How to watch Belgium World Cup matches on RTBF and VRT MAX from abroad
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Belgium open their World Cup 2026 campaign against Egypt in Group G on June 15th at the Los Angeles Stadium. Group G continues against Iran at the San Francisco Bay Stadium on June 21st at 12:00 PM PT / 3:00 PM ET / 9:00 PM CEST. The group stage closes against New Zealand at the Seattle Stadium on June 26th at 8:00 PM PT / 11:00 PM ET / 5:00 AM CEST on June 27th.
RTBF Auvio (French) and VRT MAX (Dutch) both cover all 104 World Cup 2026 matches free in Belgium with a free account. Both are geo-restricted outside Belgium, but a VPN with a Belgian server unlocks either platform from anywhere so you can follow the Red Devils with the commentary you know from home. We recommend NordVPN for reliable Belgian server access and smooth HD streaming.
Where to watch Belgium at the 2026 World Cup
| Country | Streaming service | Price | Local kickoff time | Notes |
| Belgium | RTBF Auvio | Free | CEST per match | All 104 matches. French-language commentary. Free RTBF account required. Geo-blocked outside Belgium. |
| Belgium | VRT MAX | Free | CEST per match | All 104 matches. Dutch-language commentary. Free VRT account required. Geo-blocked outside Belgium. |
How to watch Belgian TV from abroad with a VPN
Belgium is one of the few countries at the 2026 World Cup with two fully free broadcasters covering all 104 matches — RTBF Auvio in French and VRT MAX in Dutch. Both require a free account and both are geo-restricted outside Belgium. French-speaking Belgian fans should use RTBF Auvio; Flemish fans should use VRT MAX. For a full breakdown of VPN providers, see our guide to the best VPNs for streaming.
- Choose a VPN. We recommend NordVPN for watching Belgian TV from abroad. It runs servers across 212 locations including Belgium, delivers 86% speed retention on the NordLynx protocol in our testing, and supports Smart DNS for smart TVs that do not have a native VPN app.
- Install the VPN app on your device. NordVPN is available on Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android, Fire TV, Android TV, and Apple TV. Download the app from your device's official app store.
- Connect to a Belgium server. Open the app, select Belgium, and connect. Brussels is typically the fastest city option. Your connection now appears to come from Belgium.
- Open your preferred Belgian broadcaster. For French commentary, go to rtbf.be/auvio and sign in to your free RTBF account. For Dutch commentary, go to vrt.be/vrtmax and sign in to your free VRT account. Register before kickoff if you do not already have an account.
- Start streaming before kickoff. Test the connection a few minutes early. If the stream does not load, switch to a different Belgium server in the NordVPN app and try again.
Belgium World Cup 2026 match schedule
Belgium are in Group G alongside Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand. The Iran fixture on June 21st is a comfortable 9:00 PM CEST evening kickoff for Belgian fans in Europe. The New Zealand group closer is a very late one — crossing midnight into 5:00 AM CEST on June 27th. Kickoff times are confirmed per FIFA's official Match Centre.
| Match | Date | Venue | PT / ET | CEST |
| Belgium vs Egypt | June 15th, 2026 | Los Angeles Stadium, Inglewood, CA | TBC | TBC |
| Belgium vs Iran | June 21st, 2026 | San Francisco Bay Stadium, Santa Clara, CA | 12:00 PM PT / 3:00 PM ET | 9:00 PM CEST |
| Belgium vs New Zealand | June 26th, 2026 | Seattle Stadium, Seattle, WA | 8:00 PM PT / 11:00 PM ET | 5:00 AM CEST, June 27th |
RTBF Auvio and VRT MAX both carry every Belgium group match and all 104 matches of the tournament through the final on July 19th, 2026.
Why you need a VPN to watch Belgian TV abroad
RTBF Auvio and VRT MAX license their World Cup streams for viewers in Belgium only. When you open either platform from an IP address outside Belgium, the service detects your location and blocks the stream, even though both are free with an account at home.
A VPN solves this by routing your connection through a Belgian server, so both platforms read a Belgian IP address and the live match loads as it would at home. This is the standard method Belgian expats and travelers use to access home broadcasts from abroad. For more on Belgian streaming options and VPN compatibility, browse our best VPNs for streaming guide for a broader comparison.
Best VPNs for watching Belgian TV from abroad
- NordVPN, best overall for Belgian TV abroad. NordVPN starts from $3.09/month on the 2-year plan and covers 212 locations worldwide, including servers in Belgium. Our Cybernews testing shows 86% NordLynx speed retention, which holds up well for HD live sports on both RTBF Auvio and VRT MAX. Smart DNS support lets you also watch on Apple TV, Roku, and smart TVs without a native VPN app. Read our full NordVPN review for more.
- Surfshark, best budget option for households. Surfshark starts from $1.99/month and includes unlimited simultaneous device connections, making it practical when several family members want to watch on different devices at the same time. Its 4,500 servers span 100 countries including Belgium, and our Cybernews testing puts WireGuard speed retention at 80%, which is reliable enough for streaming RTBF Auvio or VRT MAX from abroad. Full details are in our Surfshark review.
- IPVanish, best for unlimited connections. IPVanish starts from $2.19/month on the 2-year Essential plan and covers 3,400+ servers across 112 countries, including Belgium. Our Cybernews testing shows 92% download speed retention on WireGuard, which holds up well for HD live sports. Unlimited simultaneous connections are included on every plan, and a 7-day free trial is available on iOS and Android. See our full IPVanish review.
Frequently asked questions
Which Belgian channels broadcast the 2026 World Cup?
RTBF Auvio (rtbf.be/auvio) covers all 104 matches in French with a free RTBF account. VRT MAX (vrt.be/vrtmax) covers all 104 matches in Dutch with a free VRT account. Belgian fans can choose their broadcaster based on language preference, and both are available free.
Do I need an account to watch RTBF Auvio or VRT MAX from abroad?
Yes. Both platforms require a free account to access the live World Cup stream. Registration is free on both RTBF and VRT. Once signed in, you only need a VPN connected to a Belgian server to unblock either platform from outside Belgium.
Can I watch Belgium matches abroad without a VPN?
Belgian broadcasts are not available outside Belgium without a VPN. Alternatives include BBC iPlayer or ITVX for free English coverage in the UK, and FOX or FS1 for English-language coverage in the US. Neither carries Belgian French or Flemish Dutch commentary.
Should I use RTBF Auvio or VRT MAX?
Use RTBF Auvio if you prefer French-language commentary. Use VRT MAX if you prefer Dutch (Flemish) commentary. Both carry every match in the tournament, so either works for watching the Red Devils. The two platforms are otherwise equivalent in terms of match coverage and streaming quality.
What time does the Belgium vs New Zealand match kick off for Belgian fans?
Belgium vs New Zealand on June 26th kicks off at 8:00 PM PT / 11:00 PM ET, which is 5:00 AM CEST on June 27th for Belgian viewers following from home. It is the latest kickoff of Belgium's group stage. Both RTBF Auvio and VRT MAX make the match available on demand after broadcast.
