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People in the US and Canada, however, will need to pay to stay up to date, despite the two The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner. While the game is often considered as 'for the people' this year's spectacle looks to be more expensive than ever to enjoy.
For many, watching from home will be a free and easy solution. For people in the US and Canada, however, they'll need to pay to stay up to date, despite the nations being two of the three hosts for this year's event.
It also won't be so simple for those travelling during the tournament. Geo-restrictions mean free streams from the likes of the BBC, ITV, and SBS won't work if you're on holiday elsewhere. Luckily, that's where a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help.
A VPN encrypts the traffic you send online through secure tunnels, and allows you to connect to servers in any country worldwide to do this. It's this latter skill that's perfect if you're travelling, as it means you can connect to servers in your home country while abroad, ensuring your usual streaming services work seamlessly.
But, streaming live sports is one of the toughest tasks a VPN can face. That's why I've tested the best VPNs available right now to find the best VPN for the 2026 World Cup. What's more, I've broken down everything you need to know below, so you can pick the right one for you.
The best VPNs for World Cup 2026 soccer streams
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Why buy a VPN for the World Cup 2022?
Unless you’ve planned your summer vacation around the World Cup, you may be in for a rude awakening. That’s because if you’re away during the tournament, you won’t be able to tune in due to geoblocking – unless you use a VPN.
A VPN offers a way around geoblocking, allowing you to make the most of your subscriptions no matter where you are.
Without a VPN, viewers who take out a subscription – for instance, to Fox, FS1 and Fox One in the US, or TSN in Canada – in order to watch World Cup 2026 won’t be able to access any of the coverage they’ve paid for when they go abroad.
That said, the US and Canada are two of very few countries where World Cup 2026 isn't free-to-air. Fans based in the U.K. and Australia, by contrast, can watch every single game for free.
But geoblocking applies to free broadcasters too. This means that Brits and Australians who are planning to go away during the tournament will also need a VPN in order to continue accessing their free World Cup coverage from abroad.
World Cup 2026: the best soccer stream VPNs to pick up
NordVPN is our top recommendation for World Cup 2026 thanks to its speed and reliability when it comes to unblocking streaming services, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It’s our favourite all-round VPN too.
It has servers in more countries than any other VPN, and if you ever run into trouble, there’s 24/7 live chat and email support, plus an array of excellent online user guides.
For the privacy- and security-conscious, NordVPN’s features are second to none, underpinned by top-grade encryption, Threat Protection Pro malware blocking and the outstanding NordPass password manager.
You won’t find a better cheap VPN than Surfshark – and it lets new customers take advantage of a free trial too. The only real downside is that it isn’t quite as reliable at unblocking streaming services as NordVPN and ExpressVPN.
The connection speeds, number of countries covered by its server network, and privacy and security features would be impressive at twice the price, while its spam-beating Alternative ID tool and Camouflage Mode are particular favourites of ours.
A comprehensive support site is backed up by 24/7 live chat, while email support promises fixes within 24 hours.
The full package, ExpressVPN is quick, reliable at unblocking streaming services, and takes security and privacy seriously. We're fans of the Shuffle IP system in particular.
Its servers cover most countries, albeit with a heavy American and European slant, and its clean, straightforward UI serves as a template for rival VPN providers. There’s 24/7 live chat support, although you have to go through a chatbot before you can seek assistance from a human agent. There’s also email support and extensive online support materials.
It just doesn’t quite hit the same heights as NordVPN, and costs slightly more to boot.
Best World Cup VPN: FAQ
Can I watch the 2026 World Cup for free?
World Cup 2026 is free-to-air in lots of countries, with the best free English-language coverage coming from BBC iPlayer and ITVX in the UK, SBS on Demand in Australia and RTÉ Player in Ireland.
In North America, unfortunately, World Cup coverage is locked behind a paywall. Games are being shown on Fox and FS1 in the US, and on TSN and CTV in Canada.
How do I use a VPN?
Using a VPN is a doddle, whether you subscribe to NordVPN, Surfshark or ExpressVPN.
Simply choose the right location in the VPN app. For instance, if you want to live stream BBC iPlayer’s free World Cup coverage, select ‘United Kingdom’.
Your device will then behave as if it’s in the same place as the server your VPN establishes a connection with. Your true IP location, meanwhile, will be hidden.
All that’s left to do is fire up your preferred streaming service and enjoy the action.
What to look for in the best World Cup VPN?
As you need to use your VPN to stream soccer wherever you are in the world, you must make sure that your software successfully unblocks all the major streaming platforms (BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, SBS on Demand, JioCinema).
You also need fast connectivity speeds and reliable too. No one likes waiting for streams to buffer. Lesser VPN services will throttle maximum down speeds.
Do I need a TV license for iPlayer and ITV Hub?
If you watch live or record to playback at a later date then, yes, you need a TV license. This includes services from: Sky, Sky Go, BT, Virgin, Freeview, Freesat, ITV Hub, All 4, BBC iPlayer, NOW, even YouTube and Amazon Prime Video.
However, if you never watch live on any channel or streaming service, then you do not need a TV license. But that would require on-demand (i.e. not live, not recorded) content being available, the exception being BBC iPlayer (for which you do require a TV License).
You do not need to input your TV license information into iPlayer or ITV Hub in order to access them – registering with UK address will suffice.
Can I get Fox soccer streams on fuboTV in Canada?
Yes! Similar to BBC iPlayer, which is for UK TV license-payers, fuboTV is designed for American customers. If you're traveling in Canada then a VPN will enable you to watch using your subscription.
