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The Best Free Streaming Sites to Watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final

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Simon Migliano
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Simon Migliano is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of VPN services and his research has featured on the BBC, The New York Times and more.

Additional Research by Luc Williams

Our Verdict

SBS On Demand is the best place to stream the 2022 FIFA World Cup for free. It has all 64 World Cup matches in HD with English commentary, including the final between Argentina and France. To watch every game from anywhere for free, try ExpressVPN risk-free and connect to an Australia VPN server.

Stream 2022 FIFA World Cup for free

Quick Summary: 10 Best Free World Cup Streaming Websites

  1. SBS On Demand: The best overall free World Cup streaming site.
  2. BBC iPlayer: Excellent option with 4K quality and no ads.
  3. ITVX: Good service that sometimes suffers from technical issues.
  4. RTVE Play: User-friendly Spanish service with no signup required.
  5. Tubi: On-demand replays of every match.
  6. Peacock: Easy-to-use site that’s only free for 7 days.
  7. RaiPlay: Well-organized content with Italian commentary.
  8. RTBF Auvio: Reputable and legitimate site in French.
  9. JioCinema: Mobile-only streaming app with every game.
  10. TDM: Functional site in multiple languages.

Sign up to ExpressVPN and connect to a VPN server in the correct country to access any site listed above. Learn how to do this step-by-step in the dedicated section of this guide.

In most territories, 2022 FIFA World Cup live matches are only available on paid-for TV channels or streaming services. In these regions, the average cost of streaming every World Cup match is $60.

However, we’ve found that legitimate broadcasters in eight countries are showing matches on free-to-air online streaming websites. These sites geo-block the games, though, by checking if your IP address is from within the country.

With a virtual private network (VPN), you can obfuscate your physical location and IP address to stream every World Cup match for free, from anywhere. The best VPNs for streaming the World Cup are free-to-use, stream matches in HD or 4K, and have easy-to-use apps for every device.

2022 World Cup Key Data
Dates: 20 November – 18 December
Number of games: 64
Stream in Canada: TSN direct (Paid)
Stream in the US: FOX Sports & Peacock (Paid)
Stream in the UK: BBC iPlayer & ITVX (Free)
Stream anywhere for free: Use ExpressVPN risk-free for 30 days

The 10 Best Free World Cup 2022 Streaming Sites

We’ve tested and evaluated over 200 World Cup streaming sites from over 100 countries. We’ve found just 10 that match our criteria of being free-to-air, legitimate, and broadcast in HD quality. The best ones also don’t require signup or any personal information.

All of the services we recommend are 100% legal, but they are only available in specific countries. You will have to use a VPN to access them. With a VPN, you can connect to a proxy server in another country to stream geo-blocked content.

In the table below, you can compare each streaming site side-by-side:

Streaming Service VPN Server Location Commentary Language Game Coverage Stream Type Type of Free Access
SBS On Demand Australia English 64 games Live stream 100% Free
BBC iPlayer UK English 32 games Live stream 100% Free
ITVX UK English 32 games Live stream 100% Free
RTVE Play Spain Spanish 20 games Live Stream 100% Free
Tubi US English 64 games Replays 100% Free
Peacock US Spanish 64 games Live stream Free trial
RAIPlay Italy Italian 64 games Live stream 100% Free
RTBF Auvio Belgium French 64 games Live stream 100% Free
JioCinema India Hindi 64 games Live stream 100% Free
TDM Macau Chinese & Portuguese 27 games Live stream 100% Free

EXPERT TIP: Visit the 2022 FIFA World Cup broadcasting rights Wikipedia page to see a full list of the rights holders of every country.

In the section below, we’ll review each free World Cup streaming site in detail so you can choose the best one for you. We’ll also show you exactly how to sign up and use the service, as well as the best VPN server to connect to.

1.SBS On Demand

The best website for streaming every World Cup game.

Pros
Cons
  • No payment details required
  • All 64 FIFA World Cup matches
  • Good commentary and punditry team
  • Doesn’t require an address at sign up
  • User-friendly interface
  • Apps for all devices & platforms
  • Broadcasts contain ads
  • Australia VPN server might be slow
  • No 4K option

SBS Quick Summary:

Commentary Language: English
Type of Free Access: 100% Free
Stream Type: Live Stream
IP Address Required: Australia
Compatible VPNs: CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, IPVanish, NordVPN, PIA, PrivateVPN, Proton VPN, and Surfshark.
Official Website: www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/

Streaming the World Cup on SBS using a VPN

SBS broadcasts every 2022 FIFA World Cup game for free.

SBS On Demand is the best free World Cup 2022 streaming website. The Australian public broadcaster’s content platform streams in HD, is 100% free, and is easy to use.

Using SBS, you can watch all 64 World Cup matches live online. The other top websites in this list, like BBC iPlayer, only have up to 50% of the games.

SBS On Demand also has better presenters, pundits, and commentators than most of the other services we’ve tested. Martin Tyler provides commentary, and there’s pitchside and studio coverage of every game.

