We're just a few days away from the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup, and the race to qualify is heating up. Portugal face Uzbekistan in a key Group K encounter today, and neither are coming into the game with a positive result. Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo, while Uzbekistan lost to Colombia, 3-1.

With both teams desperate for some points, the Portugal vs. Uzbekistan game promises to be an exciting clash. Here's how you can watch the game live, even without a streaming subscription.

When Is the Portugal vs. Uzbekistan World Cup Match?

The Portugal vs. Uzbekistan game kicks off at 1:00 p.m. ET on June 23 at Houston Stadium.

Portugal is likely to make some changes to their playing XI after their deflating draw, but a lot will still rely on captain Cristiano Ronaldo and the midfield trio of Vitinha, João Neves, and Bruno Fernandes. The team faced harsh criticism after their first game, and a win today would elevate their confidence. They'd surely also like to avoid a do-or-die situation against Colombia in their final group game.

Uzbekistan, on the other hand, just made their World Cup debut last week and will be eager to make a statement against the mighty Portuguese. Since they are coming off a loss, they will need a win or a draw to stay alive in the tournament.

How to Stream Portugal vs. Uzbekistan Live in the US

Today's match will air on Fox or Telemundo. If you're in the US and have a sports streaming subscription, you'll be able to watch live with services such as DirecTV, Fox One, Fubo, Peacock, Sling, YouTube TV, or others. Don't have a streaming subscription? You may be able to watch the game with a free trial.

How to Watch Portugal vs. Uzbekistan Online for Free

The Portugal vs. Uzbekistan match will air live for free across the globe on several streaming platforms, including:

These platforms are geo-locked to their respective countries, so if you want to watch for free from the US or elsewhere, a virtual private network (VPN) is your best bet. For the Portugal vs. Uzbekistan World Cup match, we recommend ExpressVPN, our top pick for location spoofing. ExpressVPN has servers across the globe, making it easy to mask your actual location, so you can access region-locked content. Plus, this year, ExpressVPN is also an official supporter of the FIFA World Cup.

Here's how you can access the Portugal vs. Uzbekistan match with a VPN using BBC iPlayer as an example:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN).
  2. Download the VPN app on your computer, phone, or preferred device.
  3. Connect to a server in the UK.
  4. Visit BBC iPlayer or ITV to start streaming.

Usually, the top VPNs that let you connect to servers in other countries aren't free. But if you already have a VPN subscription or qualify for a free trial, you may be able to use one to watch the FIFA World Cup match between Portugal and Uzbekistan at no additional cost.

2026 FIFA World Cup Timeline: Key Dates

The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 and is being co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. This year, the tournament has expanded to 48 participating nations and a total of 104 games.

The group stage runs from June 11 to June 27, and the top two teams from all 12 groups will automatically qualify for the knockout stages. Eight of the best third-place teams will also make the cut.

The knockout stage begins with the Round of 32 on June 28, and the eventual champion will have to win five knockout games, instead of the former four. The semi-finals are set to happen on July 14 and July 15. The third-place playoff is on July 18, and the all-important final is on July 19.

We'll be following the World Cup for the next month, so stay tuned for more streaming advice.

Source: PCMag.com