How to Safely Watch the FIFA World Cup in 2022

Reading time: 19 min

You can watch all matches of the FIFA World Cup 2022 from your device on selected streaming services. If you live in the US, you can watch it on platforms like FOX Sports and SlingTV, and those in the UK can stream it on BBC iPlayer and ITV.

Unfortunately, if you’re outside these countries, you may have trouble streaming the World Cup due to licensing rights. With a VPN, you can technically get a US or UK IP address to stream all the matches from other countries. However, this goes against the Terms of Service of most streaming sites. I don’t encourage breaking the rules of any media platform.

ExpressVPN is the best to safely stream the FIFA World Cup with blazing-fast speeds for lag-free matches in 2022’s most important tournament. You can try ExpressVPN risk-free — if you aren’t satisfied, it’s easy to get a refund within 30 days. Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

Try ExpressVPN risk-free

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

  1. Get a reliable VPN. ExpressVPN is my top choice for FIFA because its super-fast speeds and secure servers provide reliable lag-free streaming for all FIFA games.
  2. Connect to a server. Find a server in the US or UK near you and connect to your usual paid streaming subscription. Then click “Connect.”
  3. Watch the FIFA World Cup. You can now watch without worrying about buffering interruptions ruining a single kick.

Watch the FIFA World Cup safely

Ways to Stream the FIFA World Cup Safely With a VPN

Live Streaming with Kodi

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. After that, you should download one of the best premium VPNs to watch the matches safely 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.

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

Key Features:

  • 3,000+ streaming-optimized servers in over 105 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa
  • Military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and an audited no-log policy
  • 24/7 live chat and email support, plus video tutorials
  • Easily connect up to 8 devices at the same time
  • 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans

ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol gives you the fastest speeds for the 2022 FIFA World Cup games live in UHD. I never experienced any lags and my speeds averaged 95Mbps during tests — UHD only requires 25Mbps, so with ExpressVPN you won’t miss a single historic goal.

Screenshot of ExpressVPN unblocking Sky Sports

ExpressVPN’s excellent speeds ensured buffer-free UHD streaming

Additionally, ExpressVPN has 3,000+ servers in over 105 countries. An extensive global network means if options in one location are full, there are always alternatives in other countries. Additionally, ExpressVPN has 3,000+ servers in over 105 countries. An extensive global network means if options in one location are full, there are always alternatives in other countries. My colleagues around the world tested various server locations, ExpressVPN streamed the World Cup channels safely, including:

  • 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 8 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. However, since the FIFA World Cup streams for free on BBC iPlayer and ITV, you won’t have to pay for another subscription to watch all the matches.

If you want to get ExpressVPN for the FIFA World Cup 2022, I recommend the 2-year + 4 months free plan as it’s the most affordable at $4.99 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.

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

ExpressVPN is compatible with: Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, PlayStation, Xbox, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Amazon Fire TV, smart TVs, routers, and more.

Get ExpressVPN's Black Friday Deal! You can subscribe to ExpressVPN for as low as $ 4.99 per month + get extra 4 months free with the 2-year plan (save up to 61%)! This is a limited offer so grab it now before it's gone. See more information on this offer here.

 

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

Key Features:

  • 11,670+ servers in 100+ countries, with specialized options for sports streaming
  • Military-grade 256-bit encryption and a strict no-log policy
  • Online guides, 24/7 live chat, FAQs, and a ticket support system
  • Use up to 7 connections, or install on a router to protect all devices on your network
  • 45-day money-back guarantee except for the monthly plan

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.

Screenshot of Match of the Day on BBC iPlayer while CyberGhost is connected to an optimized server in the UK
CyberGhost’s optimized server for BBC iPlayer was fast enough to replay the highlights

Although the VPN doesn’t have servers in as many locations as ExpressVPN, I found that CyberGhost has high-speed servers in 100+ 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 devices with a single subscription and if you want more, you can install CyberGhost on your router to secure all the devices on your network.

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 + 4 months plan for just $2.03 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.

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as CyberGhost VPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

CyberGhost is compatible with: Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, PlayStation, Xbox, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, Amazon Fire TV, routers, and more.

