The Walt Disney Co.’s ABC and ESPN are splitting English-language coverage on television. All games can be watched on the ESPN website and on the WatchESPN mobile app. Viewers will need a username and password from a participating pay TV provider such as Comcast or Dish. DirecTV is obviously not on the list.
Univision is carrying Spanish-language broadcasts and online streaming in the U.S. starting with the quarterfinals, with viewers also requiring a pay-TV password.
Outside the United States, the game is available on a variety of over-the-air and cable channels, with free or premium streaming. Legal viewing is restricted to persons in these countries. Services are often able to block outsiders based on a computer’s numeric Internet Protocol address.
Here’s what viewers outside the U.S. get:
England
All matches are free-to-air because the World Cup is designated as the “crown jewel of sport” as part of regulations that prohibit certain events from being restricted to pay-television broadcasts.
Italy
All 64 games will be available on the Sky Italia satellite service. State broadcaster Rai will broadcast 25 games on its free digital cable service, including all matches in Italy as well as other major matches.
Japan
All games can be watched free of charge on national broadcaster NHK and other channels.
Mexico
All national team matches, as well as one or two matches per day, are broadcast by Televisa and Azteca TV. Televisa also offers 30 live online matches. Only Sky satellite service provides complete coverage.
Nigeria
Some matches can be watched on Nigeria’s national broadcaster NTA and local private television stations. Many viewers turned to South African satellite television network DStv to watch the full coverage. DStv’s office in Lagos is open seven days a week and Nigerians are flocking to sign up. But frequent power outages mean people need backup generators or battery-powered radios.
(See also: How to watch FIFA World Cup 2014 live broadcast in India)
Russia
All matches will be broadcast live on the main national TV channel “Russia” with Russian commentary, but this means that many matches will be broadcast in the middle of the night Moscow time. The game will then be rebroadcast during the day. Rossiya also posts videos of goals or other highlights from previous matches on its website.
South Africa
South Africa’s national broadcaster will broadcast all 64 games live on three channels, meaning everyone can watch the games as long as they pay a TV license of US$23 per year. 19 SABC radio stations will provide commentary covering all 11 official languages ​​of South Africa.
Spain
The matches of the Spanish national team La Furia Roja are free of charge. All other games are available through premium cable channels or online for $57.
Thailand
In an effort to “return happiness to the people,” the country’s military government negotiated an agreement with event broadcaster RS ​​International Broadcasting Company to allow all games to be broadcast free of charge on the RS channel and two military channels. RS originally planned to show 22 of the 64 games for free. The Thai national team did not participate in the competition.
