We may earn affiliate commissions for the recommended products. Learn more.

How to watch USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: live stream the World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match on July 1st


United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina meet in a win-or-go-home Round of 32 knockout match at the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Wednesday, July 1st at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The co-hosts enter with home support and momentum after topping their group, while Bosnia and Herzegovina secured third place in Group B to advance to the knockout stage. Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Timothy Weah lead the American attack, while Bosnia will rely on disciplined defending and counter-attacking pace in their first-ever World Cup knockout appearance.

All 104 FIFA World Cup 2026 matches are free with a VPN

Every match streams live and free in English on BBC iPlayer and ITVX in the UK and on SBS On Demand in Australia. These broadcasters geo-block streams outside their home country, so you need a VPN to watch from abroad. We recommend NordVPN for reliable unblocking, fast HD streaming, and broad device support across all three broadcasters.

The match kicks off at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Wednesday, July 1st, 2026 at 5:00 PM PDT / 8:00 PM ET / 1:00 AM BST (July 2nd) / 2:00 AM CEST (July 2nd). Fans can watch for free on ITVX in the UK or SBS On Demand in Australia, both requiring a VPN if you're streaming from outside those countries.

Where to watch USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

Below is a complete overview of where to watch the match and when it starts in your time zone.

CountryStreaming ServicePriceLocal kickoff timeNotes
United StatesFox Sports / TelemundoFrom $45.99/month (Sling Blue) / Free (OTA with antenna)5:00 PM PDT / 8:00 PM ETFox Sports via cable or vMVPD (Fubo, Sling, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV); Telemundo free over-the-air with antenna or via cable login
United StatesTubiFree5:00 PM PDT / 8:00 PM ETFree VOD replay available 30 minutes after live broadcast; not live
Bosnia and HerzegovinaArena SportPaid2:00 AM CEST (July 2nd)Paid subscription required; all tournament matches
United KingdomITVXFree1:00 AM BST (July 2nd)Free with ITVX account; ITV carries this match per Dec 10 2025 rights split
AustraliaSBS On DemandFree10:00 AM AEST (July 2nd)Free with SBS account; all 104 matches in English
CanadaCTV / TSNFree (CTV) / From CA$19.99/month (TSN)8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PTCTV free for select matches; TSN paid for full coverage

How to use a VPN to watch the World Cup 2026 for free

Supporting image FIFA World Cup 2026
  1. Choose a reliable VPN with servers in the UK or Australia. We recommend NordVPN for reliable unblocking, fast HD streaming, and broad device support.
  2. Download and install the VPN app on your device (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, or smart TV).
  3. Connect to a UK server for ITVX or an Australian server for SBS On Demand.
  4. Go to ITVX or SBS On Demand and create a free account.
  5. Start streaming USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina for free
Cybernews pro tip

BBC iPlayer asks for a UK postcode during account signup. Any valid UK postcode works — try SW1A 1AA (the postal code for Buckingham Palace) or EC1A 1BB (the City of London). The broadcaster does not verify the address beyond checking the format.

world cup apolosign deal

Why you need a VPN to watch USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

FIFA licenses World Cup rights country by country, so free broadcasters like ITVX and SBS On Demand block streams from outside their home country. If you try to access the stream from abroad, you'll see an error message.

SBS blocked message
SBS On Demand error message

A VPN changes your virtual location so the broadcaster recognizes you as in-region, unlocking the free stream. This also helps travelers and expats keep access to their paid home broadcaster (Fox Sports, TSN, beIN, DAZN) while abroad – see our best VPNs for streaming guide for recommendations.

watching world cup sbs on demand
World Cup 2026 streaming hub on SBS on demand with NordVPN

How to watch USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina free with a VPN: detailed guide

Step 1. Choose a VPN with servers in the UK or Australia

Choose a reliable VPN with strong UK and Australian server coverage for unblocking ITVX and SBS On Demand. We recommend NordVPN for the World Cup – it starts from $3.49/month on the 2-year plan, operates thousand of servers across 224 locations (including 440+ UK servers and 190+ Australian servers), and delivers 86% speed retention with the NordLynx protocol for buffer-free HD streaming. NordVPN reliably unblocks BBC iPlayer, ITVX, SBS On Demand, and other World Cup broadcasters, and its Smart DNS feature works on smart TVs without native VPN apps. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Step 2. Install the VPN app on your device

Download and install the VPN on your watching device. NordVPN supports Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, smart TVs, Fire TV, and Apple TV. For the best streaming experience on this match, we recommend using a device with a large screen and native app support, such as a laptop, smart TV, or Fire TV.

