How to Watch the FIFA World Cup 2022 Live From Anywhere

It’s frustrating when the streaming service you’re subscribed to doesn’t have broadcasting rights for the FIFA World Cup 2022. Even if it does, you could miss matches if you’re abroad on business or vacation and waste your hard-earned subscription money.

Luckily, a VPN makes it possible to watch the World Cup for free from anywhere without resorting to illegal streaming sites. These are usually infested with malware and are full of adult and gambling ads, or put trackers on your devices that violate your privacy.

ExpressVPN is the best to legally unblock the FIFA World Cup with blazing-fast speeds for lag-free matches in 2022’s most important tournament. You can buy ExpressVPN for the World Cup risk-free — if you aren’t satisfied, it’s easy to get a refund within 30 days.

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Quick Guide: 3 Easy Steps to Watch the FIFA World Cup 2022 From Anywhere

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How a VPN Helps You Watch the FIFA World Cup

You’ll need a subscription to the right cable TV or streaming service to watch the FIFA World Cup 2022 live. In the US, channels like FOX Sports and SlingTV have the rights to air the matches, but many others like ESPN and CBS don’t.

The problem is that if you’re traveling abroad, you won’t be able to watch any games even if you’re subscribed to the right service in your home country. For example, BBC iPlayer will air live matches, but it’s not accessible outside the UK — even if you sign in with your account.

This is because streaming services have licensing agreements and geoblock their content outside permitted regions. These services detect where you are by inspecting the IP address assigned to you by the internet provider, which reveals your physical location. You may also have to miss games that happen while you’re at work, since offices block URLs associated with sports and entertainment services on their networks.

A VPN allows you to connect to the internet via servers in another country, like the US. This hides your real IP address and assigns one associated with the server location. Using a server in the US causes streaming services like SlingTV to recognize a connection as local traffic. This bypasses the geoblock, restoring access to SlingTV channels like FOX Sports where 2022’s FIFA World Cup is aired.

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Ways to Stream the FIFA World Cup With a VPN

Live Streaming with Kodi via VPN

Kodi is open-source software you can install on Windows, Android, Mac, Amazon Fire TV, and other devices. By downloading Kodi add-ons for BBC iPlayer and FOX Sports, you can watch the World Cup live in the US and the UK. Outside of these countries, one of the best premium VPNs is needed to watch the matches live on these channels.

To watch the World Cup live on BBC iPlayer, you’ll need to install Kodi’s official iPlayer WWW add-on. BBC iPlayer is free to stream, but you need to create an account to access any FIFA World Cup games. Once you’ve made an account on BBC iPlayer’s website, just follow these steps:

1. Launch Kodi and click “Menu” on the navigation panel to open add-ons
2. Click the package icon on the top-left corner
3. Click the “Install from repository” option
4. Select “Kodi add-on repository”
5. Select “Video Add-ons” and click iPlayer WWW Add-on
6. Install the add-on
7. Go back to the home screen and select “Video Add-ons” from the left panel
8. Click on the iPlayer WWW Add-on and watch FIFA World Cup live

Since FOX Sports is not one of Kodi’s official add-ons, it’s especially important to use a VPN for an extra layer of security. After connecting, follow these steps to watch World Cup matches on Kodi:

1. Enable unknown sources on Kodi by selecting the gear icon on the home screen > Systems > Add-ons > Turn on unknown sources
2. Install the SlyGuy Repository with Fox Sports to Kodi by selecting the gear icon again > File manager > Add source > None > Type https://k.slyguy.xyz > Ok
3. Select Add-ons again > Install from zip file > select the repository you added and wait for the installation
4. Go back to Add-ons > Install from repository > Select the repository you installed > Video add-ons > FOX Sports > Install > Ok

Live Streaming through Xbox/PS4 with VPN

If you’re subscribed to Hulu + Live TV or YouTube TV, you’ll have access to FOX to watch the FIFA World Cup 2022 on your PS4. Once you’ve downloaded the right streaming app, log into your Hulu or YouTube TV account to watch the matches on PlayStation.

You can also watch the sport on your PS4 and PS5 via BBC iPlayer. Just follow these steps:

• PS4 — Go to “TV/Video services” and select “My Channels”. Select “BBC iPlayer” to watch the FIFA World Cup 2022 live
• PS5 — Go to “Media” and select “BBC iPlayer” from the “All Apps” section to add it to your apps library. After that, you’ll be able to access it from the home screen

If you have an Xbox, you can stream the FIFA World Cup with FOX Sports or by downloading the SlingTV app from Xbox One App Store to your console.

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The Best VPNs to Watch the FIFA World Cup 2022

1. ExpressVPN — #1 VPN With the Fastest Speeds to Watch the World Cup in 4K

Outstanding!