What is the World Cup schedule?
All times currently in BST - will be updated throughout the tournament
Thursday, June 11
8pm – Mexico vs South Africa | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Friday, June 12
3am – South Korea vs Czech Republic | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
8pm – Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Saturday, June 13
2am – USA vs Paraguay | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
8pm – Qatar vs Switzerland | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
11pm – Brazil vs Morocco | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Sunday, June 14
2am – Haiti vs Scotland | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
5am – Australia vs Turkey | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
6pm – Germany vs Curacao | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
9pm – Netherlands vs Japan | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Monday, June 15
12am – Ivory Coast vs Ecuador | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
3am – Sweden vs Tunisia | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
5pm – Spain vs Cape Verde | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
8pm – Belgium vs Egypt | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
11pm – Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Tuesday, June 16
2am – Iran vs New Zealand | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
8pm – France vs Senegal | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
11pm – Iraq vs Norway | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Wednesday, June 17
2am – Argentina vs Algeria | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
5am – Austria vs Jordan | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
6pm – Portugal vs DR Congo | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
9pm – England vs Croatia | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Thursday, June 18
12am – Ghana vs Panama | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
3am – Uzbekistan vs Colombia | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
5pm – Czech Republic vs South Africa | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
8pm – Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
11pm – Canada vs Qatar | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Friday, June 19
2am – Mexico vs South Korea | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
8pm – USA vs Australia | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
11pm – Scotland vs Morocco | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Saturday, June 20
2am – Brazil vs Haiti | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
5am – Turkey vs Paraguay | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
6pm – Netherlands vs Sweden | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
9pm – Germany vs Ivory Coast | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Sunday, June 21
1am – Ecuador vs Curacao | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
5am – Tunisia vs Japan | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
5pm – Spain vs Saudi Arabia | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
8pm – Belgium vs Iran | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
11pm – Uruguay vs Cape Verde | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Monday, June 22
2am – New Zealand vs Egypt | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
6pm – Argentina vs Austria | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
10pm – France vs Iraq | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Tuesday, June 23
1am – Norway vs Senegal | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
4am – Jordan vs Algeria | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
6pm – Portugal vs Uzbekistan | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
9pm – England vs Ghana | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Wednesday, June 24
12am – Panama vs Croatia | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
3am – Colombia vs DR Congo | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
8pm – Switzerland vs Canada | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
8pm – Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Qatar | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
11pm – Morocco vs Haiti | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
11pm – Scotland vs Brazil | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Thursday, June 25
2am – South Africa vs South Korea | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
2am – Czech Republic vs Mexico | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
9pm – Curacao vs Ivory Coast | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
9pm – Ecuador vs Germany | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Friday, June 26
12am – Tunisia vs Netherlands | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
12am – Japan vs Sweden | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
3am – Turkey vs USA | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
3am – Paraguay vs Australia | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
8pm – Norway vs France | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
8pm – Senegal vs Iraq | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Saturday, June 27
1am – Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
1am – Uruguay vs Spain | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
4am – New Zealand vs Belgium | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
4am – Egypt vs Iran | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
10pm – Panama vs England | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
10pm – Croatia vs Ghana | ITVX (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
Sunday, June 28
12.30am – Colombia vs Portugal | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
12.30am – DR Congo vs Uzbekistan | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
3am – Algeria vs Austria | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
3am – Jordan vs Argentina | BBC iPlayer (UK) & SBS on Demand (Australia)
KNOCKOUT STAGE
ROUND OF 32
Sunday, June 28
8pm – A2 vs B2 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
Monday, June 29
6pm – C1 vs F2 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
9.30pm – E1 vs A/B/C/D/F3 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
Tuesday, June 30
2am – F1 vs C2 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
6pm – E2 vs I2 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
10pm – I1 vs C/D/F/G/H3 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
Wednesday, July 1
2am – A1 vs C/E/F/H/I3 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
5pm – L1 vs E/H/I/J/K3 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
9pm – G1 vs A/E/H/I/J3 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
Thursday, July 2
1am – D1 vs B/E/F/I/J3 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
8pm – H1 vs J2 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
Friday, July 3
12am – K2 vs L2 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
4am – B1 vs E/F/G/I/J3 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
7pm – D2 vs G2 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
11pm – J1 vs H2 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
Saturday, July 4
2.30am – K1 vs D/E/I/J/L3 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
ROUND OF 16
Saturday, July 4
6pm – Round of 16 game 1 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
10pm – Round of 16 game 2 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
Sunday, July 5
9pm – Round of 16 game 3 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
Monday, July 6
1am – Round of 16 game 4 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
8pm – Round of 16 game 5 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
Tuesday, July 7
1am – Round of 16 game 6 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
5pm – Round of 16 game 7 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
9pm – Round of 16 game 8 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
QUARTER-FINALS
Thursday, July 9
9pm – Quarter-final 1 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
Friday, July 10
8pm – Quarter-final 2 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
Saturday, July 11
10pm – Quarter-final 3 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
Sunday, July 12
2am – Quarter-final 4 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
SEMI-FINALS
Tuesday, July 14
8pm – Semi-final 1 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
Wednesday, July 15
8pm – Semi-final 2 | SBS on Demand (Australia)
FINALS
Saturday, July 18
10pm – Third-place playoff | SBS on Demand (Australia)
Sunday, July 19
8pm – 2026 FIFA World Cup final | SBS on Demand (Australia)
