The 2018 FIFA World Cup is only weeks away. It promises to be a unique spectacle. Some of the big names in world football didn’t make it past qualifiers. 2006 winners, Italy are out, as are the Netherlands, who placed 3rd in 2014. Chile and Ivory Coast get a long holiday. And the USA are out for the first time since 1990.
This leaves the door open for some of the perennial underdogs and underachievers. Countries like Belgium and Portugal, who have struggled despite having some of the best players in the world. Brazil, Argentina, and Spain will all be trying to redeem themselves after the disappointments of 2014.
Then, of course, there’s England. Expectations have never been lower, considering the disaster that was Euro 2016. Perhaps that will take the weight off some of the players. On the other hand, the worst of our press will be looking for a scapegoat the moment a pass is misplaced.
Whatever happens, you’ll want to be there for every moment. This isn’t necessarily all that easy if you don’t own a television or are travelling during the contest. With cord-cutting an option for anyone with a laptop, streaming has become the best way to watch football.
If you’re in the UK, it’s relatively easy. Simply sign up on the BBC and ITV websites. Then make sure you have a strong internet connection whenever a game is on.
However, when you’re not in the UK, you will face the problem of geoblocking. UK channels are not allowed to stream their content in other locations.
Don’t despair. Getting past the geoblock is easy enough. You simply need a good VPN and you’ll be ready to go in no time.
What is a VPN?
A virtual private network (VPN) sends your connection through an external server. It thereby masks your location and encrypts your data. VPNs are incredibly important in general, as they keep your data safer than any updated privacy policies can. They prevent hackers from getting to your private info, and keep government agencies from prying.
They have the added benefit of making it look like you’re in a different location. You can therefore make it look like you’re in the UK, even when you’re not.
Choosing a VPN
How do you go about choosing a VPN to live stream the FIFA World Cup in 2018? There are some very good options out there, but not all of them are equal. The ones that will actually get past the geoblocks are going to cost you a monthly subscription. If you only want it for the period of the World Cup itself, you’ll pay around £7 and can cancel anytime.
We recommend going for a yearly subscription. It will help you unlock content around the world, on Netflix and other streaming services, but more importantly, it will help you keep your data secure.
The good news is that you don’t need any particular tech expertise to use a VPN. All good paid services will have excellent technical help, available any time no matter where you are.
Make sure you make your choice in advance, so that you’re not left frustrated five minutes before the first ball is kicked!