Get Black Friday Deal and Cyber Monday Deal from CyberGhost! You can subscribe to CyberGhost for as low as $2.03 per month + get an extra 4 months free with the 2-year plan (save up to 84%)! This is a limited offer so grab it now before it's gone. See more information on this offer here.

3. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Largest Network With Servers in 91+ Countries for Reliable World Cup Streams

Key Features:

  • Largest network of over 35,000 servers in 91+ countries, with networks in all 50 US states for streaming the FIFA World Cup on FOX, Hulu, and other services
  • Military-grade 256-bit encryption, MACE ad and malware blocker, and a kill switch
  • Online guides, 24/7 live chat, and email support for quick help
  • Allows unlimited simultaneous device connections
  • Fully-tested 30-day money-back guarantee

PIA has servers in 91+ countries to stream FIFA World Cup games safely, 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.

My colleagues around the world tested PIA servers 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.

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 all of them at the same time without slowing down your speeds.

PIA doesn’t work with BBC iPlayer, but it works with FOX Sports or another channel for those in the US. I 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.

You can get the most value for your money if you subscribe to PIA’s 2-year + 4 months plan. It’s $2.03 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.

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as Private Internet Access. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

PIA is compatible with: Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, PlayStation, Xbox, Amazon Fire Stick, Amazon Fire TV, routers, and more.

Get PIA's Black Friday Deal! You can subscribe to PIA for as low as 2.03$ per month + get an extra 4 months free with the 2-year plan (save up to 83%)! This is a limited offer, so grab it now before it's gone! See more information on this offer here!

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:

Country Channel Country Channel Country Channel
Argentina TyC Sports Japan Dentsu Inc. Turkey TRT
Australia SBS Netherlands NOS New Zealand Sky
Belgium RTBF, VRT Poland TVP Italy RAI
Brazil TV Globo Portugal RTP Sweden SVT, TV4
Germany ARD, ZDF, Deutsche Telekom Taiwan ELTA United Kingdom BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub

Watch FIFA World Cup with ExpressVPN

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

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

Date Time (EST) Match
Sunday, 11/20/2022 11:00am Qatar vs. Ecuador 0:2
Monday, 11/21/2022 8:00am

