🗄️
Archived guide. The 2026 World Cup finished on 19 July 2026 — this page is kept as a record of how the tournament was broadcast in Japan. For current football, see how to watch football legally while travelling.
JP
PARTIAL FREE
Japan
PARTIAL FREE CONFIRMED

How the 2026 World Cup
was broadcast in Japan

DAZN all 104 paid; NHK 33 terrestrial incl all Japan games free

Where to watch in Japan

UPDATED 2026-05-05
DAZN ↗ FREE
App: NHK Plus
NHK ↗ PAID
Nippon TV PAID
Fuji TV PAID
Free matches
Some
Free streaming
NHK Plus
Coverage
PARTIAL FREE

Watching football away from Japan?

Domestic broadcasters geo-block their streams outside the country, so a subscription you pay for at home stops working the moment you travel. Our evergreen guide explains the legitimate way around it.

How to watch football legally while travelling →

Frequently asked questions

Was the 2026 World Cup free to watch in Japan?
Partly. DAZN all 104 paid; NHK 33 terrestrial incl all Japan games free DAZN carried the free coverage.
How did fans watch Japan's coverage from abroad?
Fans travelling abroad used a VPN set to a Japan server to reach their home broadcaster, since those streams are geo-blocked outside the country. The same approach still works for ongoing domestic league football — see our evergreen guide on watching football legally while travelling.
Which app streamed the World Cup in Japan?
NHK Plus was the main free streaming option in Japan. Not all 104 matches were available free.

Other countries in Asia & Pacific

Australia New Zealand South Korea China Indonesia All 78 nations →
📅 Full match schedule → 🔒 Best VPNs for the World Cup →