With the world enveloped by the current pandemic, it is a relief that football fans across the globe can now look forward to the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2022 this November. As you prepare yourself for this momentous event, the first thing in mind would be where to watch the World Cup matches online.
Here are some of the best sites for you to grab your World Cup 2022 fixes – along with a guide on how to access the services;
1. Zattoo
Zattoo was initially established in 2005 for World Cup streaming in time for the World Cup 2006, hosted by Germany. They expanded and reached a million users in Europe in 2007, which is noteworthy. Zattoo, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, is an online platform, streaming TV channels and video-on-demand (VODs) to multiple devices.
Watching World Cup Qualifier games on Zattoo is a breeze. The quality of the streaming is pretty decent, although, at times, it can be less than satisfactory, especially when you watch on full-screen. That said, many factors come into play regarding streaming quality. The interface is straightforward to use.
You can catch your favorite TV channels for free and access 121 channels via mobile devices, but you only have 30 hours of big-screen streaming time. So, if you want unlimited big-screen streaming time, you must go for the higher plans.
If you like to catch up with the World Cup 2022 games live, you can start on their 30-day free trial. After all, the World Cup games that begin in November will complete within a month.
2. FuboTV
FuboTV was founded in 2015 and is in New York, USA. They focus mainly on streaming sports channels but expanded their services to include entertainment and news in 2017. They are rather pricey, but they make up for this with lots of content that suit all ages.
FuboTV sports a sleek and clean interface that is compact. Most of their content is available in HD quality (720p), but depending on the program, you can get it at 1080p. The 4K quality is only limited to the selected few. Overall, the streaming is smooth and is a plus point. The media player with the playback controls is standard and satisfactory.
FuboTV caters mainly to a US audience. However, they have some customers in Canada and Spain, although their plans are limited. FuboTV's plan is at $64.99/month, and you get all the goodies, more than 100 live sports, and TV channels, which include 4K resolution.
You can check out their seven days free trial to get a feel of this service. The good news is that there is no contract, so you can cancel anytime. To watch World Cup streaming on FuboTV, you must subscribe to their service.
3. SlingTV
Established in 2015, Sling TV is based in Colorado, the US. They are a streaming TV service that offers you lots of sports channels. That said, they lack local channels. Since Sling TV is only available in the US, you will need a VPN when accessing it from anywhere outside of the US.
The interface looks cramped, featuring a dark and modular scheme. Many find their interface to be lackluster as compared to others. The playback is standard, and most of their live streams are in 720p. The 4K resolution is still not popularly supported. A free option gives you over 5,000 shows without any registration required.
Of course, the free plan will be ad-supported; the content is restricted to a few live channels and the shows/movies tend to be older. If you want more, feel free to explore the Sling TV Plans, which are quite mind-boggling.
Sling TV provides various channel packages, including sports packages, which may include channels broadcasting the World Cup. To watch World Cup streaming or any other sporting event on Sling TV, subscribe to their service and select a package with relevant sports channels.
For you sports fans, if you opt for the Sling Orange plan, you will not get Fox Sports, although you will have ESPN. And, if you go for the Sling Blue plan, you get Fox Sports, but you will not be able to enjoy ESPN; this forces you to subscribe to both plans at $50/month. That said, Sling TV is cheaper than FuboTV.
4. YouTube TV
YouTube TV was launched in 2017, and four years later, YouTube TV has garnered more than 3 million subscribers in 2021. They are a subscription streaming service that allows you to enjoy live TV from popular cable networks. You can also watch local and national content that includes live sports, news, and shows.
Perhaps, the only one with unlimited cloud DVR storage space where you can record your favorites and watch them later, anytime you want. At $64.99/month, you also get six accounts per household and can record from over 85 channels in the US.
To get the most accurate and up-to-date information on YouTube TV's current offerings and the availability of World Cup streaming, I recommend visiting the official YouTube TV website or contacting their customer support. They can provide detailed information about their channel lineup, subscription packages, and any specific sports events that may be included in their service.
