ITV in the UK, Fox and FS1 in the US, and TSN in Canada. These platforms remain inaccessible from other locations unless a VPN is employed. A recent HostingAdvice survey found that 42 percent of supporters have already used a VPN for World Cup streams.

A virtual private network alters your visible IP address, allowing services to register your connection as originating from another nation. This opens access to live World Cup feeds, including complimentary ones, from nearly any location. The following guide explains how to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a VPN.

Which countries provide free World Cup streams?

US coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 is not entirely free. Fox airs 70 matches and FS1 carries 34, both accessible via live TV platforms including YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu Plus Live TV, DirecTV and Fox One, many of which include trial periods. Telemundo provides Spanish-language broadcasts of all games. Select matches appear on the free, ad-supported Tubi app.

An over-the-air antenna delivers Fox matches at no cost. Adding an OTA DVR enables recording, pausing and rewinding, with playback available on smart TVs and streaming devices.

Stream matches from international apps for free via VPN

Numerous global broadcasters transmit portions or the full tournament without charge inside their domestic markets.

Free English-language streams covering all 104 matches, requiring no payment details, are available from:

UK: BBC iPlayer or ITVX
Canada: CTV
New Zealand: TVNZ+
Australia: SBS On Demand
Ireland: RTÉ Player

Additional free sources exist, though commentary is not in English:

Brazil: CazéTV's YouTube
Belgium: RTBF or VRT
Netherlands: NOS
Switzerland: SRF Play, RTS Play or RSI Play
Turkey: TRT
France: M6+
Spain: RTVE
Germany: ZDF
Italy: Rai
Mexico: TV Azteca

Regardless of language, these platforms are restricted to their home regions and require a VPN for access from abroad.

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a VPN

Streaming services detect location through your public IP address and apply geo-blocks. A VPN conceals this address and routes traffic through servers in chosen countries, bypassing restrictions.

The result is the ability to access otherwise unavailable World Cup streams from any location.

Step 1: Choose a reliable VPN

Quality varies widely among providers. For smooth streaming, select a proven service from our tested recommendations. ExpressVPN, NordVPN, Surfshark and Proton VPN each maintain extensive server networks spanning more than 100 countries, including all key territories offering free English World Cup coverage.

Step 2: Install the VPN app on your devices

Install the app on every device used for viewing. Top providers support multiple simultaneous connections, allowing several users to stream at once. For additional devices, install the VPN on a router or configure a PC to act as a router.

Regional apps may be unavailable outside their territories, so browser viewing on computers, phones or tablets is often necessary. To display content on a larger screen, connect via HDMI cable or use casting features such as Chromecast or Apple AirPlay.

Step 3: Connect to a server in the target country

Launch the app and choose a server located in the country of the desired service. For ITV, for example, select a UK server. The connection forms within seconds.

Your device now appears to be located in that country. Visit the streaming site and enjoy live matches, often without charge, from anywhere.

Skip free VPNs when streaming the World Cup

A VPN provides an effective route to World Cup coverage and potential cost-free viewing. Savings should apply to the streams themselves rather than the VPN service.

We advise against free VPNs for this purpose. Even Proton VPN's free tier lacks official streaming support, limits users to servers in 10 countries and prevents manual server selection.

Its free offering remains suitable for basic privacy needs and represents the best option among no-cost services, though usability constraints apply.

Many free VPNs pose risks, including data logging, sales of user information, or bundled malware. Others suffer from slow speeds or limited server options.

Budget-friendly paid alternatives such as Surfshark exist. Viewers seeking zero-cost access can try a provider's money-back guarantee and cancel within the window, though the month-long tournament makes this approach impractical for full coverage.