It’s already been four years since Argentina’s climactic showdown against France in Qatar. That can only mean one thing: another World Cup is about to begin. The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11 and runs until July 19, promising new highs, lows, and nail-biting moments that fans will be discussing long after the final whistle.
The problem? If you’re traveling abroad this summer – even just for a short vacation – your home streaming service will likely become region-locked, preventing you from streaming as normal. Fortunately, you can watch the 2026 World Cup online from any location using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
The 2026 World Cup will be broadcast almost everywhere but not every network will have commentary in your preferred language. To regain access to your usual streaming services while traveling, you can use a VPN.
How to watch the 2026 World Cup live online from anywhere
A VPN is primarily a privacy tool that encrypts your internet traffic, shielding your activities from anyone who might be watching. The fact that connecting to a VPN server sees you receive a new, temporary IP address means you can also spoof your location and bypass geo-blocking.
Here’s how to stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup using a VPN:
- Start by selecting a VPN service. I particularly recommend NordVPN for its huge server network, fast speeds, and consistent unblocking. Surfshark and TotalVPN are two great value alternatives.
- Install the VPN app on any device you stream with. The three providers I’ve listed all allow multiple simultaneous connections, so it’s perfectly fine if there are a few you use regularly.
- Log into the VPN app and choose a server in your home country. This changes your IP address, which is what most streaming services use to find your location.
- You should now be able to access your home streaming platform and its 2026 FIFA World Cup streams from anywhere in the world.
- Having trouble? Clear your cookies and refresh the page to fix the most common problems. In some cases, you may need to try more than one server to find an IP address that works.
I strongly recommend testing your VPN with your preferred streaming service before kickoff. When it comes to live events, there’s no room for error; one minor technical problem could see you missing part of the match. My recommended VPNs offer free 24/7 support over live chat, so it’s quick and easy to get help if you need it.
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How to stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup online
As you might expect, the World Cup is being shown in most countries. Here’s a guide to streaming the 2026 World Cup online where you are:
How to stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup online in the USA
FOX holds the broadcasting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. All 104 matches will air live on Fox and FS1.
If you have a cable TV subscription that includes these channels, you need only sign in to the Fox Sports website (or Fox Sports app – though this is tougher to bypass with a VPN) using your cable TV credentials to watch at no extra cost.
Fox launched its own streaming service, Fox One, in 2025. It costs just $19.99 a month and includes a 3-day free trial. As such, Fox One the most affordable way to stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup without cable.
Still, there are a number of TV streaming services that also carry Fox and FS1:
- FuboTV: $45.99 for your first month and $55.99/month thereafter. Includes a 5-day free trial
- Hulu with Live TV: $89.99/month and comes with ESPN Select and Disney+. 3-day free trial
- Sling TV: From $19.99/month (Select plan) but no free trial. FOX only available in select markets
- YouTube TV: $67.99/month for your first three months and then $82.99/month. Free trial duration varies
Looking for Spanish-language World Cup coverage? Every match will be available on either Telemundo or Universo. To watch these channels, simply sign into the NBC website with your TV provider or any of the above streaming services. Alternatively, if you don’t have cable, a cheaper option is to watch on Peacock (though you’ll need a Premium account, which costs $10.99 per month).
These services are all region-locked, so you’ll need a VPN and US IP address to access them abroad. NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you the chance to try it totally risk-free. If you’re unimpressed or just don’t need a VPN after the World Cup ends, just cancel during this time for a full refund.
How to stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup online in the UK
Just like in previous years, the UK’s World Cup coverage will be split between the BBC and ITV. Both of these channels have their own streaming platform (BBC iPlayer and ITVX) that lets you watch live, so British fans can stream the entire 2026 World Cup online for free. There’s no need to worry about missing a match either, since both services let you catch up on recently-broadcast fixtures afterward.
