How to watch World Cup 2026 from anywhere — it's *FREE*

Lionel Messi celebrates after Argentina's second goal by Lisandro Martinez during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Last 32 match against Cabo Verde at Miami Stadium on July 03, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The 2026 World Cup has arrived, and you can stream all 104 matches of the tournament for free from anywhere in the world – including the huge England vs Argentina semi-final on July 15.

Whether you're a die-hard football fan or watching for the very first time, now is the perfect opportunity to get involved and experience the world's biggest sporting event. Watch every match live for free wherever you are.

Not excited yet? Here’s more: BBC iPlayer (UK), ITVX (UK) and SBS On Demand (AUS) combined will have every game of the World Cup free with English commentary.

But how can you watch the World Cup free in the likes of Canada, US and Mexico? Can you access free World Cup streams in India, Germany and Portugal too?

Here’s our simple guide to how to watch the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world using Norton VPN.

How to watch World Cup 2026 for FREE

Only select countries have every game of the World Cup available for free.

In the UK you can stream all 104 matches for free across BBC iPlayer and ITVX. In Australia you only need one service with SBS On Demand having every game, while in Ireland it's a similar picture with RTE Player.

There are plenty of other countries offering free access to every match as well. Find the full list below.

✈️ If you're traveling abroad or can't access your usual World Cup stream because of geo-restrictions, you'll need a VPN. Our recommended option is Norton VPN (60-day money back guarantee).

How to watch World Cup for free from anywhere

Although the likes of BBC iPlayer, ITVX, SBS On Demand and RTE Player are some of our favourite streaming platforms, you'll find them geoblocked outside their usual country.

Football lovers traveling away from home for that reason need a VPN to access their free World Cup streams.

We recommend Norton VPN (try risk-free for 60 days). Here's why:

Norton VPN MEGA Deal — 60-day money back guarantee
Exclusive deal

▶︎ Norton VPN MEGA Deal — 60-day money back guarantee

Watch your free World Cup stream without limits. Norton VPN delivers fast, secure connections with global servers, so you can stream from anywhere with ease.

💰 60-day money-back guarantee
🔓 Unlocks free World Cup games

Don’t miss a second. Stream the World Cup from anywhere with total confidence.

It's really easy to use a VPN to watch the World Cup for free:

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, Norton VPN is our choice.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're visiting the US and want to watch your free BBC iPlayer stream - you'd select 'United Kingdom' from the options.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to BBC iPlayer, sign in, and watch the World Cup for free.

World Cup Free Streams: Q+A

Can I watch for free in any other countries?

Outside the eight countries we've listed, you can stream the World Cup for free in a number of others, though only a limited number of games will be available.

These include TVNZ+ (New Zealand), RaiPlay (Italy), RTVE Play (Spain), ARD and ZDF (Germany), and M6 (France).

The US will stream just two free games on Tubi (opener and first USA game, so that's your lot).

Do note that not every game will be available on these platform. Check local listings to see what’s being shown.

Which country gets the most free world cup TV streams? World Cup 2026 Infographic

(Image credit: Getty Images / Future Plc)

What are the five best free games to watch during the World Cup Last 32?

  1. England vs DR Congo (Wednesday, July 1, 5pm, BBC)
    The obvious No. 1. England finally enter the knockouts and every mistake could be fatal.
  2. Portugal vs Croatia (Friday, July 3, 12am, BBC)
    Two technically brilliant sides with genuine quarter-final ambitions. Arguably the tie of the round.
  3. Brazil vs Japan (Monday, June 29, 6pm, ITV)
    Brazil are tournament heavyweights, while Japan have become one of the world's toughest knockout opponents.
  4. Spain vs Austria (Thursday, July 2, 8pm, BBC)
    Spain look among the favourites, but Austria's intensity and organisation make this far from a walkover.
  5. Argentina vs Cape Verde (Friday, July 3, 11pm, ITV)
    Argentina always draw huge interest. Cape Verde are the surprise package with nothing to lose, making this a classic giant-vs-underdog knockout clash.

Which devices can I use to watch BBC iPlayer and ITVX?

  • Amazon Fire TV / Fire TV Stick
  • Android phones and tablets
  • Apple TV (HD and 4K)
  • Chromecast
  • Computers (web browsers)
  • Freeview Play TVs
  • Freely-compatible TVs
  • iPhone and iPad
  • LG Smart TVs (webOS)
  • Panasonic Smart TVs
  • PlayStation 4 and 5
  • Roku devices
  • Samsung Smart TVs (Tizen)
  • Sony Smart TVs
  • Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S

Which devices can I use to watch SBS On Demand?

  • Amazon Fire TV / Fire TV Stick
  • Android phones and tablets
  • Apple TV (HD and 4K)
  • Computers (via web browser)
  • Google Chromecast (casting from mobile or browser)
  • Hisense Smart TVs (VIDAA platform, supported models)
  • iPhone and iPad (iOS devices)
  • LG Smart TVs (webOS, supported models)
  • Panasonic Smart TVs (selected models)
  • PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
  • Samsung Smart TVs (Tizen, supported models)
  • Sony Smart TVs (Android/Google TV models)
  • Telstra TV (Australia)
  • Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S

Round of 32 fixtures

ROUND OF 32

Sunday, June 28
8pm – South Africa vs Canada – BBC iPlayer, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player

Monday, June 29
6pm – Brazil vs Japan – ITVX, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player
9.30pm – Germany vs Paraguay – BBC iPlayer, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player

Tuesday, June 30
2am – Netherlands vs Morocco – ITVX, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player
6pm – Ivory Coast vs Norway – BBC iPlayer, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player10pm – France vs Sweden – ITVX, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player

Wednesday, July 1
2am – Mexico vs Ecuador – ITVX, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player
5pm – England vs DR Congo – BBC iPlayer, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player
9pm – Belgium vs Senegal – ITVX, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player

Thursday, July 2
1am – United States vs Bosnia-Herzegovina – BBC iPlayer, SBS, RTÉ Player
8pm – Spain vs Austria – BBC iPlayer, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player

Friday, July 3
12am – Portugal vs Croatia – BBC iPlayer, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player
4am – Switzerland vs Algeria – BBC iPlayer, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player
7pm – Australia vs Egypt – BBC iPlayer, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player
11pm – Argentina vs Cape Verde – ITVX, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player

Saturday, July 4
2.30am – Colombia vs Ghana – ITVX, SBS on Demand, RTÉ Player

ROUND OF 16

Saturday, July 4
6pm – Round of 16 game 1
10pm – Round of 16 game 2

Sunday, July 5
9pm – Round of 16 game 3

Monday, July 6
1am – Round of 16 game 4
8pm – Round of 16 game 5

Tuesday, July 7
1am – Round of 16 game 6
5pm – Round of 16 game 7
9pm – Round of 16 game 8

QUARTER-FINALS

Thursday, July 9
9pm – Quarter-final 1

Friday, July 10
8pm – Quarter-final 2

Saturday, July 11
10pm – Quarter-final 3

Sunday, July 12
2am – Quarter-final 4

SEMI-FINALS

Tuesday, July 14
8pm – Semi-final 1

Wednesday, July 15
8pm – Semi-final 2

FINALS

Saturday, July 18
10pm – Third-place playoff

Sunday, July 19
8pm – 2026 FIFA World Cup final

More from TechRadar

Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Jacob is a journalist and editor based in the UK. He studied Specialist Sports Journalism at the University of Derby, graduating with First-Class Honours. He has contributed articles to Football League World and previously worked at Yeovil Town Football Club. Jacob’s expertise spans streaming services and sports, with a particular passion for football, cricket, and rugby union.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.