However, you will need to connect to an Australia VPN server to stream SBS On Demand. Depending on your location, you might experience buffering and streaming issues due to the distance.

When connected to an Australia VPN server from our base in the UK, our speeds dropped by 27% with ExpressVPN and by 40% with NordVPN. This was still fast enough for HD streaming, but the video took longer to load than with sites in other countries.

How to stream the World Cup on SBS On Demand outside of Australia:

  1. Sign up for and install a VPN service. We recommend ExpressVPN.
  2. Connect to a compatible VPN server: The Australia – Sydney server worked best with SBS in our tests.
  3. Browse to sbs.com.au/ondemand/ and click Create Account in the top right.
  4. Enter your personal details. They do not have to be accurate.
  5. Verify your email address.
  6. Click FIFA World Cup and stream the game you want to watch.

2.BBC iPlayer

The only free World Cup streaming service with no ads.

Pros
Cons
  • Compatible with many VPN services
  • No ads
  • Best-in-class commentary and punditry
  • Easy-to-use for beginners
  • Streams in 4K quality
  • Hosts lots of other content
  • Only has 50% of games

BBC iPlayer Quick Summary:

Commentary Language: English
Type of Free Access: 100% Free
Stream Type: Live Stream
IP Address Required: UK
Compatible VPNs: CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, IPVanish, NordVPN, PIA, PrivadoVPN Free, PrivateVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark, and Windscribe Free.
Official Website: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer

Streaming the 2022 FIFA World Cup on BBC iPlayer using a VPN

BBC iPlayer streams in 4K resolution.

BBC iPlayer is a superb choice for streaming World Cup matches for free. It’s unique in that it has no ads and broadcasts matches in 4K UHD. Every game includes live commentary and studio analysis.

As well as live World Cup streams, BBC iPlayer also contains lots of on-demand content. Using it, you can stream Match of the Day, Football Focus, and The Football News Show.

Many of the VPNs we tested worked with BBC iPlayer, too, as most have dozens of city-level server locations in the UK. If our IP address was ever blocked, we could easily cycle between servers to find one that worked.

The one downside is that BBC iPlayer only has 50% of the World Cup matches. To stream every match with a UK IP address, you will need to use BBC iPlayer together with ITVX.

How to stream the World Cup on BBC iPlayer outside of the UK:

  1. Sign up for and install a VPN service. We recommend ExpressVPN.
  2. Connect to a compatible VPN server: UK – London worked best with BBC iPlayer in our tests.
  3. Browse to bbc.com/iplayer/ and click Sign In at the top-right. Then select Register now.
  4. Enter your date of birth, email address, and password.
  5. Input a random UK postcode. This will not be checked by the BBC.
  6. Verify your email address.
  7. Click Channels, then One and stream the game you want to watch.

3. ITVX

UK-based free streaming service with some limitations.

Pros
Cons
  • Excellent commentary and punditry
  • Can be installed on every device
  • Best-in-class commentary and punditry
  • Easy to access with a VPN
  • Ad breaks during games
  • Doesn’t have every match
  • Broadcasts in SD quality
  • Subpar user interface

ITVX Quick Summary:

Commentary Language: English
Type of Free Access: 100% Free
Stream Type: Live Stream
IP Address Required: UK
Compatible VPNs: CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, IPVanish, NordVPN, PIA, PrivadoVPN Free, PrivateVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark, and Windscribe Free.
Official Website: www.itvx.com

Streaming the World Cup on ITVX using a VPN

ITVX can be accessed with almost any VPN service.

ITVX is a reputable free-to-air streaming service in the UK. It has the rights to half of the matches in the World Cup. Using ITVX and BBC iPlayer together, you can live stream all 64 World Cup matches with a UK IP address.

Thankfully, we found that ITVX’s VPN blocks are extremely ineffective. Over 90% of VPNs we tested worked with the ITVX. We could even stream it using free VPNs that aren’t optimized for streaming, including TunnelBear and ZoogVPN.

Technically, though, ITVX compares poorly to most other World Cup streaming services. The service often struggles during games with high viewership. Our videos frequently lagged, buffered, and sometimes cut out altogether.

We also found it to be more difficult to use than other websites. The content is confusingly organized and there are too many ad breaks during broadcasts.

How to stream the World Cup on ITVX outside of the UK:

  1. Sign up for and install a VPN service. We recommend ExpressVPN.
  2. Connect to a compatible VPN server: The UK – London server worked best with ITVX in our tests.
  3. Browse to itvx.com and click Sign In. Then, select Sign up now.
  4. Enter your date of birth, email address, and password.
  5. Input a random UK postcode. This will not be verified by ITV.
  6. Verify your email address.
  7. Click Watch Live at the top-left and stream the game you want to watch.

4. RTVE Play

100% free World Cup streaming site with Spanish commentary.