• Speed 10/10
• Servers 10/10
• User Experience 10/10
• Support 10/10
• Pricing 9.0/10

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Key Features:

ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol gives you the fastest speeds for 2022 FIFA World Cup games live in 4K. I never experienced any lags and my speeds averaged 95Mbps during tests — smooth 4K only requires 25Mbps, so with ExpressVPN you won’t miss a single historic goal. Even ExpressVPN’s servers over 6,500 miles away in the UK were fast enough to stream live sports without interruptions. Sky Sports didn’t buffer and ruin a perfect save.

Additionally, ExpressVPN has 3000+ servers in over 94 countries. An extensive global network means if options in one location are full, there are always alternatives in other countries. Testing various server locations, ExpressVPN unblocked World Cup channels like:

• Albania — RTSH
• Australia — SBS
• Germany — ZDF
• Ireland — RTÉ
• Norway — NRK
• Spain — Mediapro

To watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup live on a platform without a native ExpressVPN app, it takes about 10 minutes to set up MediaStreamer on PlayStation or Xbox. MediaStreamer removes encryption so it doesn’t keep your data secure, but this increases your speeds for fast-paced live games with even less chance of lag.

Testing the VPN to watch a local club match in my city, I connected ExpressVPN’s limit of 5 devices including on a PlayStation using MediaStreamer, and I had zero performance issues watching live sports. If you need help getting the FIFA World Cup to work, ExpressVPN’s live chat agents are very helpful and will take you through each step.

It’s the most expensive VPN on this list, but considering that the World Cup only happens once every 4 years, ExpressVPN is definitely worth the money. Besides, it’s usually much more expensive to stream the World Cup locally than getting ExpressVPN and tuning in via BBC iPlayer or ITV and watching all matches for free.

If you want to get ExpressVPN for the FIFA World Cup 2022, I recommend the 1-year + 3 months plan as it’s the most affordable at $6.67 per month. All subscriptions claim to have a 30-day money-back guarantee, so I tested it myself by asking for a refund via 24/7 live chat. The process went through with no questions asked, and my money was back in my account in 4 days.

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2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers for Global Sports Channels to Watch the FIFA World Cup Without Buffers

Outstanding!

• Speed 9.0/10
• Servers 10/10
• User Experience 9.0/10
• Support 10/10
• Pricing 10/10

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Key Features:

CyberGhost has optimized servers to give you bufferless 2022 FIFA World Cup matches on official channels all over the world. This includes ORF in Austria, RTBF Auvio in Belgium, TF1 in France, ZDF in Germany, and more. Tests of the optimized local server for BBC iPlayer revealed that it delivered 88Mbps download speeds — that meant zero buffers while watching the Match of the Day.

Although the VPN doesn’t have servers in as many locations as ExpressVPN, I found that CyberGhost has high-speed servers in 91+ countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. This means there’s almost always a fast server nearby for perfect live sports streams on channels airing the World Cup.

CyberGhost has native apps for all major operating systems, and it took me less than 3 minutes to install and connect on each. You can watch the World Cup on 7 platforms with a single subscription and if you want more, you can install CyberGhost on your router to secure all the devices on your network. I got a Netgear router with the VPN pre-installed so I didn’t have to do a manual setup. I liked this option, since putting CyberGhost on your router is technical and takes a while to complete.

The only downside to CyberGhost is despite lagless live sports on its optimized streaming servers, the faraway server locations are slower compared to ExpressVPN. This can result in mild buffers during games, but it doesn’t matter since you can watch the World Cup lag-free using one of the streaming-optimized servers instead. Another option is to select a standard server nearby for the best-possible speeds.

Plus, you can try CyberGhost’s affordable 2-year + 2 months plan for just $2.19 per month. It comes with one of the longest money-back guarantees of 45 days. I tested it by asking for a refund via the 24/7 live chat and got my money back in 5 days with no hassle.

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3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Largest Network With Servers in 84+ Countries for Reliable World Cup Streams

Outstanding!

• Speed 8.0/10
• Servers 10/10
• User Experience 9.0/10
• Support 10/10
• Pricing 10/10

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Key Features:

PIA has servers in 84+ countries to unblock FIFA World Cup games reliably, even during peak times when everyone is watching the game. It also has servers in all 50 states in the US to watch matches on FOX Sports, SlingTV, Peacock TV, and other channels. With so many options, you’ll never have to worry about lost connections or excessive traffic affecting a stream.

I tested PIA servers across the world and had excellent speeds on its US, Australia, Italy, and Singapore servers. Though its maximum speed of 72Mbps didn’t come close to ExpressVPN, it was fast enough to watch the top sports highlights without any slowdowns on RaiPlay in Italy.

I like that PIA has extensions for Chrome and Firefox to make it easier to watch the FIFA World Cup 2022 straight from my web browser if I’m on the move during a match. If you have multiple devices you watch games on, you can use PIA on up to 10 of them at once without slowing down your speeds.