NordVPN download page

Step 3. Connect to a server in the UK or Australia

Open the VPN app and connect to a UK server to watch on ITVX, or an Australian server for SBS On Demand. This changes your IP address to appear as if you're in that country. If the stream doesn't load, disconnect and try a different server in the same country – see our guide on how to change your location with a VPN for step-by-step help.

Connected to UK server NordVPN

Step 4. Open ITVX or SBS On Demand

Visit ITVX or SBS On Demand in any browser or in the app if you're on mobile or smart TV. Both platforms require a free account. During registration, you'll be asked for a local postcode – use any valid UK or Australian postcode (Google one if needed). Using a private window or clearing cookies can help if the site detects a previous location.

Step 5. Find the USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina match and start streaming

Once logged in, navigate to the World Cup section or search for the USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina match. The stream goes live at kickoff on July 1st. Keep the VPN active throughout the match. If you experience buffering, try switching to a different server, restarting the app, or clearing your browser cache.

How to watch USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina on different devices

Not every streaming service runs on every device, and VPN availability also varies by platform. The table below shows exactly what works where so you can pick the easiest setup for your screen.

DeviceITVXSBS On DemandFox SportsNordVPNHow to use VPN
Web browser (desktop)WebWebWebYesNative app
Web browser (mobile)WebWebWebYesNative app
iPhone / iPadAppAppAppYesNative app
Android phone / tabletAppAppAppYesNative app
Android TV / Google TVAppAppAppYesNative app
Amazon Fire TVAppAppAppYesNative app
Apple TVAppAppAppYesNative app
Samsung TV (Tizen)WebWebWebNoSmart DNS or router
LG TV (webOS)WebWebWebNoSmart DNS or router
RokuWebNoWebNoRouter or Smart DNS
Chromecast (older)CastCastCastNoCast from VPN device
PlayStationNoNoAppNoRouter
XboxNoNoAppNoRouter

The web browser is the easiest path on any device. No app install, no app store region issues. Just connect the VPN and open the broadcaster's site. Devices without a native VPN app (Samsung TV, LG TV, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox) need either a router-level VPN setup or the provider's Smart DNS feature – NordVPN and Surfshark both support Smart DNS. On iPhone and Apple TV, a VPN changes the IP but does not change the App Store country. If the broadcaster's app is region-locked at the store level, use the web browser instead or set up an Apple ID for that country. On Android and Fire TV, APK sideloading from the broadcaster's official site is an option when the app is not in the local store.

USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: match preview

Head-to-head

The United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina have met four times, all in international friendlies. The USMNT claimed a memorable 4-3 victory in Sarajevo in August 2013, with Jozy Altidore scoring all four American goals. Bosnia responded with a 2-1 win in California in January 2018, before the sides drew 0-0 later that year. Their most recent meeting came in December 2021, when the United States earned a 1-0 victory in Los Angeles. This will be the first competitive match between the two nations and Bosnia and Herzegovina's first-ever World Cup knockout fixture.

Current form

The United States advanced to the Round of 32 after finishing first in Group D with two wins and one defeat. Mauricio Pochettino's side opened the tournament with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Paraguay before defeating Australia 2-0 to secure top spot with a game to spare. The Americans then rotated their squad in the final group match and suffered a 3-2 defeat to Türkiye, a result that did not affect their place atop the group. Folarin Balogun has been one of the team's standout performers, while Christian Pulisic returned from injury in the group-stage finale as the U.S. prepares for the knockout rounds.

Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams in Group B. After drawing 1-1 with Canada and losing 4-1 to Switzerland, Bosnia kept its World Cup hopes alive with a convincing 3-1 victory over Qatar. The result secured the nation's first-ever progression to the knockout rounds of a FIFA World Cup.

Team news

The USMNT enters the knockout stage with no suspensions, and key players Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Folarin Balogun are all available and expected to return to the starting lineup after squad rotation in the final group match. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino already managed player workloads during the group stage, so the United States should field a strong first-choice XI.

Bosnia and Herzegovina are expected to have most of their regular squad available, with no confirmed suspensions among their key players. Manager Sergej Barbarez is likely to rely on his experienced core as Bosnia look to upset the tournament hosts in the Round of 32.

Tournament context

This is a Round of 32 knockout match – win and advance to the Round of 16, lose and go home. The United States is co-hosting the tournament and has home support at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. The winner will face the victor of Belgium vs Senegal in the Round of 16. Bosnia and Herzegovina is making their second World Cup appearance after 2014 and their first knockout match at the tournament.

FAQ