The 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway, and if you're hoping to watch as many matches as possible while spending as little money as possible, you've got options. A handful of streaming services offer free trials that can cover you for a few days — and if you get creative by combining offers, you might make it through a big chunk of the tournament before paying a cent.
Most of these free trials require you to be a new subscriber. That said, you might be able to sign up with a different email address than one you've used before.
FuboTV: five-day trial, all matches
Every FuboTV plan can stream all World Cup matches, and each plan comes with a five-day free trial for new members. After the trial, the least expensive plan runs $9.99 for the first month, then $19.99 per month after that.
Here's the smart play: paying for just one month after the trial period ends should cover you through all — or at least most — of the way to the finals. For anyone who wants to watch every single match, this is likely the cheapest route.
There's also a bonus for some shoppers. My Best Buy Plus and Total members can claim an extended 30-day free trial, as long as they're new to FuboTV. That's nearly a full month of matches at no cost, which on its own would cover a serious portion of the tournament.
Peacock: a trial through Amazon
Peacock is another piece of the puzzle. There's a Peacock Premium Plus trial offer available if you sign up using your Amazon account. Stacking a Peacock trial alongside a FuboTV trial is exactly the kind of combination that lets budget-conscious fans keep watching without committing to a long-term subscription.
The free-trial strategy
The trick to watching the World Cup on the cheap is sequencing. Start with one service's free trial, then roll into another as the first one expires. If you line up a FuboTV trial, a Best Buy–extended trial, and a Peacock trial, you can cover a remarkable number of match days before any money changes hands.
Eventually, most fans will probably want to pony up for at least one month of a paid plan to catch the knockout rounds and the final. But even then, a single $9.99 or $19.99 month is a small price for the climax of the tournament.
A quick reality check
Free trials almost always renew into paid subscriptions automatically, so set a reminder to cancel before you're charged if you don't intend to keep the service. Read the fine print on each offer, too — "new subscriber" requirements and trial lengths can change, and what's available today may shift as the tournament rolls on.
With a little planning, though, the world's biggest soccer event is well within reach for fans who'd rather not sign up for yet another permanent monthly bill.
Source: The Verge (theverge.com)
