VPNs offer features and tools to boost your video streaming performance, and some of those are particularly handy for the World Cup.

Anyone using a VPN to get around local broadcast restrictions might still encounter problems if the free World Cup streaming service they're trying to use is blocking access from the IP address that their VPN server has issued.

That can happen before you try to stream or even part way through the match itself. Either way, that's a pain and, with some VPNs, that means disconnecting from the server and then trying out a bunch of others until you identify one that works, but some VPN providers can save you the hassle.

We particularly like the technology that Norton VPN has introduced in time for the 2026 World Cup. It's called Manual IP Rotation and it allows you to ‘rotate’ your VPN’s IP address to another location within the same country, without interrupting the encrypted tunnel you’re streaming through.

Put simply, it’s a one-button solution to streaming services blocking your VPN’s IP. The idea is that you connect once and then never have your World Cup stream interrupted again.

Norton has a 60-day money-back guarantee, so even if you still find that it doesn't work for your needs, you can just get a refund. But do try it out before kick-off just in case, please.

In terms of the competition, Surfshark is our pick for the best cheap VPN service and comes with its own IP rotation system thanks its Nexus technology, which connects all of its VPN servers together in one network.

And if your streaming service has a specific server on lockdown, NordVPN’s massive network of servers could offer a working alternative.