You can include their 4K Plus add-on, or if you're passionate about sports, check out their Sports Plus add-on. There's no contract for YouTube TV, so you can cancel anytime.
5. BBC iPlayer
You can watch this year's FIFA World Cup streaming on the BBC iPlayer. It's a free online streaming service with a small catch. The service is open only to residents of the UK. However, you can easily bypass this restriction with a VPN.
BBC typically has broadcasting rights for major sporting events, including the World Cup, and offers live streaming and on-demand content for viewers within the UK. However, access to BBC iPlayer may be restricted outside of the UK due to broadcasting rights agreements and regional limitations.
Besides a VPN, you also need a UK postal code, which can easily be randomly obtained online. Streaming on the BBC iPlayer has always been a smooth experience, even with a VPN. Watching the World Cup should offer a similar experience.
Watch World Cup Streaming on These Free TV Channels
Aside from the channels above, you can also watch FIFA matches free. Many TV channels around the world have streaming rights for FIFA 2022. However, access to these channels is often geo-restricted. Unless you're using a VPN, you won't be able to access the channels for those countries.
Examples include:
- BBC iPlayer (UK)
- rTVE (Spain)
- SBS On Demand (Australia)
- RTE (Ireland)
- Bell Media (Canada)
- Sky go (New Zealand)
- rtbf (Belgium)
- VARD (Germany)
and more.
Here's how to resolve those geo-blocks with a VPN;
Step 1. Purchase a NordVPN Plan
NordVPN's three subscription plans differ in pricing by the duration of your commitment. Feel free to explore any plans, as they all come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Step 2. Download and Install NordVPN App
NordVPN supports almost any platform, such as Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, macOS, Smart TVs, Playstation, and many others. They also have a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Download the NordVPN app of your chosen platform. Proceed to installation. Follow through with the simple onscreen instructions.
Step 3. Run NordVPN and Login
Upon signing up successfully with NordVPN, you will receive your login credentials via your email. You should change your password and remember your new login credentials. Launch NordVPN. Then key in your login details.
Step 4. Connect to the Region Where the Streaming Site Allows Access
Once you have logged in successfully, a list of servers in the respective countries with recently connected ones will show. You can connect to “United States” (assuming the site allows access from the US).
Step 5. Launch the Streaming Site
Upon successfully connecting to a NordVPN US server, you can try accessing your chosen streaming site again. Congratulations, you are in!
World Cup 2022 Qatar
After the break of another four years, FIFA World Cup is ready to delight football fans once again. The 22nd FIFA World Cup will be held in Qatar from 21st November to 17th December. Qatar being the host is a notable feat for various reasons.
This will be the second World Cup hosted in the EMEA region after South Korea and Japan in 2002 and the first World Cup to be hosted in the Middle East. Also, this is the first time the games are to be at the end of the year – mainly due to Qatar’s hot weather.
Qualifier games started in June 2019 and FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will involve 32 teams. Of note is that the 2026 World Cup will involve 48 teams instead. Being the host nation, Qatar automatically qualifies along with the reigning World Cup champions France.
Latest World Cup 2022 Updates
If you want to keep abreast of what has been happening in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 world, here are some of the latest highlights;
Russian team banned by FIFA – FIFA was facing increasing pressure to exclude Russia from the World Cup 2022, following the invasion of Ukraine. Poland had refused to play with Russia during the upcoming 24th March qualifier play-off semi-finals. England, Scotland, and Wales followed suit.
On 28th February, FIFA officially announced that all Russian teams and clubs are suspended indefinitely from participation in FIFA and UEFA competitions.
15 Teams qualify for FIFA Qatar 2022 – A total of 15 teams have qualified for the Qatar World Cup – Qatar, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Iran, The Netherlands, Serbia, South Korea, Spain, and Switzerland. The World Cup draw will be on 1st April in Doha, Qatar.
Christian Eriksen targets return for 2022 World Cup – Denmark's midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest while playing in the Euro 2020 match. He had to undergo surgery with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) device. As such, his contract was terminated. He has since been training hard in the hopes of returning to play for Denmark in the Qatar World Cup.