Pros
Cons
  • The only 100% free option in Spanish
  • Broadcasts every Spain match
  • No account required
  • Apps for all devices
  • Legitimate service run by Spain’s public broadcaster
  • Only showing 31% of games

RTVE Play Quick Summary:

Commentary Language: Spanish
Type of Free Access: 100% Free
Stream Type: Live Stream
IP Address Required: Spain
Compatible VPNs: CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, IPVanish, NordVPN, PIA, PrivateVPN, Proton VPN, and Surfshark.
Official Website: www.rtve.es/play/

Streaming the 2022 FIFA World Cup on RTVE Play using a VPN

RTVE Play broadcasts free World Cup matches in Spanish.

RTVE Play is a great World Cup streaming website and app from RTVE, Spain’s public broadcaster. All of its content is in Spanish, making it the only totally free World Cup streaming site with Spanish commentary.

RTVE Play doesn’t require an account or any personal information. You can start streaming without entering your email, name, or ZIP code. The website is also quick to load and use, with the home page showing any matches that are currently live.

The major drawback of RTVE Play is that it’s only showing a third of World Cup matches. Using it, you can watch every Spain match but will miss out on 44 games in total. To stream every other game in Spanish, you’ll have to use Peacock.

How to stream the World Cup on RTVE Play outside of Spain:

  1. Sign up for and install a VPN service. We recommend ExpressVPN.
  2. Connect to a compatible VPN server: Spain – Madrid worked best with RTVE Play in our tests.
  3. Browse to rtve.es/play/ and click the menu in the top left.
  4. Select Canales and choose LA 1.
  5. The live stream of the match will start.

5. Peacock

Reputable streaming platform hosting every game in Spanish.

Pros
Cons
  • The only Spanish language option for every match
  • Sleek apps on every platform
  • Recognizable commentary and punditry team
  • 12 matches are being shown for free
  • Also has live Premier League matches
  • Only free for 7 days
  • US payment details or international credit card required

Peacock Quick Summary:

Commentary Language: Spanish
Type of Free Access: 100% Free
Stream Type: Free Trial
IP Address Required: US
Compatible VPNs: CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, IPVanish, NordVPN, PIA, PrivateVPN, Proton VPN, and Windscribe Free.
Official Website: www.peacocktv.com

Streaming the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Peacock using a VPN

Peacock is streaming the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Spanish.

Peacock is an excellent US-based streaming service from NBC. You can use it to live stream Telemundo in 1080p resolution at 60fps. Telemundo is a Spanish-language channel with the rights to broadcast all 64 World Cup matches live.

Using Peacock’s free trial to stream Telemundo is the only way to watch every World Cup game for free in Spanish. Our research also found Telemundo to have the best Spanish language commentary and punditry team. All of its matches have pre, mid, and post match analysis by recognisable experts.

However, unlike the other streaming services in this list, Peacock is only streaming the first 12 matches for free. After that, Peacock is only free for seven days, meaning all games from 1 December will require a paid subscription. That said, it costs just $4.99 for a month, which is great value for what you get.

To get Peacock, you will need a US payment method. You can get one by creating a US Apple or Google account and purchasing a US app store gift card. We also found a workaround using credit cards. You can use a credit card from any region to sign up to Peacock through its website

How to stream the World Cup on Peacock outside of the US:

  1. Sign up for and install a VPN service on your phone. We recommend ExpressVPN.
  2. Connect to a compatible VPN server: The New York server worked best with Peacock in our tests.
  3. Purchase a US App Store or Google Play gift card.
  4. Depending on your device, create a new US Apple ID or Google account.
  5. Download the Peacock app and start your seven-day free trial.
  6. Connect to the VPN server and open Peacock on the device you want to watch on — it’s not restricted to just mobile.
  7. Click Channels and select Telemundo. The live stream of the match will start playing.
  8. Note: If you have a credit card from any country, you can skip steps 3-6 and subscribe to Peacock using it via the website.

6. Tubi

100% free option with highlights and on demand replays.

Pros
Cons
  • Free with no time limitation
  • Dedicated World Cup channel with additional content
  • No account or personal details required
  • Owned by a reputable media company
  • Excellent app UI
  • No live matches
  • Ad breaks during streams
  • No full HD or 4K streams

Tubi Quick Summary:

Commentary Language: English
Type of Free Access: 100% Free
Stream Type: Live Stream
IP Address Required: US
Compatible VPNs: CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, IPVanish, NordVPN, PIA, PrivadoVPN Free, PrivateVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark, and Windscribe Free.
Official Website: www.tubitv.com

Streaming the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Tubi using a VPN

You can watch replays of every match for free on Tubi.

Tubi is a well-made free streaming service from Fox. You can access Tubi without an account, so you don’t have to provide any personal details or a US address.

Unfortunately, it’s the only streaming site in this list that isn’t broadcasting any match live. Instead, you can use it to watch full-match replays of all 64 games from the tournament. Tubi is also ad-supported. The service displays three minutes of unskippable ads every 30 minutes.

One positive is that Tubi has a dedicated World Cup channel, making it easy to find all of the relevant content. With some of the other streaming services we tested, World Cup matches were hard to find among all the other TV shows and movies.

