Australia is one of the few countries on earth where the entire 2026 World Cup is free. SBS has exclusive rights and is carrying all 104 matches across SBS, SBS Viceland and the SBS On Demand app, at no cost beyond a free account signup.
Getting set up
- Create a free SBS On Demand account with an email address and an Australian postcode.
- Install the app. It runs on smart TVs, Apple TV, Fire TV, Chromecast, consoles, iOS and Android.
- Find the match in the Live section. Matches also replay on demand shortly after the final whistle, which matters a lot given the kickoff times.
About those kickoff times
The tournament is in North America, so Australian fans are in for some rough mornings. Most group games kick off between 2am and 12pm AEST. The final on July 19 lands at roughly 5am AEST on Monday July 20 local time. The on demand replays are the sanity saver here, just stay off social media until you have watched.
Watching SBS On Demand from outside Australia
SBS On Demand is geo restricted to Australian IP addresses. Australians travelling through Europe or Asia during the tournament hit a block screen the moment they open the app abroad.
A VPN with Australian servers solves it. Connect to a Sydney or Melbourne server before opening the app and SBS treats you as a local. SBS's terms limit the service to viewers in Australia, so the usual grey zone caveat applies. The providers that handled SBS reliably in our testing are ranked in our best VPN guide, and the setup walkthrough covers it in five steps.
Short on time?
NordVPN is the service we have tested most for World Cup streams. It unblocks BBC iPlayer, ITVX and SBS On Demand reliably, and the 30 day money back guarantee covers the whole group stage.
Check NordVPN's current dealFrequently asked questions
Is every World Cup 2026 match free in Australia?
Yes. SBS has exclusive rights and streams all 104 matches free on SBS On Demand.
What time are World Cup matches in Australia?
Most matches kick off between 2am and 12pm AEST because the tournament is in North America. SBS On Demand offers full replays.
Can I watch SBS On Demand overseas?
Not directly, it is geo blocked outside Australia. Travellers commonly use a VPN with Australian servers, though this falls outside SBS's terms of service.