Now, there are a couple of things to be aware of. First, you’ll need to create an account to use either of these services. Signing up doesn’t cost anything and only takes a moment. More importantly, British law requires you to have a TV license to watch live on ITVX or to watch anything on BBC iPlayer (even on-demand content). No license is required if you only stream replays on ITVX.
BBC iPlayer and ITVX are only normally available in the UK. However, you can keep using these services while traveling by connecting to a British VPN server.
How to stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup online in Australia
SBS will be showing all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup. Fans will be able to stream World Cup games live or replay them on-demand, which is handy due to the time difference (most matches will kick off in Australia between 5 AM and 3 PM AEST.
SBS is completely free to use, though you’ll have to create an account before you can watch anything. Just remember that it’s geo-restricted outside Australia. Anyone traveling outside Australia can regain access using an Australian IP address via a VPN.
How to stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup online in Canada
Canadian soccer fans who want to watch every World Cup game live online will need a cable TV subscription to do so. That’s because TSN and RDS are the exclusive broadcasters for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. If you’ve got cable TV, you can sign in to the TSN or RDS website and stream all 104 World Cup matches.
Don’t have cable? TSN and RDS have direct streaming subscriptions for CAD $29.99 a month. CTV is also showing some of the World Cup – including Canada’s games – but if you want access to every match, TSN/RDS is your best bet. If you do want to watch via CTV, you can do so via Crave with plans starting from $11.99 a month.
TSN and Crave normally only work in Canada. You can securely access them from anywhere by connecting to one of your VPN’s Canadian servers.
How to stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup online in France
56 World Cup fixtures will be shown for free on M6, which means you can stream them via M6+. All you have to do is create a free account, and you’ll be able to watch live or on-demand. The only way to stream all 104 World Cup matches in France is via beIN Sports.
If you don’t already have beIN Sports, you’ll need a beIN Sports Connect subscription which costs €15 per month, but we’d encourage you to read the conditions carefully since this service has previously put its lowest prices front and center while not making it clear that certain plans lock you into a long-term commitment.
Both M6+ and beIN Sports Connect are geo-restricted, meaning you’ll need a VPN and French IP address to use them while traveling.
How to stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup online in Germany
Good news for anyone in Germany: 60 of the 104 World Cup matches will be broadcast free of charge on either ARD or ZDF. You don’t even have to register beforehand, just show up a little before kick off time and start streaming!
Yet the only way watch every 2026 FIFA World Cup game game is with Magenta TV. This costs €11/month. Due to regional restrictions, you’ll need a VPN and German IP address to view any of these options outside of Germany.
How to stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup online in Spain
If you want to watch the 2026 World Cup in Spain for free, you can do so via RTVE Play. RTVE is showing roughly one match per day. This includes all of Spain’s matches as well as the opening match, semi-finals, third-place match, and final, as well as additional selected knockout matches. Best of all, you don’t even need to sign up for an account to watch.
Still, if you want to watch every single World Cup match in Spain, you’ll need a DAZN subscription. This requires a DAZN Premium plan which usually costs €31.99/month but is currently €19.99/month for 12 months – but you’ll be locked in for 12 months. If you don’t want that kind of commitment, a single month that you can cancel with 30 days notice costs €44,99/month.
RTVE’s geographic blocking means it’s usually inaccessible outside of Spain. Meanwhile DAZN has a reputation for being particularly tricky to access while traveling. That’s why you’ll to connect to a Spanish server via a quality VPN to access them reliably.
Where else can I watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Didn’t see your country listed? Don’t panic: the World Cup is airing almost everywhere, so you’ll almost certainly have a suitable source somewhere. You can start by checking out the list of official World Cup broadcasters but keep in mind that some of these might require you to have a cable TV subscription to watch online.
Can I use a free VPN to watch the FIFA World Cup online?