The only issue with watching the FIFA World Cup with PIA is that it can’t always unblock BBC iPlayer. You’ll only be able to watch the tournament on FOX Sports or another channel. However, I still recommend PIA due to its enormous number of US-based servers. With reasonable prices on shorter plans, it’s also one of the best month-to-month VPNs if you just want to use it for a short time to watch the 2022 tournament.

You can get the most value for your money if you subscribe to PIA’s 2-year + 2 months plan. It’s $2.19 per month and has a 30-day money-back guarantee. I asked for a refund via email and just had to include my order number. A customer support agent replied shortly and I was reimbursed within a week.

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Streaming Services Showing the FIFA World Cup

The 2022 FIFA World Cup will take place in Qatar from 20 November – 18 December. You can watch matches live from the US on:

• FOX Sports
• FS1
• Telemundo (Spanish)
• fubo TV
• Vidgo
• SlingTV
• Peacock TV
• YouTube TV

Replays will also be available on-demand on Tubi TV. If you’re not in the US, you can watch the matches live from other countries on these channels:

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Beware of Illegal Streaming Sites

Since many streaming services require a subscription or are geo-restricted, it’s tempting to watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup on illegal sites. I don’t condone breaking the law by watching pirated or unauthorized World Cup streams. Plus, watching live football on illegal channels causes constant issues with your video and audio because:

• Low-quality broadcasts have pixelated image quality, lag from excessive traffic on steam, choppy audio, and missing commentary
• Most illegal streaming sites have annoying pop-ups and offensive ads that open new windows and collect your data when you try to close them
• Due to being illegal, these sites can disappear with no warning and leave you unable to watch the rest of the FIFA World Cup

Full FIFA World Cup 2022 Schedule

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FAQs About Watching the FIFA World Cup 2022 From Anywhere

Is it safe to watch the FIFA World Cup with a VPN?

Yes, as long as you use a top VPN for watching live World Cup matches and don’t use illegal sites with pirated streams. Even on legitimate sites, without a VPN your connection won’t be secured, which is especially dangerous if you’re traveling during the games and watching on public WiFi.

With or without a VPN, remember that illegal FIFA streaming sites aren’t safe. You could be arrested for infringing copyright, and pirate sites are filled with shady ads and malware that could be used to steal your logins or take over your device. With unreliable connections, slow speeds, and a tendency to be shut down without notice, you can’t rely on them to work. I don’t condone illegal websites, so always have a legitimate streaming subscription to watch games you have the right to view.

When will the 2022 FIFA World Cup start?

On November 20, 2022 at 12:00PM EDT, the games will begin with a match between Qatar and Ecuador, at Qatar’s Al Bayt stadium in Al Khor. Matches will run until December 18th, and all games will be hosted at various Qatari stadiums.

If you can’t attend the games in Qatar, you can watch on your favorite sports streaming site from anywhere with a high-quality VPN. A VPN server gives you rightful access to broadcasts on subscription-based sites you pay good money for. That way, you don’t have to miss your team’s game just because you’re traveling abroad during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Can I use a free VPN to watch the FIFA World Cup 2022?

No — not if you want games to be reliable, safe, and lag-free. Free VPNs might unblock a few streaming sites, but their IP addresses are constantly being banned and even the really good free VPNs still have too many limits to be practical for streaming. Restricted speed, data, and connection times will cut off important games in the middle. Other free VPNs use ads to make money, interrupting matches constantly.

Some of the worst free VPNs still have millions of downloads and high ratings in app stores despite hosting malware or selling your data in violation of their own privacy policies. It isn’t worth the risk when you can use a top VPN like CyberGhost for free by taking advantage of its 45-day money-back guarantee to watch your team play. Then just use 24/7 live chat to get a refund.

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Start Watching FIFA World Cup From Anywhere Today

This FIFA World Cup season, you don’t want to miss a single match. That’s why you need to subscribe to a streaming service that will broadcast the games and use a top VPN so you can watch from anywhere. The 2022 World Cup will air for free on many channels like BBC iPlayer and ZDF. These are better than risking your safety and privacy on illegal sites that could get you into trouble and are usually infested with malware and ads.

After testing dozens of VPNs, ExpressVPN is the best for unblocking 2022 FIFA World Cup channels from anywhere. Its ultra-fast speeds are due to its super-efficient Lightway VPN protocol and a huge network of 3000+ servers in 94 countries. Best of all, you can get ExpressVPN to watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup and if you’re not satisfied, it’s fast and easy to get a refund on your plan within 30 days.

Summary: The Best VPNs for Watching the FIFA World Cup 2022

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1.

9.8

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2.

9.6

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3.

9.4

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$2.19 / month Save 82%

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