On Sunday, June 14, 2026, the Netherlands and Japan will meet at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in what serves as Japan's opening fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:00 PM local time, which translates to 9:00 PM BST. For viewers across dozens of countries, knowing exactly where and how to access the live broadcast - legally and reliably - is the first practical challenge of the event.
How Broadcast Rights Determine What You Can Watch
Television and streaming rights for major international competitions are sold on a territory-by-territory basis. A rights holder in one country has no obligation - and often no legal permission - to serve audiences elsewhere. This means the platform you can access depends entirely on your physical location at the time of broadcast. Free-to-air coverage in one country may sit behind a paywall in the next, and some regions have no domestic rights holder at all, leaving viewers to navigate their options independently.
In Japan, the broadcast arrangement is notably broad. The Japan Consortium has secured coverage across NHK's terrestrial, NHK+, and BS Premium 4K channels, as well as commercial networks Nippon TV and Fuji TV. Premium streaming is available via DAZN. Dutch viewers are served by public broadcaster NOS, with free-to-air transmission on NPO 1 and streaming via NOS.nl and the NPO Start app - an arrangement that reflects the Netherlands' longstanding public media commitment to major international events.
Using a VPN to Access Broadcasts From Outside Your Country
Geo-restrictions are enforced at the IP address level: streaming platforms detect your location and block access to content that falls outside their licensed territory. A Virtual Private Network, or VPN, works by routing your internet connection through a server based in another country, making you appear to be browsing from that location. The process is straightforward in practice.
- Sign up for a reputable VPN service and install the application on your device.
- Connect to a server in the country whose streaming platform you want to access.
- Open a private or incognito browser window - this prevents the platform from reading stored cookies that may reveal your actual location.
- Log in to the relevant streaming service and locate the live broadcast.
Three services stand out for reliability in this context. NordVPN supports up to ten devices simultaneously and is well regarded for consistent performance across multiple regions, starting from $3.39 per month. Surfshark places no limit on the number of connected devices and offers competitive pricing from $2.19 per month, making it a practical choice for households. ExpressVPN is widely considered the fastest option available, with 24/7 live support and a built-in sports calendar feature, priced from $6.67 per month.
One practical caveat: bypassing geographic access restrictions can conflict with the Terms of Service of certain streaming platforms. Free VPN services are not a viable alternative - they typically lack the bandwidth and unblocking capability required for high-definition live video, and many log user data, raising privacy concerns of their own.
Worldwide Broadcast Listings by Country
The following table covers confirmed rights holders across major territories. Where multiple platforms are listed, rights may be split between free-to-air and subscription services.
- 🇦🇫 Afghanistan - ATN
- 🇦🇱 Albania - TV Klan
- 🇩🇿 Algeria - beIN SPORTS Connect