You might be tempted to try streaming the 2026 World Cup abroad with a free VPN but I don’t recommend it. To begin with, these services are usually painfully slow and almost always have low monthly data caps, making them unsuitable for data-intensive tasks like live streaming. Further, free VPNs tend to have fairly small networks and may not even offer servers in the country you require. Even if it does, there’s no guarantee it’ll work with your chosen service.
There are security issues to consider as well. While paid VPN providers live and die by their reputation, free services have no such problem. After all, they can simply rebrand and start over if they attract too much negative attention. Free VPNs have been known to infect devices with malware and lie about their logging policies, making the risk simply too high. Instead, you’d be better off with a reputable no-logs VPN, even if it costs a little more.
What do the 2026 World Cup groups look like?
The World Cup sees 48 of the world’s best national soccer teams sorted into 12 groups of four. Each national squad plays the other three teams in their group. Once all games have been played, the two teams in each group with the most points progress to the knockout stage.
Here’s a full list of which countries are in which 2026 World Cup group:
| Group | Team |
|---|---|
| Group A | Mexico (Host) |
| South Africa | |
| South Korea | |
| Czech Republic | |
| Group B | Canada (Host) |
| Bosnia | |
| Qatar | |
| Switzerland | |
| Group C | Brazil |
| Morocco | |
| Haiti | |
| Scotland | |
| Group D | United States (Host) |
| Paraguay | |
| Australia | |
| Turkey | |
| Group E | Germany |
| Curaçao | |
| Ivory Coast | |
| Ecuador | |
| Group F | Netherlands |
| Japan | |
| Sweden | |
| Tunisia | |
| Group G | Belgium |
| Egypt | |
| Iran | |
| New Zealand | |
| Group H | Spain |
| Cape Verde | |
| Saudi Arabia | |
| Uruguay | |
| Group I | France |
| Senegal | |
| Iraq | |
| Norway | |
| Group J | Argentina |
| Algeria | |
| Austria | |
| Jordan | |
| Group K | Portugal |
| DR Congo | |
| Uzbekistan | |
| Colombia | |
| Group L | England |
| Croatia | |
| Ghana | |
| Panama |
2026 FIFA World Cup: full schedule
Want to know exactly when your country is playing? Here’s the official schedule of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
2026 World Cup: FAQs
Which teams qualified for the 2026 World Cup?
There are a few countries who are near-certain to secure a place in the World Cup every time it comes around. These include Brazil, Germany, and Argentina. Naturally, these are often the favorites to win outright, at least in the beginning.
Because there are so many positions to fill, though, there are often a few unusual qualifications, and 2026 is no exception. Particularly surprising is the fact that Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan are competing. All of these countries are making their first World Cup appearances.
Undoubtedly the biggest absence in the 2026 World Cup is Italy. Having won the famous trophy four times, it’s incredible Italy have failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups. Other notable absences include Poland, Russia, Chile, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Costa Rica.
Is it legal to stream the World Cup with a VPN?
Yes, it’s legal to stream the World Cup with a VPN. There are no restrictions on using a VPN to watch the World Cup. You can use a VPN to connect to a server in another country and watch the games live without any issues.
However, some countries like China and Russia prohibit VPN use, so if you try and stream the World Cup 2026 there you may be blocked.
Note: We are not lawyers and nothing in this article should be taken as legal advice.
Who are the favorites to win the World Cup 2026?
Among the favorites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup are Spain, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, and Argentina.
With odds of 5/1 at the time of writing, Spain are viewed as the team to beat. Not only did Spain win Euro 2024, but it has an impressive young core led by Lamine Yamal, as well as established star players including Rodri and Pedri.
At 6/1, France are close behind thanks to their very strong strength in depth as well as playmaker Kylian Mbappé. The likes of England (7/1), Brazil (9/1), and Portugal and Argentina (both 10/1) round out the top tier of contenders.
Which country is hosting the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 World Cup is unique in that it’s the first to be hosted by three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Matches will be played across 16 cities in all: 11 in the US, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