How to stream the World Cup on Tubi outside of the US:

  1. Sign up for and install a VPN service: We recommend ExpressVPN.
  2. Connect to a compatible VPN server: US – New York worked best with Tubi in our tests.
  3. Browse to tubitv.com or download the Tubi app.
  4. Click Live TV at the top. Then, choose the FIFA World Cup FAST Channel. You’ll now be able to stream the match on demand.

7. RaiPlay

Italian language live streams with no account required.

Pros
Cons
  • Only free option for Italian commentary
  • Live coverage of all 64 World Cup matches
  • No sign up required
  • Accessible apps for many platforms
  • Trustworthy service
  • Sometimes crashes due to overcrowded servers
  • Low streaming quality
  • Contains ads

RaiPlay Quick Summary:

Commentary Language: Italian
Type of Free Access: 100% Free
Stream Type: Live Stream
IP Address Required: Italy
Compatible VPNs: CyberGhost, ExpressVPN, IPVanish, NordVPN, PrivateVPN, Proton VPN, and Surfshark.
Official Website: www.raiplay.it/

Streaming the 2022 FIFA World Cup on RaiPlay using a VPN

RaiPlay is an easy-to-use streaming site with Italian commentary.

RaiPlay is the official streaming platform by Italy’s public TV service. It’s trustworthy, legitimate, and 100% free.

RaiPlay is live streaming 64 World Cup matches, making it the only option to watch games as they happen with Italian commentary. The service also doesn’t require you to sign up, so you can start streaming within seconds.

It’s also more attractive and easy to use than other options, with apps available for all operating systems, including Windows, Android, FireOS, and tvOS.

That said, matches are only broadcast in standard definition and they sometimes buffer and crash during high-profile games. When using it, we sometimes lost access to the live stream for up to five minutes.

How to stream the World Cup on RaiPlay outside of Italy:

  1. Sign up for and install a VPN service: We recommend ExpressVPN.
  2. Connect to a compatible VPN server: Italy – Cosenza worked best with RaiPlay in our tests.
  3. Browse to raiplay.it or download the RaiPlay app. You don’t need to create an account.
  4. Scroll down to In Diretta. Then, click Vedi tutte le dirette.
  5. Choose the channel that’s broadcasting the match you want to watch. The live stream will load.

8. RTBF Auvio

Easy-to-use World Cup streaming site with French commentary.

Pros
Cons
  • Full coverage of every match
  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Reliable and reputable service
  • Easily accessed with a VPN or proxy
  • Not available on Smart TV or Apple TV
  • Requires an email account and ZIP code
  • Lengthy ad breaks

RTBF Auvio Quick Summary:

Commentary Language: French
Type of Free Access: 100% Free
Stream Type: Live Stream
IP Address Required: Belgium
Compatible VPNs: ExpressVPN, IPVanish, NordVPN, PrivateVPN, Proton VPN, and Surfshark.
Official Website: www.rtbf.be/auvio/

Streaming the 2022 FIFA World Cup on RTBF Auvio using a VPN

RTBF Auvio broadcasts every match for free in French.

RTBF Auvio is an excellent choice for streaming the World Cup for free in French. In our tests, we were always able to watch content in HD without any buffering or lag.

Auvio has the rights to every single World Cup match, so you can legally watch every game for free. It has an intuitive design on both its browser and mobile apps, including on Fire TV and iOS. The live content is well organized, making it easy to quickly find the game you want.

Sadly, there aren’t applications available for other streaming devices. We couldn’t use Auvio on our Apple TV, Chromecast, or Samsung Smart TV.

Unlike some other free World Cup websites, Auvio requires an email address, password, and ZIP code to sign up. You can use a random Belgian address, though, as we found there’s no verification process.

How to stream the World Cup on RTBF Auvio outside of Belgium:

  1. Sign up for and install a VPN service: We recommend ExpressVPN.
  2. Connect to the Belgium VPN server.
    Browse to rtbf.be/auvio or download the RTBF Auvio app.
  3. Click Register and enter your email address and name.
  4. Input a random Belgian ZIP code. This will not be checked by RTBF.
  5. Verify your email address.
  6. Click Live at the top to stream the game you want to watch.

9. JioCinema

Mobile app with all matches in Hindi, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil, and English.

Pros
Cons
  • No subscription free
  • Available in multiple languages
  • Live HD streams of every match
  • No ads
  • Trustworthy service
  • Requires an Indian phone number
  • Only available on mobile

JioCinema Quick Summary:

Commentary Language: Hindi, Malayalam, Bengali, Tamil, and English
Type of Free Access: 100% Free
Stream Type: Live Stream
IP Address Required: India
Compatible VPNs: ExpressVPN, NordVPN, PIA, and PrivateVPN
Official Website: www.jiocinema.com/

Streaming the 2022 FIFA World Cup on JioCinema using a VPN

JioCinema is only showing free World Cup matches on its mobile app.

JioCinema is a popular Indian streaming service from Viacom18. One big advantage of using JioCinema is its impressive language support. With every match, you can choose between commentary in five different languages, including Hindi and English.

A monthly subscription to JioCinema usually costs ₹149.00 (approximately $1.80), but all World Cup matches are being shown on the mobile app for free. As it’s usually a premium service, the quality of coverage is much higher than you’d expect from a free option.

