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Whether you’re looking to keep your connection secure at kickoff or want to catch a match while traveling, using a VPN is a great way to keep up with the 2026 World Cup.
Any of the best VPNs can give you a safe and secure workaround for common issues during high-traffic events, such as ISP peering issues and increased network pressure.
But getting the very best streaming performance from your VPN can take more than just clicking the ‘on’ button — in fact, certain settings and features can slow down your connection.
Keep reading for a rundown of the settings you should switch to in order to get the best VPN streaming performance possible during World Cup 2026 — and of course, be sure to test whether these settings work for you before kickoff.
Pick the right protocol
The first thing to consider when it comes to VPN streaming performance is which protocol you’re using.
To put it simply, protocols are like sets of rules and directions that determine how your data moves through a VPN network. They affect nearly every aspect of a VPNs performance, from network speed to the security of your data and activity.
Many of the best VPNs offer multiple protocols and the ability to switch between them on the fly. The three most common are WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. For streaming, WireGuard is faster than OpenVPN, and IKEv2 is only really useful for switching between different network types.
Certain services also offer proprietary protocols like NordVPN’s NordLynx and ExpressVPN’s Lightway.
Additionally, it’s worth taking a look at whether your VPN service offers post-quantum encryption. This is the best choice for security, but can slow down your streaming, so if you’re not looking to do anything too important while streaming the World Cup, you might consider turning it off for a speed boost.
Pause obfuscation
Obfuscation is the process by which a VPN hides its own existence from potential surveillance. Where using a VPN hides your online traffic, obfuscation hides the fact you’re using a VPN.
Take Norton VPN’s Mimic protocol, which disguises VPN traffic as regular HTTPS traffic (aka the protocol most web traffic uses). This is useful for the privacy-conscious, and especially for those in territories where VPN use is restricted.
However, this added layer of invisibility takes time to process and puts strain on your connection — not ideal for streaming events full of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments like the World Cup. If it’s safe to do so, switching off obfuscation could give you a faster connection.
Use split tunneling
Split tunneling is one of the more recent advancements in consumer VPN services, allowing users to direct specific traffic through a VPN while leaving others untouched.
This is useful for streaming the World Cup and other major events without disrupting the rest of your online activity. Certain apps – especially ones that deal with sensitive personal data, like mobile banking, or geo-locked services – can stop working properly if a VPN is in use.
Split tunneling has the added effect of keeping your VPN’s bandwidth free for streaming, which could allow for a smoother or higher-quality stream.
Switch off ad-blockers
Much like obfuscation, ad-blockers put additional pressure on your VPN connection, potentially hampering your streaming performance.
Additionally, ad-blockers can cause some streaming services to crash or freeze. Broadcasters and streaming services may use ‘tracking beacons’ to assess whether ads have been watched – if these return a negative result, the stream shuts off.
There’s nothing worse than losing your connection at a crucial moment, especially when it comes to the World Cup — it’s better to shut your ad-blockers off than risk a crash.
Spend just a few minutes dialing in these changes before the next game kicks off, and you can get back to enjoying the match buffer-free.
