The FIFA World Cup starts soon, almost four years after Argentina’s victory, and Lionel Messi and the team will try to defend their title in front of a packed field. We look at the viewing options and put together everything you need to know about where to watch the World Cup, including free and global streaming options.
If you don’t want to travel further, we’ve got you covered. You can live stream all the games on FOX and FS1 via FOX One or a live TV service in the US, for free on SBS On Demand in Australia, and for free on BBC iPlayer and ITVX in the UK, among many other viewing options around the world (which we’ll break down below). You can access your streaming options from anywhere with the help of a vpn. Continue reading to learn more about the tournament, whether you want to watch from home or attend in person.
Where to watch the World Cup for free
Several countries around the world will offer free access to World Cup coverage. In Australia, all matches will be available for free on SBS on demand. In the UK, all matches will be divided between BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
Other regions offer select games for free, often focusing on their national team and major final tournament matches, while the rest are available through a paid service. In Spain, some matches will be available for free on RTVE Play. In Italy, raiplay will offer free coverage of selected matches. M6 offers some free matches in France. tubi In the United States there will be a couple of free games, including Mexico against South Africa and the United States against Paraguay.
Want access to some of these free options to watch the World Cup from outside of the countries mentioned above? Below, we’ll show you how to get around those geographic restrictions.
How to watch the World Cup from anywhere
Football fans who are far from where their streaming service operates during marquee matches can still access their free viewing options with the help of a VPN. Short for virtual private networks, VPNs are useful technology tools that allow people to temporarily change the virtual location of their electronic devices. They are popular with people looking to improve their cybersecurity and stay up to date with their usual websites and apps while traveling abroad.
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Where to watch the World Cup in the United States
All 104 World Cup matches will air on FOX or Fox Sports 1 (FS1) in the U.S. FOX offers a streaming counterpart, FOX One, for $20 a month with a three-day free trial. You can also sign up for the service as an add-on to Prime Video. If you’re looking for a service with extra channels or a longer free trial, one of the best live TV streaming services we’ve tested might be interesting to you.
DirectTV offers FOX, FS1 and about 20 other sports networks in its MySports genre package. MySports also unlocks access to ESPN Unlimited at no additional cost. Subscriptions cost $65 per month, but new customers can get $15 off per month on your first two months after a five-day free trial.
fubo offers FOX and FS1 coverage on its Sports + News plan, along with more than 25 other key channels. The streaming package also unlocks unlimited access to ESPN. Sports + News costs $56 a month, but new users can get it $10 off your first month after a five-day free trial. FOX and FS1 are also available on the Pro and Elite plan.
Honda TV It also offers FOX and FS1 in several of its plans, the cheapest being Sling Select. Sling Select starts at $20 a month for 10 channels (including FS1), but goes up to $25 a month when it comes to local channels (like FOX). However, Sling’s local channel coverage varies greatly by region, so check what’s available in your area before signing up. Sling Blue also offers FS1 and FOX (when available). Plans start at $46 a month, but are $51 a month with local channels.
If you’re looking for Spanish-language coverage, Telemundo has the broadcast rights in the U.S. and all 104 games are available to stream on Peacock with commentary in Spanish. Peacock Sports tiers start at $11 per month for Peacock Premium, but you’ll also be able to watch the first few days of the tournament with a reduced Select plan.
Where to watch the World Cup in the UK
All World Cup matches will be available free of charge in the UK. Coverage is split between BBC and ITV, meaning fans can live stream all matches via a combination of BBC iPlayer and ITVX. These are free streaming options that only require creating an account to watch.
Where to watch the World Cup in Australia
It’s good news in Australia. All 104 World Cup matches will be available in one place, across SBS, SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand. That means you can live stream all the games via SBS on demandwhich only requires creating an account if you are not already logged in.
Where to watch the World Cup in Spain
RTVE will broadcast several matches from the World Cup in Spain. This means fans will be able to live stream coverage for free on RTVE Play. You’ll just need to create an account and you’ll be ready to start watching. The coverage will favor the matches with the Spanish team, along with other notable matchups. Soccer fans in Spain who want to watch every World Cup match will need a paid subscription through DAZN.
Where will the 2026 FIFA World Cup take place?
Normally, the FIFA World Cup is hosted in just one country, but the 2026 tournament will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States. In Canada, Toronto and Vancouver serve as host cities. In Mexico, host cities include Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey. US host cities include Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Who is the favorite to win the FIFA World Cup?
Heading into the tournament, Spain is the favorite to win the FIFA World Cup. On DraftKings (at the time of writing), Spain leads with +450, followed by France (+475), England (+700), Portugal (+800), Brazil (+950), and Argentina (+950).
Previous FIFA World Cup winners
Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, won the 2022 World Cup. Previous winners include France (2018), Germany (2014), Spain (2010), Italy (2006), Brazil (2002), France (1998), Brazil (1994), West Germany (1990), Argentina (1986), Italy (1982), Argentina (1978), West Germany (1974), Brazil (1970), England (1966), Brazil (1962), Brazil. (1958), West Germany (1954), Uruguay (1950), Italy (1938), Italy (1934) and Uruguay (1930).
When and where will the next men’s World Cup be?
The next men’s World Cup will take place in 2030. Most games will take place in Morocco, Portugal and Spain, with one match each in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay. These South American games are in honor of the centenary of the first FIFA World Cup, which was held in Uruguay in 1930.
How do you get tickets for the World Cup?
Getting tickets for the World Cup has not been an easy task. The tournament is incredibly popular and the initial release of FIFA entries was a bit confusing. Our team has found that some of the best prices and variety of seats come from the resale market right now. You can get more information in our World Cup ticket guide.
FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule
Note: Using VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content may violate the terms of use of some services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone illegal VPN use.