JioCinema can only be used on mobile devices, though. You can use it to watch live matches on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device, but it can’t be installed on desktop or digital media devices.

Even though it’s available globally on Google Play and the App Store, you will need an Indian phone number to verify your account and access the service. There’s no workaround for this unless you have direct access to an Indian cell phone contract.

How to stream the World Cup on JioCinema outside of India:

  1. Sign up for and install a VPN service on your phone. We recommend ExpressVPN.
  2. Connect to a compatible VPN server: The India (via Singapore) server worked best with JioCinema in our tests.
  3. Download the JioCinema app onto your phone. You do not need an Indian App Store or Google Play account.
  4. Deny the app access to your GPS location.
  5. Enter your Indian phone number and input the SMS verification code.
  6. From the app home screen, tap the game you want to watch. The live stream of the match will start playing.

10. TDM

Basic live streaming service with Chinese and Portuguese commentary.

Pros
Cons
  • All 64 matches are available for free
  • Only free option in Chinese and Portuguese
  • No account needed
  • Unattractive website design
  • Videos take a while to load
  • Low-quality streams
  • Incompatible with most VPNs

TDM Quick Summary:

Commentary Language: Chinese and Portuguese
Type of Free Access: 100% Free
Stream Type: Live Stream
IP Address Required: Macau
Compatible VPNs: ExpressVPN
Official Website: www.tdm.com

Streaming the 2022 FIFA World Cup on TDM using a VPN

TDM’s website is unattractive but functional.

With a Macau IP address, you can stream TDM for free online. TDM has the rights for all 64 matches, simultaneously broadcasting each in Chinese and Portuguese.

TDM is a straightforward website with a worse user experience than every other site in this list. The design is very stripped back and you can only stream live channels. There’s no on-demand content available.

As well, our tests found that the live streams take 90 seconds to start playing. Even then, TDM limits the quality to SD, and matches are often interrupted by buffering.

TDM’s apps are only available on desktop and mobile, so you won’t be able to use it on your TV. We weren’t able to download TDM onto our Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, or any other streaming devices.

How to stream the World Cup on TDM outside of Macau:

  1. Sign up for and install a VPN service: We recommend ExpressVPN.
  2. Connect to the Macau VPN server.
  3. Browse to tdm.com.mo/pt/live? or download the TDM app. You don’t need to create an account.
  4. Click Live at the top of the screen. Then, Select TDM Sport Ch.93.
  5. Wait around 90 seconds. The live match will start streaming.

Free World Cup 2022 Streaming Sites to Avoid

Our research found that many popular World Cup 2022 streaming sites hosted unlicensed content, had invasive ads, or even contained malware.

Here are some free World Cup streaming sites you should avoid:

  • Buffstreams
  • First Row Sports
  • Hesgoal
  • Reddit Soccer Streams
  • Social442 TV
  • Sportlemon
  • Sportrar
  • Stream2Watch
  • Totalsportek
  • Wiziwig

EXPERT TIP: Watching copyrighted content from unofficial sources is illegal. To make sure you’re accessing legitimate content, connect to a compatible VPN server and use one of the World Cup 2022 streaming sites we recommend.

How to Watch the 2022 World Cup for Free

The only legal way to stream World Cup fixtures for free is to use a VPN or Smart DNS proxy. Using a VPN, you’ll be able to bypass geo-blocks from free-to-air public broadcasters and watch every match from anywhere.

How you set up and use a VPN differs depending on your device, though. Although VPN software is easy to use on most platforms, it can’t be installed on many devices, including Smart TVs and Chromecast.

In the sections below, we’ll show you how to change your IP address and watch 2022 World Cup matches for free on every platform.

Desktop or Laptop (Windows & Mac)

Watching the 2022 World Cup for free is easy on a computer. You only need to download the VPN app and open the streaming site in your web browser.

Here’s how to watch the World Cup for free on a computer:

  1. Subscribe to a VPN service and download the app: ExpressVPN has intuitive VPN apps for Windows and Mac.
  2. Decide which free World Cup streaming site you want to use: To help you choose, we’ve listed the pros and cons of each service further up in this guide.
  3. Connect to a VPN server in the corresponding country: For example, connect to an Australian server to stream SBS.
  4. Open the streaming site in your web browser and start streaming.

Mobile (iPhone & Android)

To download a free World Cup streaming app onto your phone, you’ll need an Apple or Google account registered in the same country. This is simple to do but requires a few extra steps.

To watch World Cup matches for free on iOS and Android:

  1. Sign up for a VPN service that works with World Cup 2022 streaming apps and download the app: We found ExpressVPN to be the most reliable option on iOS and Android.
  2. Connect to a VPN server in the same country as the streaming app: For instance, connect to the UK to access BBC iPlayer.
  3. Depending on your device, create a new Apple ID or Google account: Make sure to select the same country as your chosen streaming app.
  4. Download your desired World Cup streaming app from the app store: If you can’t see it, verify that you’re signed into your new account.
  5. Open the app and start streaming: To access a different streaming app, connect to a new VPN server location and repeat step (3).

