How to Watch AFL and NRL Overseas
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To watch AFL or NRL overseas, buy a WatchAFL or Watch NRL pass: both codes run an official streaming service for fans outside Australia. Kayo, 7plus and 9Now will not play abroad, and a VPN is a less certain workaround.
Watch AFL overseas: WatchAFL
WatchAFL is the AFL’s official international streaming service. It shows matches live and on demand to viewers outside Australia, and is not sold inside Australia.
Passes are sold by the week, month or year, with a separate finals pass. Tom’s Guide’s 2026 season guide lists them at about US$20 a week, US$39 a month and US$182 a year. Prices differ by country, so check WatchAFL’s site before you buy.
Some AFL clubs bundle a WatchAFL pass into their international memberships, which is worth a look if you were going to join anyway.
Watch NRL overseas: Watch NRL
Watch NRL is the NRL’s equivalent, covering the premiership, State of Origin and finals, outside Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Published 2026 guides list weekly, monthly and yearly pricing similar to WatchAFL’s. Check the official site for the price where you will be.
In some countries a local broadcaster carries games too. In the UK, Sky Sports shows a selection of NRL matches each week.
Why don’t Kayo, 7plus and 9Now work overseas?
Kayo, Foxtel, 7plus and 9Now hold the rights to show the footy in Australia only. They check where you are connecting from, and outside Australia they will not play. Your subscription has not been cancelled; it just does not travel.
Can a VPN keep Kayo working overseas?
Sometimes. A VPN with Australian servers makes your connection appear to come from Australia, and plenty of travelling Australians use one for services they already pay for. Know three things first:
- Terms of service. Australian streaming services say in their terms that they are for use in Australia. Using a VPN is legal, but it breaks those terms.
- It does not always work. Streaming services block VPN addresses they recognise, so a server that works this week can fail next week. Use a refund period to find out for your service.
- The official passes are built for this. Away for a few weeks? A weekly or monthly WatchAFL or Watch NRL pass is the option certain to work.
The less exciting reason to pack a VPN is hotel and airport Wi-Fi. Logging in to banking or email on networks you do not control, you want an encrypted connection, footy or not.
VPNs with Australian servers
Pick a VPN with servers in more than one Australian city, so you have a fallback if one is slow or blocked. Prices and details are read from each provider’s own site.
| VPN | Lowest monthly price | Renewal price | Money-back | Countries | Devices | Australian cities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Surfshark | A$3.49 27 months, A$94.23 upfront | – | 30 days | 100 | Unlimited | 5 Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Visit Surfshark |
2 NordVPN | A$4.79 27 months, A$129.33 upfront | A$187.08 per year | 30 days | 150 | 10 | 5 Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Black Friday deal ends soonVisit NordVPN |
3 CyberGhost | A$3.27 26 months, A$85.02 upfront | A$85.02 per year | 45 days | 100 | 7 | 3 Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney | CyberGhost review |
4 IPVanish | US$2.19 (about A$3.12) 2 years, US$52.56 upfront | – | 30 days | – | Unlimited | 5 Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Visit IPVanish |
5 ExpressVPN | US$2.99 (about A$4.27) 28 months, US$83.72 upfront | US$99.95 per year | 30 days | 113 | 10–14 | 5 Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney | Visit ExpressVPN |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
– means we do not have that detail yet. Prices shown in US$ are published in that currency; the Australian-dollar figure is approximate, converted at the European Central Bank euro reference rates for 2 Nov 2026 (US$1 = A$1.427).
Choose one whose refund period covers your trip, so you get your money back if it will not play the footy. Across the VPNs we track, refund periods run 7 to 45 days. See VPN free trials for what each provider offers.
FAQ
Can I use Kayo overseas?
Not directly. Kayo is licensed for Australia and blocks connections from other countries.
Is WatchAFL available in Australia?
No. It is for viewers outside Australia. In Australia the AFL is on Seven, Foxtel and Kayo.
How much does WatchAFL cost?
Tom’s Guide’s 2026 season guide lists about US$20 a week, US$39 a month and US$182 a year. Prices differ by country.
Can I watch State of Origin overseas?
Yes, on Watch NRL, which covers the premiership, State of Origin and finals outside Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
Is it legal to use a VPN to watch Australian TV from overseas?
Using a VPN is legal in Australia and in most countries Australians travel to. It can breach the streaming service’s terms of use, which is a matter between you and the service. More in are VPNs legal in Australia?
Sources
WatchAFL and Watch NRL pricing as reported by Tom’s Guide and Tom’s Guide’s NRL guide for the 2026 season. Checked 13 October 2026.