4 Proven Ways to Watch the 2018 FIFA World Cup for FREE

It’s almost time for the most anticipated football event of the year – the FIFA World Cup.

But unless you’re in Russia this summer, in order to get in on the action you’ll need to live-stream the matches.

And while 80 countries have broadcasting rights to FIFA, not all of them have websites for live-streaming.

Of those that do, most cost money and will be geoblocked.

Luckily, we found four ways to watch the FIFA World Cup for free with a VPN.

We’ll also walk you through every website that will have live coverage of the FIFA World Cup, and show you everything you need to know to access the matches you want to see.

How to Watch the World Cup for FREE in 3 Simple Steps

1. Choose a VPN and sign up. (This is the fastest VPN for great streaming, this one is the cheapest, and this third one gets the job done, too.)
2. Connect to a UK server. (You need to appear as if you’re located in the UK.)
3. Go to BBC iPlayer and start watching!

That’s it. It’s so simple.

Get a World Cup VPN Now

If you want more details about the game and other free options on how to watch, read more below.

Stream FIFA in Every Country

While over 80 countries will broadcast the matches, if you don’t have a TV or cable subscription, you’ll have a harder time watching the cup.

This is where streaming websites come in handy. Here are the most recommended streaming sites from around the globe.

This way you can enjoy the action in whatever language you prefer.

You should note, however, that some of these sites cost money, and if you don’t already have a subscription, you’ll need to pay for it.

Luckily, there’s a way to watch a lot of the matches for free – once you install a VPN.

A VPN will Unblock Every Match

Although many websites will stream the FIFA World Cup, they all limit or block content to specific regions.

In order to bypass those geoblocks, you need a VPN.

With a VPN, you can change your IP address by connecting to a server in another location. On top of getting around geo-restrictions, a VPN will also encrypt your data and secure your connection online, protecting you from hackers. It’s a really useful tool, so if you want to learn more about VPNs, click here.

That said, not all VPNs will give you access to geo-restricted content. That’s because many streaming services, like Netflix, are designed to detect and block VPNs.

It’s important that you use a reliable and fast VPN for streaming. You can take a look at our most recommended VPNs here.

4 Ways to Watch FIFA for FREE

Using your VPN, you can unblock any streaming site. The list below are websites where you can watch the FIFA World Cup for free.

1. Watch from any device on BBC iPlayer

BBC is the most famous broadcaster in the United Kingdom and surrounding areas.

This year, BBC will host 33 matches that you can stream on the BBC iPlayer app. (BBC shares broadcasting rights with ITV, so the rest of the matches will be aired there.)

In addition, BBC works on nearly every device. We’re talking Xbox, Android, iPhone, Amazon Fire Stick, and more!

Here’s how to watch:

1. Connect your VPN to a server in the UK
2. Download the iPlayer app or go to BBC’s website
3. Sign in or register if you don’t already have a username
4. Click on “I have a TV license”
5. Stream the Fifa World Cup

Make sure that your VPN is connected to a UK server, or else you will not have access.

BBC iPlayer only works if you have a VPN.

If you want to watch all 64 matches live in English, we suggest watching on FOX (which requires a paid subscription). If English is not a crucial factor, you can stream the entire event for free on Russia’s Match TV.

2. Get the inside scoop with TF1

For those who want extra clips and behind-the-scenes action, TF1 is the site you need.

Although TF1 is only airing the top 28 matches, the website includes bonus clips and extra commentary on the World Cup. Just note that you might need subtitles if you don’t speak French.

Here’s how to get it:

1. Connect your VPN to a server in France
2. Go to TF1’s website
3. Click on Créer Un Compte to create an account
4. Insert your email address and create a password
5. Insert your name, a French postal code (you can use 75001 for Paris), date of birth, and gender. Click on X if you don’t want to receive promotions. Then click Terminer.
   
6. Make sure your VPN is on, otherwise you’ll get this message:
   
7. If your VPN is connected to a French server, you shouldn’t have a problem watching the World Cup.

3. Watch the most anticipated matches on RTP

RTP is Portugal’s most popular broadcasting site, and while they’re not covering every match in the FIFA World Cup, they’re covering quite a few.

If you’re not located in Portugal, you’re going to need a VPN to watch RTP.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Connect your VPN to a Portuguese server
2. Go to RTP’s website
3. On the Dashboard at the top, click on Canais Em Directo
   
4. Click on RTP1
   
5. Once you agree to their terms of service, you’ll be able to watch the match live

If you’re having any trouble, here’s a step-by-step guide with everything you need to know about accessing RTP outside Portugal.

4.  Stream every match for free with Match TV

If you want the authentic Russian experience, Match TV – one of the broadcasting companies with rights in Russia – will stream all 64 matches live. For Free.

The Russian site is a little hard to navigate, so here’s how to do it.

1. Connect your VPN to a server in Russia
2. Go to Match TV’s website
3. Click on the streaming button at the top right
   
4. Make sure you tune in at the right time to watch
5. Isn’t that simple? Match TV will stream all 64 matches, so you can watch the action as if you were there in person.

3 Other Sites to Watch and Stream Every World Cup Game

If you want to watch all 64 matches live in English or another language, you’re going to need to pay for a subscription.

If you already have a subscription to one of these sites, you can use it (and your VPN) to watch as much FIFA as you want.