EXPERT TIP: Other publications recommend downloading the streaming app’s .APK file directly on Android. However, we found that many apps will stop working if your Google account location doesn’t match its location.

Fire TV

Watching World Cup fixtures on Firestick is simple. You’ll just need an Amazon account registered in the target country and a Fire TV VPN app.

The best VPNs for Fire TV, like the ones we recommend, have an intuitive app that can be easily downloaded from the Amazon Appstore.

Here’s how to stream World Cup matches for free on Fire TV:

  1. Sign up for a compatible VPN service and download the app from the Amazon Appstore: ExpressVPN has an excellent app for Fire TV Stick and works well with every streaming service.
  2. Connect to a VPN server in your desired country: For example, to use ITVX, connect to a UK VPN server.
  3. Change your Amazon account country: On a phone or computer, navigate to Manage Your Content and Devices > Preferences > Country Settings > Change. Then, select your country and enter a random address. Click Update.
  4. Restart your Fire TV Stick: Do this by holding both the Select and Play buttons on the remote for five seconds.
  5. Download the app for the streaming service: This will be available in the Amazon Appstore. If it’s not, repeat Step 4.

EXPERT TIP: We strongly recommend not sideloading any streaming service app on your Fire TV Stick. Many of these .APK files are unverified, meaning they could contain malware.

Apple TV, Smart TV & Game Consoles

You can’t install a VPN app on Apple TV, Smart TV, PS5, and Xbox. You’ll have to use a Smart DNS proxy instead. Many top VPNs for Apple TV, like ExpressVPN, include a Smart DNS tool with a VPN subscription.

Smart DNS allows you to connect to a proxy server in another country without having to install any software. This makes it compatible with these streaming devices.

Our research found that BBC iPlayer and ITVX are the best free World Cup streaming services for these devices. Many of the others we tested, like SBS and RTVE Play, couldn’t be installed on tvOS or Xbox system software.

Here’s how to watch the World Cup for free on Apple TV, Smart TV, and games consoles:

  1. Sign up for a Smart DNS service: ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer worked best with BBC iPlayer and ITVX in our tests.
  2. Register your IP address on the website: This is required for account verification. Do this by going to the ExpressVPN DNS settings page. Then, click Register my IP address.
  3. Change your device’s DNS address: Navigate to the network settings on your device. Change DNS settings to Manual and set the primary DNS to 85.203.37.1.
  4. Change your app store location to the UK: You might need to create a new Apple, Microsoft, or Sony account to do this. On Smart TV, simply change the location in the TV’s settings.
  5. Restart your device: This will clear all cache and temporary location data.
    Download the BBC iPlayer and ITVX apps onto your device.
  6. Start streaming: To find out if the game you want to watch is on BBC iPlayer or ITVX, see our World Cup 2022 online broadcast schedule.

Roku & Chromecast

To access geo-blocked World Cup content on Roku and Chromecast, you’ll have to set up a virtual router from your PC or laptop.

As neither Roku nor Chromecast devices have Ethernet ports, you’ll have to do this using WiFi via the Windows Command Prompt.

Here’s how to share a VPN connection from your Windows computer to your Roku or Chromecast:

  1. Subscribe to a VPN that works well for streaming and install the Windows app: We suggest ExpressVPN.
  2. Run the Command Prompt app as administrator: Click the Search field in the taskbar and type cmd. Right-click the Command Prompt application and select Run as administrator.
  3. Create your virtual router: In the window, enter: netsh wlan set hostednetwork mode=allow ssid=NETWORKNAME key=PASSWORD . Replace NETWORKNAME with your choice of name. Replace PASSWORD with a strong alphanumeric password of your choosing.
  4. Turn on the virtual router: In Command Prompt, enter netsh wlan start hostednetwork.
  5. Find your network adapter settings: Go to Settings > Network & Internet. Under Advanced network settings, choose Change adapter options.
  6. Enable network sharing: Right-click the VPN Tap Adapter and click Properties. Tick the box next to Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection. Then, go to Home Networking Connection and select WiFi from the menu. Click Ok.
  7. Connect to a VPN server in the VPN app: Choose a server in the country that can access the World Cup streaming site you want to watch.
  8. Connect your Roku or Chromecast device to the new WiFi network.
  9. You can now access the geo-blocked World Cup content: If you want to access another World Cup streaming website, simply change the server location on your computer and restart your Roku or Chromecast device.

Why Do You Need a VPN to Watch the FIFA World Cup Online?

Here are the two main reasons you need a VPN to watch the World Cup for free:

Bypass Geo-Blocks on Free World Cup Streaming Sites

Without a VPN service, your only option for watching World Cup matches is on a local TV channel or a local online stream.

The problem is that World Cup matches are paywalled in the vast majority of countries. For example, you’ll need a $60 cable subscription with access to FOX Sports (Fox and FS1) to watch live World Cup games in the US.

World Cup matches are free to watch in eight countries. But these services use your IP address to geo-block content.