Ukraine football team will play in Qatar 2022 – Despite the Ukrainian Government shutting down football for a month due to martial law imposed on the nation, Ukrainian coach Oleksandr Petrakov insists that Ukraine’s March World Cup play-off game in Scotland will proceed as planned. He believed that his country would be victorious over Russia by then.
World Cup 2022 Match Schedules
Groupings have been fixed for FIFA World Cup 2022. This year's schedule follows the recent format of 32 teams in the Group matches that will narrow the field down to 16 teams. Despite the broad field, there are several hot matches in many of the groups.
Group A Matches
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 21 Nov 2022 | Senegal vs. Netherlands |
| 21 Nov 2022 | Qatar vs. Ecuador |
| 25 Nov 2022 | Qatar vs. Senegal |
| 25 Nov 2022 | Netherlands vs. Ecuador |
| 29 Nov 2022 | Netherlands vs. Qatar |
| 29 Nov 2022 | Ecuador vs. Senega |
Group B Matches
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 21 Nov 2022 | England vs. Iran |
| 21 Nov 2022 | USA vs. Wales |
| 25 Nov 2022 | Wales vs. Iran |
| 25 Nov 2022 | England vs. USA |
| 29 Nov 2022 | Wales vs. England |
| 29 Nov 2022 | Iran vs. USA |
Group C Matches
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 22 Nov 2022 | Argentina vs. S. Arabia |
| 22 Nov 2022 | Mexico vs. Poland |
| 26 Nov 2022 | Poland vs. S. Arabia |
| 26 Nov 2022 | Argentina vs. Mexico |
| 30 Nov 2022 | Poland vs. Argentina |
| 30 Nov 2022 | S. Arabia vs. Mexico |
Group D Matches
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 22 Nov 2022 | Denmark vs. Tunisia |
| 22 Nov 2022 | France vs. Australia |
| 26 Nov 2022 | Tunisia vs. Australia |
| 26 Nov 2022 | France vs. Denmark |
| 30 Nov 2022 | Tunisia vs. France |
| 30 Nov 2022 | Australia vs. Denmark |
Group E Matches
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 23 Nov 2022 | Germany vs. Japan |
| 23 Nov 2022 | Spain vs. Costa Rica |
| 27 Nov 2022 | Japan vs. Costa Rica |
| 27 Nov 2022 | Spain vs. Germany |
| 1 Dec 2022 | Japan vs. Spain |
| 1 Dec 2022 | Costa Rica vs. Germany |
Group F Matches
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 23 Nov 2022 | Morocco vs. Croatia |
| 23 Nov 2022 | Belgium vs. Canada |
| 27 Nov 2022 | Belgium vs. Morocco |
| 27 Nov 2022 | Croatia vs. Canada |
| 1 Dec 2022 | Croatia vs. Belgium |
| 1 Dec 2022 | Canada vs. Morocco |
Group G Matches
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 24 Nov 2022 | Switzerland vs. Cameroon |
| 24 Nov 2022 | Brazil vs. Serbia |
| 28 Nov 2022 | Cameroon vs. Serbia |
| 28 Nov 2022 | Brazil vs. Switzerland |
| 2 Dec 2022 | Cameroon vs. Brazil |
| 2 Dec 2022 | Serbia vs. Switzerland |
Group H Matches
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| 24 Nov 2022 | Uruguay vs. South Korea |
| 24 Nov 2022 | Portugal vs. Ghana |
| 28 Nov 2022 | South Korea vs. Ghana |
| 28 Nov 2022 | Portugal vs. Uruguay |
| 2 Dec 2022 | South Korea vs. Portugal |
| 2 Dec 2022 | Ghana vs. Uruguay |
Final Thoughts on World Cup 2022 Online
There are several streaming sites that you can explore in the hope of quenching that thirst of yours for World Cup matches. Unfortunately, most of them are not free, so you’ll have to fork out some money to cheer for your football heroes.
That said, they are still cheaper than cable TV. If you choose a streaming site, please do not forget to use a reliable VPN to overcome any geo-blocking to protect your information and anonymity.
