ExpressVPN becomes an official supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in biggest sports deal yet — and gives away over 50 premium tickets

ExpressVPN/FIFA partnership for World Cup 2026 — promo image
(Image credit: ExpressVPN)

  • ExpressVPN is now the exclusive VPN supporter for the FIFA World Cup 2026
  • It offers 50 premium tickets for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final
  • The partnership aims to keep traveling fans digitally secure

In a major move to bring digital security to the global stage, ExpressVPN has announced it is an Official Tournament Supporter for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the US, Canada, and Europe.

Currently among our best VPN recommendations, ExpressVPN is the exclusive VPN supporter for the event — an achievement the company confirmed to be the largest sports deal it has ever signed.

To celebrate the landmark announcement, ExpressVPN is running a ticket sweepstakes for people who sign up to its services, giving lucky fans the chance to win 50 premium tickets spanning the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the highly anticipated final.

With the tournament expected to draw a staggering global audience of around six billion viewers, the stakes for digital privacy have never been higher. The sheer scale of the event makes it the perfect venue to remind fans that online safety matters wherever they watch.

Charles Butler, Chief Executive Officer of ExpressVPN, says: "The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the greatest show on Earth, and our goal is for fans to experience every moment of it securely, without their data being stolen in the process.”

The company is also planning a major Times Square Digital Takeover in partnership with Clear Channel Outdoor during the week leading up to the final, featuring AI-powered advertisements across New York's iconic displays.

Why the World Cup is a cybersecurity flashpoint

While the excitement of the tournament is undeniable, major international sporting events are consistently some of the most targeted moments on the cybersecurity calendar. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will see millions of fans flocking to stadiums across the US, Canada, and Mexico. Many of these attendees will be traveling internationally, relying on foreign SIM cards and hotel networks they have never used before.

This massive influx of travelers means a heavy reliance on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks at airports, restaurants, and local venues. Fans bouncing between a dozen or more of these networks on any given day are at significant risk of surveillance and data theft. Cybercriminals regularly exploit these high-traffic events, launching phishing campaigns tied directly to ticketing, travel itineraries, and team merchandise.

Even seemingly legitimate venue Wi-Fi networks can be incredibly dangerous. Hackers frequently use off-the-shelf tools to spoof real networks, a tactic known in the industry as an "evil twin" attack.

A recent ExpressVPN research highlighted that 7 in 10 World Cup football fans are ready to put their digital privacy at risk, often blindly trusting a public network simply because it carries a familiar venue name. Unfortunately, that familiar name is not always proof that a connection is safe.

This isn't ExpressVPN's first foray into the sports world; the provider recently partnered with Tottenham Hotspur to bolster digital defense for fans. However, the World Cup operates on an entirely different scale, making pitch-side cybersecurity reminders a vital addition.

For those watching safely from home, the security risks might be lower, but a VPN still offers massive benefits. If you're wondering, should I use a VPN to watch the World Cup, the answer remains a resounding yes — whether it's to avoid ISP throttling or simply to secure your connection while streaming the beautiful game.


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Rene Millman
Contributing Writer

Rene Millman is a seasoned technology journalist whose work has appeared in The Guardian, the Financial Times, Computer Weekly, and IT Pro. With over two decades of experience as a reporter and editor, he specializes in making complex topics like cybersecurity, VPNs, and enterprise software accessible and engaging.

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