With a VPN service, you can disguise your physical location and access free World Cup sites from other countries. For example, you can change your IP address to an Australian one to access free streaming services, like SBS.

Watch Matches with Commentary in Your Preferred Language

World Cup streaming sites can only broadcast matches in the language they’ve purchased the rights for. Without a VPN, you’re forced to listen to a game’s commentary in the language of the local broadcaster.

If you’re in the US, for instance, Peacock will only let you stream the game in Spanish. To get English commentary, you’ll need an expensive cable subscription.

Using a VPN, you can connect to a country that’s broadcasting games in a specific language. For example, you can connect to a UK server and access English commentary for free using BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

EXPERT TIP: Use our World Cup streaming site comparison table to see which services are broadcasting in your preferred language.

Best VPNs for Streaming the 2022 FIFA World Cup

After evaluating 56 services, the best VPNs to stream the World Cup for free are:

  1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN Free Trial for the World Cup
  2. Windscribe – Best 100% Free VPN for the World Cup

Both VPN services unblocked free World Cup streaming sites in multiple countries, including in different languages.

You can also use them without paying either through a money-back guarantee, or a free subscription plan (with data limits, though).

When ranking the best World Cup VPNs, we looked for VPNs with the following performance characteristics:

  • Free-to-use, preferably through a 100% free subscription plan. If not, then via a free trial or money-back guarantee.
  • Bypasses geo-blocks to access every free World Cup streaming website.
  • User-friendly apps for all devices, including desktop, mobile, and digital media players.
  • Fast international download speeds to stream live matches in HD or 4K.
  • Helpful customer support to assist with setup issues or to locate compatible streaming servers.
  • Strong privacy and security protections, including AES-256 encryption and no logging to protect your private data.

To learn how we maintain an unbiased test environment, read how we evaluate and review VPN services.

The Best VPNs for the World Cup Compared

Use the table below to compare the top two VPNs for streaming the World Cup side-by-side:

ExpressVPN
Windscribe Free
No. of Free World Cup Sites Unblocked
10
4
Type of Free Access
30-day full refund
100% free
Data Cap
Unlimited bandwidth
10GB per month
International Speed (out of 100Mbps)
83Mbps
27Mbps
Smart DNS
Works with some sites
Additional cost
Router App
Yes
No

1. ExpressVPN: Best VPN Free Trial for the World Cup

Unblocks every World Cup streaming site with fast speeds; can be used free for 30 days.

Pros
Cons
  • 30-day refund period is long enough to stream every match
  • Bypasses geo-blocks of 10 World Cup streaming websites
  • Fast international connections for HD video
  • Easy to use on every device
  • Router app for Roku and Chromecast compatibility
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • Requires payment information
  • MediaStreamer doesn’t work with SBS
  • Have to remember to cancel and request a refund

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for streaming the 2022 World Cup. It unblocks all 10 World Cup streaming sites, including harder-to-access ones, like SBS and JioCinema.

With its 30-day refund period, you can use ExpressVPN’s free trial to watch every game from the tournament free of charge. Make sure to cancel your subscription, though, otherwise, you’ll be charged for ExpressVPN’s expensive subscription plans.

Using ExpressVPN to access World Cup content on BBC iPlayer

ExpressVPN streams every free FIFA World Cup streaming site.

Works with every World Cup streaming site

We tested 10 popular free and premium VPN services with the 10 best free World Cup streaming websites.

Our tests found that ExpressVPN works with more World Cup sites than any other VPN. It worked with all 10 sites we tested it with, including BBC iPlayer, Peacock, Tubi, and JioCinema.

Other top VPNs, like Private Internet Access and Surfshark, could only stream eight of these content libraries.

We’ve collected the full results of our World Cup VPN research in the table below:

VPN Service
SBS
BBC iPlayer
ITVX
RTVE Play
Tubi
Peacock
RaiPlay
TDM
RTBF Auvio
JioCinema
CyberGhost
ExpressVPN
IPVanish
NordVPN
PIA
PrivadoVPN Free
PrivateVPN
Proton VPN
Surfshark
Windscribe Free

As well as its strong World Cup performance, ExpressVPN is also our favorite VPN for bypassing MLB sports blackouts.

Fast speeds to stream in HD and 4K

When accessing geo-blocked World Cup content, ExpressVPN performed better than any other VPN. Our videos always loaded instantly and we were always able to watch content in the maximum resolution.

When using some other VPNs, like PrivateVPN and CyberGhost, our video took a long time to load and would sometimes buffer during the match.

For reference, here are the general speed requirements for streaming live video:

  • 1.5Mbps for Standard Definition (SD) quality
  • 5Mbps for High Definition (HD) quality
  • 25Mbps for 4K quality

Using our 100Mbps internet connection in London, our download speed fell slightly to 83Mbps when connecting to the US for Peacock. While connected to an Australia server for SBS, our speeds fell to 76Mbps.

In short, ExpressVPN consistently recorded speeds well above the 25Mbps threshold for 4K video.

