Watch World Cup 2026 in Ireland
In Ireland, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available on RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Two and Sky Sports. RTÉ Player and Virgin Media Two stream matches at no cost.
Watch free in Ireland
RTÉ Player streams the World Cup free in Ireland. Watching from abroad, or it is geo-blocked? A VPN unlocks it from anywhere.
Irish fans benefit from strong free-to-air coverage with RTÉ holding rights to many World Cup matches and Virgin Media Two picking up additional fixtures at no cost. While Ireland doesn't share the UK's full BBC and ITV deal, the combined free offerings from RTÉ and Virgin Media make Ireland one of the better countries in Europe for free World Cup viewing.
Your Streaming Options
RTÉ Player
FREEFree Irish public broadcaster stream. No account required. RTÉ holds rights to many World Cup matches. Geo-restricted outside Ireland.
Virgin Media Two
FREEFree commercial broadcaster carrying selected World Cup matches. Available on Freeview in Ireland. Some content available on Virgin Media Player app.
Sky Sports
PAIDPaid Sky subscription or Now TV Sports pass required. Offers comprehensive coverage of all matches not on free-to-air. Available in Ireland.
Watching from outside Ireland?
BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK but is accessible from Ireland with a VPN, giving Irish fans access to all 104 matches free in English as a supplement to RTÉ's coverage.
VPN use is legal in most countries. Always check local regulations.
Did You Know?
Ireland's most memorable World Cup moment came in 1990 when Jack Charlton's side reached the quarter-finals in Italy, beating Romania on penalties. The team included many English-born players of Irish descent, sparking debate about eligibility rules that continues to this day.