1. FOX

FOX is the main US broadcaster for the FIFA World Cup this year, and it will stream all 64 matches.

FOX has the live stream option available via FOX Sports GO, but content is limited for those who are not located in the US.

In addition, FOX requires you to have an American cable provider.

The only way to get around this is to sign up for SlingTV or Hulu, which FOX considers as cable providers. (It will cost anywhere from $25 to $50 to get a subscription for the month.)

Read this to learn how to sign up for Sling TV without an American credit card.

This article shows you how to sign up for Hulu from outside of the US. (Scroll down to “How to Watch ABC Comedy with Hulu.”) Once you do that, all you need to do is enter your credentials for FOX and you’ll be set.

2. Sky Go

Another super-popular app is Sky Go. Sky owns the broadcasting rights to the World Cup in New Zealand, Germany, the Caribbean, and South America.

Sky Go will broadcast all 64 matches live. To watch every match, all you need to do is switch your VPN to a server to New Zealand, Mexico, or Germany. Then, after you download and install Sky Go’s app and pay for the service (SkyGo costs about $25 per month depending on your location), you should be able to access and stream every match live.

(These are the best VPNs for SkyGo that actually work.)

3. beIN

Previously known as Al Jazeera Sports, beIN will have full coverage and live-stream of all 64 matches in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa).

They have a special package specifically to watch the FIFA World Cup.

(Unfortunately, this costs $150, so unless you’re already subscribed, we suggest going with one of the other options.)

Once you sign up, you will need to use a VPN to connect to a server in a Middle Eastern or North African country.

6 Sites That Don’t Actually Livestream the World Cup

With so many broadcasters out there, it’s hard to figure out which ones will cover the matches and which won’t.

After a lot of research, we found which popular sites won’t have live coverage of the FIFA World Cup.

1. Eurosport

Eurosport is a wonderful website and app that covers practically any sport. However, they will not be streaming the matches live. You will, however, be able to watch replays and highlights on their website and app.

2. CBS

Contrary to what other websites say, CBS will not have a live stream of the World Cup.

If you go to their site, they even direct you to FOX’s channel.

CBS will have updates and some replays, but not a live stream.

If you still want to watch CBS from outside of the US, this article shows you how to do it.

3. ESPN

ESPN has a whole channel dedicated to soccer coverage – ESPN FC. The website has highlights and videos all about the World Cup.

While it does not seem like ESPN will show full matches, you can review the highlights of every game on their website.

4. NBC

While NBC does not have the broadcasting rights this year for the FIFA World Cup, they will still be covering some of the matches on their app.

However, without a cable subscription, you cannot access NBC’s live stream.

This is where SlingTV comes in. SlingTV is a TV provider that does not require a cable subscription, so you can use it to access NBC. However, you still have to pay for it.

This article shows you how to get a SlingTV subscription and access NBC without an American credit card.

5. Telemundo

For Spanish speakers, Telemundo is the place to catch every match of the FIFA World Cup. It’s perfect if you have a TV, but if you’re limited to your computer, it won’t help you much.

Telemundo has an app that will air all the games, but only the day after – which won’t be ideal for FIFA fans.

However, if you’re set on watching Telemundo, you can use their site with a paid subscription to Hulu. This article shows you how to sign up for Hulu from outside of the US (Scroll down to “How to Watch ABC Comedy with Hulu” for instructions.)

6. YouTube

For those that just want to watch the highlights, FIFA has its own YouTube channel.

You can catch up on replays, highlights, and some interviews, but you won’t be able to live stream from here.

You’ll Need a VPN to Access These Sites

Like we mentioned above, these sites are limited to specific regions. So, if you want to watch BBC from Germany, or Match TV from Australia, you’ll have to use a VPN.

These VPNs will ensure you get the best coverage of the FIFA World Cup from wherever you are:

Rank	Provider	Our Score	User Rating
	NordVPN NordVPN	9.8/10	Read Review	Find Out More Get Started >> Visit Site
2	ExpressVPN ExpressVPN	9.8/10	Read Review	Find Out More Get Started >> Visit Site
3	Surfshark Surfshark	9.6/10	Read Review	Find Out More Get Started >> Visit Site
4	CyberGhost VPN CyberGhost VPN	9.4/10	Read Review	Find Out More Get Started >> Visit Site
5	Private Internet Access Private Internet Access	9.2/10	Read Review	Find Out More Get Started >> Visit Site

When to Watch the First Match

The opening game – Russia vs. Saudi Arabia – takes place on June 14th.

Depending on what country you live in, the time to tune in will be different.

Here are the correct times to watch the first match.

London (BST): 4 p.m.
New York (ET): 11 a.m.
Chicago (CT): 10 a.m.
Denver (MT): 9 a.m.
Las Vegas (PT): 8 a.m.
Los Angeles (PT): 8 a.m.
Honolulu (HAST): 5 a.m.
Sydney (AET): 1 a.m. (Friday).
Tokyo (JST): 12 a.m (Friday).
Moscow (MSK): 6 p.m.
Paris (CEST): 5 p.m.

The FIFA World Cup 2018 Schedule

So you won’t miss a single match, here’s the schedule for this year’s group phase. The knockout phase, semi-finals, and finals will be updated as the Cup goes on.

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