Live transmissions are a tricky subject. There are broadcast exclusivity rights and many other issues that might prevent someone from accessing a specific network to watch their favorite games. This is especially true during the World Cup, where countries from all over the world compete against each other.
You might also be in a foreign country during the tournament, unable to use your regular TV channels or media to watch the games freely. In this article, I’ll take a deep look at VPNs and how they can help you watch any match from the FIFA World Cup.
The issue in more detail
Without getting into complicated legal issues, suffice it to say licensed parties transmit the World Cup. It means you can’t simply get a camera and perform live streaming from the stadium, and companies that do are usually authorized for their jurisdiction only.
For instance, you can watch any games on the BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom; but if you’re abroad, it will detect that your IP is not from this country and will block you from watching. The same goes for services worldwide, such as Fox in the USA, TSN in Canada, and many others.
You may also be somewhere where no media are covering the events, or it’s not possible to use them because you’re not a resident, they’re expensive, you don’t like the local choices, or any other reasons. You might also be a native of a country with no access to outlets broadcasting the matches and unable to access websites that stream them.
In all these cases, the best way is to use a VPN to connect to any service offering World Cup matches.
What are VPNs?
The acronym VPN stands for “Virtual Private Network.” It can be summed up as follows: these are networks inside the Internet to which you can connect, masking your identity. You get a new IP address that matches the country or countries your VPN offers and lets you browse freely.
It’s also essential for online safety since it enhances your privacy by not allowing third parties to know your location and IP address. In case you’re interested, you can read a thought-provoking article about whether privacy is something important.
Back to our subject, it’s vital to notice that VPNs don’t offer soccer streaming or connect you to sports outlets that do. They only allow access to them. It’s you who should decide what website or media conglomerate is best for you and then access it via the VPN.
Types of available VPNs for the World Cup
There are VPNs of all sizes and budgets, so it pays off to do thorough research to find the best one tailored to your needs. Roughly speaking, there are two major VPN types: free and paid.
Free VPNs are an excellent way to get acquainted with how VPNs work and perform some basic browsing. However, many free VPNs finance their activities by, ironically, tracking you. Besides, they come with limited performance, such as not letting you watch live streaming of events or few country choices.
Furthermore, free VPNs are often flagged by major online platforms (they ‘know’ you’re accessing through that particular free VPN) and generally prevent access.
Paid VPNs offer enhanced features and privacy, and connections are generally more stable than free VPNs. Some allow video from different sources and have tiered price systems to suit every need.
If you’re serious about watching matches whose live streamings are data-transfer-intensive, the best choice is to get a reputable paid VPN.
What are the best VPNs for the World Cup?
Here is a list of some of the best services around. Since all free VPNs have limited streaming capabilities, they’re out of the question. I compiled this information thinking specifically about watching the World Cup. However, these are suited for many other situations too.
NordVPN
This fantastic NordVPN service offers high streaming speeds, essential for watching the 2022 World Cup matches. This VPN developed its proprietary protocol named NordLynx, which ensures nobody can break the encryption.
Aside from this, they are audited by third parties to check that they comply with a policy of not storing logs.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has server locations in 94 countries and lets you watch content from any websites worldwide, including those that stream World Cup matches and even censored ones. If you’re particularly concerned about privacy, they accept cryptocurrencies as payment.
They have apps for all operating systems, including Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, and even video game consoles and smart TVs. Whatever you use, you’ll be able to get ExpressVPN running on it.
Surfshark
This is a newer service launched in 2018. As such, Surfshark offers competitive advantages such as more features with a better price than other, more well-established VPNs. They have more than 3,000 servers worldwide and features like changing your IP twice, similar to what the Tor Network does.
It offers high-speed connections, which are essential for watching live soccer matches.
CyberGhost VPN
The name says it all, and they target users who want more privacy. CyberGhost has 7,000 servers in 91 countries, making them one of the biggest VPN service providers in the world. It’s a perfect choice to stream video since independent tests have shown it reduces only about 10% of your connection speed.
They also claim their profits come from customer subscriptions, making it clear that your data isn’t sold for profit.
Enjoy the World Cup, no matter where you are
Once you choose any VPN, simply download and install their app to get you going. You’ll find that the websites you tried to access but couldn’t are now magically available, especially for the World Cup.
This is the power of VPNs, which aim to improve connectivity across the world and protect your privacy simultaneously. It’s funny how we, as disembodied entities on the Internet, are so prone to be targeted by censorship or unable to access the same online places others do.
Indeed, there will be legislation that will adapt to current times someday. For now, the best option is to get a reliable, safe VPN and hope for the best for your team!