- 🇦🇩 Andorra - TVE La 1, M6, beIN Sports 1, M6+
- 🇦🇷 Argentina - Telefe Argentina, DIRECTV Sports Argentina, DGO, mitelefe, Paramount+
- 🇦🇺 Australia - SBS, SBS On Demand
- 🇦🇹 Austria - ORF eins, ORF ON
- 🇧🇪 Belgium - La Une, Proximus Pickx, RTBF Auvio Direct, Sporza
- 🇧🇴 Bolivia - Red Uno, Unitel, Tigo Sports Bolivia, Disney+ Premium Chile, Entel TV
- 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina - Arena Sport
- 🇧🇷 Brazil - SporTV, Globo, Globoplay, SBT, Zapping, N Sports, Claro TV+, Sky+, CazéTV, Vivo Play
- 🇧🇬 Bulgaria - BNT
- 🇨🇦 Canada - TSN+, TSN1, CTV, RDS App, CTV App, Crave
- 🇨🇱 Chile - Chilevision, DIRECTV Sports Chile, DGO, Disney+ Premium Chile, Paramount+
- 🇨🇴 Colombia - Caracol TV, RCN Television, DIRECTV Sports Colombia, DGO, Deportes RCN En Vivo, Caracol Play, ditu, Radio Nacional de Colombia, Paramount+
- 🇨🇷 Costa Rica - Teletica Canal 7, Azteca Deportes En Vivo, TDMAX, FOX
- ðŸ‡ðŸ‡· Croatia - HRTi
- 🇨🇾 Cyprus - Sigma TV
- 🇨🇿 Czechia - ČT Sport, OnePlay
- 🇩🇰 Denmark - TV2 Denmark, TV2 Play Denmark
- 🇪🇨 Ecuador - DIRECTV Sports Ecuador, DGO, Teleamazonas, Paramount+
- 🇸🇻 El Salvador - Canal 4 El Salvador, Azteca Deportes En Vivo, Tigo Sports El Salvador, FOX
- 🇪🇪 Estonia - Go3 Extra Sports Estonia
- 🇫🇯 Fiji - FBC Sports
- 🇫🇮 Finland - MTV3, MTV Urheilu 1, MTV Katsomo
- 🇫🇷 France - M6, beIN Sports 1, M6+, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, Molotov, Free, 6play, myCANAL
- 🇩🇪 Germany - ZDF, MagentaTV
- 🇬🇹 Guatemala - TeleOnce Guatemala, Azteca Deportes En Vivo, Chapin TV, Tigo Sports Guatemala, FOX
- ðŸ‡ðŸ‡³ Honduras - Azteca Deportes En Vivo, Tigo Sports Honduras, FOX
- ðŸ‡ðŸ‡° Hong Kong - ViuTV, 616 Now Sports 4K, 618 Now Sports
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia - TVRI, Vidio, TVRI Sport
- 🇮🇷 Iran - beIN SPORTS Connect
- 🇮🇪 Ireland - RTÉ
- 🇮🇹 Italy - DAZN Italia, RAI 1, RaiPlay
- 🇯🇵 Japan - DAZN Japan, NHK, Nippon TV, Fuji TV
- 🇽🇰 Kosovo - RTK1, ArtMotion, TV Vala Kosovo Telecom
- 🇲🇴 Macau - ViuTV
- 🇲🇺 Mauritius - New World Sport App
- 🇲🇽 Mexico - Canal 5 Televisa, Azteca 7, TUDN En Vivo, Azteca Deportes En Vivo, ViX Mexico
- 🌎 Middle East and North Africa - beIN SPORTS CONNECT
- 🇳🇵 Nepal - Himalaya TV, DGO, Himalaya Sports TV
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands - NPO 1, Ziggo Go, Canal+ Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand - TVNZ 1, TVNZ+
- 🇳🇮 Nicaragua - Azteca Deportes En Vivo, Tigo Sports Nicaragua, FOX
- 🇳🇴 Norway - TV 2 Direkte, TV 2 Play
- 🇵🇦 Panama - RPC, TVN Panama, Azteca Deportes En Vivo, TVMax, Medcom GO, Tigo Sports Panama, FOX
- 🇵🇪 Peru - DIRECTV Sports Peru, DGO, Disney+ Premium Chile, Paramount+
- 🇵🇹 Portugal - Sport TV
- 🇷🇴 Romania - Antena 1, Antena Play
- 🇸🇲 San Marino - DAZN Italia, RAI 1, RaiPlay
- 🇸🇬 Singapore - Singtel TV GO, meWATCH
- 🇿🇦 South Africa - SABC 3, SABC Plus, Sporty TV App
What to Check Before Broadcast Day
Broadcast arrangements for events of this scale can shift in the weeks preceding the event - rights deals are occasionally renegotiated, and platforms sometimes add or consolidate coverage at short notice. Verifying directly with your domestic broadcaster's website closer to June 14, 2026 is the most reliable approach. If you intend to use a VPN, ensure your subscription is active and that your chosen server location corresponds to a territory with confirmed free access, to avoid encountering a paywall mid-connection. For those travelling internationally on the day, this preparation matters considerably more than it might at home.