11:00am


2:00pm

England vs. Iran 6:2

Senegal vs. Netherlands 0:2


United States vs. Wales 1:1

Tuesday, 11/22/2022 05:00am

08:00am


11:00am


2:00pm

Argentina vs. Saudi Arabia 1:2

Denmark vs. Tunisia 0:0


Mexico vs. Poland 0:0


France vs. Australia 4:1

Wednesday, 11/23/2022 05:00am

08:00am


11:00am


2:00pm

Morocco vs. Croatia 0:0

Germany vs. Japan 1:2


Spain vs. Costa Rica 7:0


Belgium vs. Canada 1:0

Thursday, 11/24/22 05:00am

08:00am


11:00am


2:00pm

Switzerland vs. Cameroon 1:0

Uruguay vs. South Korea 0:0


Portugal vs. Ghana 3:2


Brazil vs. Serbia 2:0

Friday, 11/25/22 05:00am

08:00am


11:00am


2:00pm

Wales vs. Iran 0:2

Qatar vs. Senegal 1:3


Netherlands vs. Ecuador 1:1


England vs. United States 0:0

Saturday, 11/26/22 05:00am

08:00am


11:00am


2:00pm

Tunisia vs. Australia 0:1

Poland vs. Saudi Arabia 2:0


France vs. Denmark 2:1


Argentina vs. Mexico 2:0

Sunday, 11/27/22 05:00am

08:00am


11:00am


2:00pm

Japan vs. Costa Rica 0:1

Belgium vs. Morocco 0:2


Croatia vs. Canada 4:1


Spain vs. Germany 1:1

Monday, 11/28/22 05:00am

08:00am


11:00am


2:00pm

Cameroon vs. Serbia 3:3

South Korea vs. Ghana 2:3


Brazil vs. Switzerland 1:0


Portugal vs. Uruguay 2:0

Tuesday, 11/29/22 10:00am

10:00am


02:00pm


2:00pm

Netherlands vs. Qatar 2:0

Ecuador vs. Senegal 1:2


Wales vs. England 0:3


Iran vs. United States 0:1

Wednesday, 11/30/22 10:00am

10:00am


02:00pm


2:00pm

Tunisia vs. France 1:0

Australia vs. Denmark 1:0


Poland vs. Argentina 0:2


Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico 1:2

Thursday, 12/1/22 10:00am

10:00am


02:00pm


2:00pm

Croatia vs. Belgium 0:0

Canada vs. Morocco 1:2


Japan vs. Spain 2:1


Costa Rica vs. Germany 2:4

Friday, 12/2/22 10:00am

10:00am


02:00pm


2:00pm

South Korea vs. Portugal 2:1

Ghana vs. Uruguay 0:2


Cameroon vs. Brazil 1:0


Serbia vs. Switzerland 2:3

Saturday, 12/3/22 10:00am

2:00pm

Netherlands vs. USA 3:1

(Round of 16)


Argentina vs. Australia 2:1

(Round of 16)

Sunday, 12/4/22 10:00am

2:00pm

France vs. Poland 3:1

(Round of 16)


England vs. Senegal 3:0

(Round of 16)

Monday, 12/5/22 10:00am

2:00pm

Japan vs. Croatia 1:1 (Pen. 1:3)

(Round of 16)


Brazil vs. South Korea 4:1

(Round of 16)

Tuesday, 12/6/22 10:00am

2:00pm

Morroco vs. Spain 0:0 (Pen. 3:0)

(Round of 16)


Portugal vs. Switzerland 6:1

(Round of 16)

Friday, 12/9/22 10:00pm

2:00pm

Croatia vs. Brazil 1:1 (Pen. 4:2)

(Quarter Finals)


Netherlands vs. Argentina 2:2 (Pen. 3:4)

(Quarter Finals)

Saturday, 12/10/22 10:00am

2:00pm

Morroco vs. Portugal 1:0

(Quarter Finals)


England vs. France 1:2

(Quarter Finals)

Tuesday, 12/13/22 02:00pm Argentina vs. Croatia 3:0

(Semi Finals)

Wednesday, 12/14/22 2:00pm France vs. Morroco 2:0

(Semi Finals)

Saturday, 12/17/22 10:00am Croatia vs. Morroco 2:1

(Third-Place Match)

Sunday, 12/18/22 10:00am Argentina vs. France 3:3 (Pen. 4:2)

(2022 FIFA World Cup Final)

FAQs About Watching the FIFA World Cup 2022 Safely

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 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 safely watch on your favorite sports streaming site with a high-quality VPN. A VPN server protects you from cyber threats as you stream. That way, you don’t have to miss your team’s game during the 2022 FIFA World Cup because of a compromised device.

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 let you stream the FIFA World Cup, but you can’t vouch for their security. Even the really good free VPNs still have too many limits to be practical for streaming, such as restricted speed, data caps, and connection times that 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.

After testing CyberGhost for several weeks to watch live soccer I easily got a refund

Try CyberGhost risk-free

Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as CyberGhost VPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

Start Watching FIFA World Cup Safely 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 to watch it safely. 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 streaming the 2022 FIFA World Cup channels safely.

Its ultra-fast speeds are due to its super-efficient Lightway VPN protocol and huge network of 3,000+ servers in 105 countries. Best of all, you can get ExpressVPN to watch the 2022 FIFA World Cup safely 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

Top Ranked Top Choice
ExpressVPN
$4.99 / month Save 62%
Find Out More
CyberGhost VPN
$2.03 / month Save 84%
Find Out More
Private Internet Access
$2.03 / month Save 83%
Find Out More

Editor's Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research, and also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
Rosemary S Siluvai Anthony
Rosemary S Siluvai Anthony is a Content Writer & Editor at WizCase. She specializes in VPN, proxy servers, and private search engines. Rosemary regularly tests cybersecurity products and has written many reviews, how-to manuals, and comparisons. When she’s free, Rosemary reads about the inner workings of the products she recommends to bring clarity to others. Before joining WizCase, Rosemary was a content and copywriter in the automotive, R&D, and financial industries for 17 years. Her work in the banking sector led to a deep interest in fraud investigations and online security. If she’s not working on the next article for WizCase, Rosemary is hiking or planning her next trip. Otherwise she’s in front of the TV, succumbing to Netflix.
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