As well, ExpressVPN doesn’t impose any bandwidth cap, nor does it throttle your connection. Using it, you can stream as many World Cup matches as you want without worrying about using up your monthly allowance.

Compatible with every device and digital media player

Using ExpressVPN, you can access World Cup streaming sites on every device. The VPN has user-friendly apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Fire TV, and Android TV.

The VPN includes a MediaStreamer tool to spoof your location on Apple TV, games consoles, and Smart TVs. Its easy-to-use router app also allows you to change your IP address on Roku and Chromecast devices.

All the other VPNs we tested, like NordVPN and CyberGhost, either didn’t include a router app, or their Smart DNS functionality failed to unblock World Cup streaming sites.

If you have any issues setting up ExpressVPN on these devices, you can use its 24/7 live chat feature. We rate ExpressVPN’s customer support team as the best around, due to its knowledgeable and helpful support team.

2. Windscribe: Best 100% Free VPN for the World Cup

Streams popular World Cup streaming sites and doesn’t require any payment information.

Pros
Cons
  • Unblocks BBC iPlayer, ITVX & other World Cup sites
  • Completely free
  • User-friendly apps
  • Strong AES-256 encryption
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • 10GB monthly data cap
  • Doesn’t work with SBS
  • Slower speeds on international connections
  • Smart DNS feature costs extra

Windscribe Free works with more World Cup websites than any other completely free VPN. Using it, we could access BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Tubi, and Peacock. Its apps are intuitive, too, making it easy to change server locations to access a different site.

The VPN doesn’t compare well to a premium VPN free trial, though. Its international download speeds are relatively slow, and it imposes a 10GB monthly data limit.

Using Windscribe to stream World Cup content on Peacock

Windscribe is 100% free and works with many World Cup sites.

100% free and doesn’t require payment details

Unlike ExpressVPN, Windscribe has a completely free subscription tier. You don’t have to provide any credit card details or personal details to use the VPN service.

You can use Windscribe in combination with a free World Cup streaming site to watch matches without paying anything upfront. You will need to sign up and provide your email address to get more than 2GB of data, though.

In our tests, Windscribe unblocked BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Peacock, and Tubi. This makes it far more effective at bypassing World Cup geo-blocks than the other 28 free VPNs we tested. For example, Proton VPN Free and Hide.me Free couldn’t access any matches.

That said, Windscribe only has free servers in 11 countries. There aren’t any servers in Australia, Spain, Italy, or Belgium, meaning you can’t access many non-English language World Cup sites.

Slower download speeds than alternatives

Windscribe Free is much slower than premium World Cup VPN services. The VPN’s download speeds are especially slow when connecting to far-away servers.

We recorded an average speed loss of 73% on a long-distance connection from the UK to the USA, compared to 21% with NordVPN and 17% with ExpressVPN.

You can see how Windscribe Free’s speeds compare with other VPN services in the table below:

VPN Service UK US Germany
Windscribe Free 49.62Mbps 27.27Mbps 61.50Mbps
ExpressVPN 93Mbps 83Mbps 94Mbps
IPVanish 84.13Mbps 53Mbps 76Mbps
NordVPN 98.11Mbps 79Mbps 88Mbps
Surfshark 84Mbps 58Mbps 72Mbps

This is also evident in the results from our automated speed test tool. As you can see in the graph below, Windscribe’s speeds are significantly slower than all the top premium VPN services when connecting to the UK from the US.

Provider speed comparison chart

Restrictive 10GB monthly data cap

The main downside to Windscribe Free is that it imposes a 10GB monthly data cap. When using it, we were only able to stream two full World Cup matches before we used up all of our allowance.

Unfortunately, all of the free VPNs with unlimited bandwidth, like Proton VPN, didn’t work with any streaming services. If Windscribe’s data limit isn’t enough, we recommend you instead take advantage of a premium VPN’s money-back guarantee.

Visit Windscribe or read our Windscribe review.

Other Popular VPNs That We Considered

We tested 56 VPN services with over 200 World Cup streaming websites. From these, ExpressVPN and Windscribe are the only two that met our strict criteria.

Here are some popular VPNs that we tested and the reason they missed out:

VPN Service Reason for Exclusion
CyberGhost
  • Doesn’t work with RTBF Auvio, JioCinema, and TDM
  • No router app
  • Smart DNS doesn’t work with World Cup streaming sites
  • Slow speeds connecting to Australia
IPVanish
  • Doesn’t work with JioCinema and TDM
  • No router app
  • No Smart DNS feature
  • Slow international speeds
  • Unintuitive app design
NordVPN
  • Doesn’t work with TDM
  • No router app
  • Smart DNS doesn’t work with World Cup streaming sites
Surfshark
  • Doesn’t work with JioCinema and TDM
  • No router app
  • No Smart DNS feature
  • Slow international speeds
Proton VPN
  • Doesn’t work with JioCinema and TDM
  • No browser extension
  • No router app
  • No Smart DNS feature
Private Internet Access (PIA)
  • Doesn’t work with RaiPlay and TDM
  • No router app
  • Smart DNS doesn’t work with World Cup streaming sites