How to watch the World Cup for free, live stream the first whistle around the world

The biggest football tournament in the world kicks off this week, so if you're still wondering how to watch the World Cup you'll want to lock in your streamer as soon as possible. That's because there are a number of different ways to catch every game over the next few weeks, with US options split across everyone from Fox to YouTube and UK and Australian fans enjoying plenty of free options.

Not all these World Cup streamers are built the same, though. Some are vastly more expensive, others won't offer the full 4K experience - finding the right service starts well before the first whistle blows. Ultimately, it comes down to who is going to give you the best bang-for-buck value. YouTube TV wins for new subscribers there. The service is offering a 21 day free trial that can see you through a good amount of the World Cup if you time it right.

The 23rd FIFA World Cup will officially kick off on June 11, with Mexico taking on South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium. From there we launch into action across 48 teams and 16 host cities spread across the US, Canada, and Mexico. The group stages take us through to June 27, when knockouts begin with 32 teams on June 28. 16 teams will make it through and play from July 4-7, before we move into the Quarter Finals from July 9, Semi Finals from July 14, and the Final on July 19, 2026.

We're showing you how to watch the World Cup for free right here.

How to watch the World Cup free from anywhere in the world

There are a number of regions enjoying free World Cup streams this year, but if you find yourself away from home during the tournament you'll likely find yourself locked out. That's because streamers place geoblocking limits on their content, you won't be able to access your free BBC iPlayer or ITVX stream from the US, for example.

A VPN gets around this issue with ease. Simply download the software, select your home region, and load up your usual stream. You're watching as if you're sat right at home.

Free streams available in:

• UK: BBC iPlayer / ITVX
• Australia: SBS On Demand
• Ireland: RTE Player

We recommend Norton VPN for the World Cup. It's got the speeds, the range of servers, and the 60 day money back guarantee to see you through the entire event.

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How to watch the World Cup in the US for free

YouTube TV has a pretty compelling offer for anyone looking to watch the World Cup for free in the US. New subscribers can claim a 21 day free trial here, before paying a discounted $54.99/mo rate for the first three months - of course, you can cancel any time as well. That's the price for the Sports Plan that gives you access to all Fox World Cup games as well as ESPN, TNT, NFL Network, and more.

If you're shopping around, it's also worth noting that Peacock will be streaming all World Cup matches, for the first time in Dolby Vision and Atmos, taking over the Spanish-language Telemundo broadcasts. Peacock's Premium tier will net you access to these live events, with monthly costs coming in at $10.99. If you're currently a Walmart Plus member, Peacock Premium is included for free in your subscription - if you're not, 30 days is going for just $1 right now.

Fubo is your next best bet for English-language broadcasts. It carries full Fox and FS1 coverage across the $55.99/mo Sports + News package, with a five day free trial for the start of the tournament as well.

Finally we have Fox One, the broadcaster's own streaming service. You'll get access to all games in 4K for $19.99/mo, with a three day free trial available as well.

How to watch the World Cup in the UK

All World Cup games are being split across BBC and ITV, which means UK fans can watch for free both via traditional broadcasting and online at BBC iPlayer and ITVX. These matches are split fairly evenly; you'll find the first week's worth just below and the full fixtures via BBC.

If you're currently travelling, you might not have access to your usual free World Cup stream. In that situation, we'd recommend Norton VPN. The Virtual Private Network will allow you to navigate around geo-blocked content by setting your browsing location as if you were back home, leaving you free to catch up on all your BBC and ITV World Cup streams for free.

How to watch the World Cup in Canada

Canadian fans can watch every game of the World Cup via TSN, with the TSN+ streaming platform covering cord-cutters, coming in at CA$8 per month. If you're not fussed about catching every moment possible, you'll also be able to watch 45 games including the final and semi-finals, on CTV.

If you're travelling to Canada for the game, and usually benefit from free streams, you can use a VPN to get around geoblocks. We recommend Norton VPN for the job.

How to watch the World Cup in Australia

SBS On Demand has the Australian coverage of the World Cup, and it's free to boot. That's all 104 matches with full replays available if you miss the kick off, though this one's only streaming in HD.

If you're currently travelling from Australia, you can still tune into your free stream by using a VPN. This will allow you to access SBS On Demand from anywhere in the world by avoiding geoblocking limitations. Norton VPN is our go-to.

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