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I found the best robot vacuums for every floor, budget, and level of laziness

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:00:43 +0000

I test new robot vacuums on a regular basis and compare them to the top performers from previous months, with all my evaluations taking place in my own home on various rugs, tile, and hardwood floors. As I test each robot vacuum and tweak its settings for optimal performance, I keep notes on its overall suction power vigor, scrubbing efficacy (if it's a robot vacuum and mop combo), pet hair pickup, the convenience of its automatic emptying and self-washing mopping pads, accuracy of smart mapping and small obstacle avoidance, and the overall user experience. But the final boss here is cost efficiency — I'll be the first one to point out when a cheap robot vacuum actually works well for the price, or when a high-end robot vacuum is actually worth the splurge or not.

Recent changes to this guide

July 2026: I added the Narwal Flow 2 as the new pick for best roller mop robot vacuum overall, bumping the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow to the best roller mop robot vacuum under $1,000. The Narwal Flow 2 has stronger suction power and more advanced AI spill detection.

March 2026: I added the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow as the best roller mop robot vacuum, replacing the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller. Though the Dreame has more powerful suction on paper, the Curv 2 Flow demonstrated better edge mopping and comparable vacuuming. I also replaced the Eufy X10 Pro Omni with the Eufy C28 and shifted it to my budget roller mop pick. The X10 Pro Omni is two years old at this point, and the new C28 offers more advanced cleaning and obstacle avoidance.

January 2026: I added the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete as the best robot vacuum right now and shifted the Aqua10 Ultra to the best roller mop robot vacuum. The Roborock Saros 10R, which was listed as the best option for corner cleaning, has been removed from the list. It costs nearly the same amount as the X60 Max Ultra Complete, which has near-identical corner mopping abilities and much stronger suction power.

December 2025: I added a disclaimer to the pick for best Roomba value in light of iRobot's bankruptcy news.

October 2025: I added the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller as the best robot vacuum right now and shifted the Roborock Saros 10R (previously named the best robot vacuum right now) to the option for best corner cleaning.

July 2025: I removed the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 robot vacuum from this guide. While it was a solid budget mopping robot vacuum for its first year or so on the market, it's now a little bit too basic compared to other newer budget robot vacuums.

How to watch Paraguay vs. France online for free

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream Paraguay vs. France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

France have looked unbeatable in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.. Now they face Paraguay for a spot in the quarter finals, a team that just knocked out Germany on penalties.

If you want to watch Paraguay vs. France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Paraguay vs. France?

Paraguay vs. France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 5 p.m. ET on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Philadelphia Stadium.

How to watch Paraguay vs. France for free

Paraguay vs. France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Paraguay vs. France for free by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit BBC iPlayer
Watch Paraguay vs. France for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Paraguay vs. France (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including the U
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Paraguay vs. France in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

How to watch Canada vs. Morocco online for free

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream Canada vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered the next round of knockout fixtures, and it all starts with Canada vs. Morocco. The co-hosts will need to do something special to knock out this talented Morocco side. The winner is likely to meet France in the next round.

If you want to watch Canada vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Canada vs. Morocco?

Canada vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Houston Stadium.

How to watch Canada vs. Morocco for free

Canada vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Canada vs. Morocco for free by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch Canada vs. Morocco for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Canada vs. Morocco (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections

Live stream Canada vs. Morocco in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

The Black Mirror Experience made me sick to my stomach

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

A virtual reality experience that asks attendees to sign over their biometric data sounds like the start of an episode of Black Mirror. But it's actually the reality of the Black Mirror Experience, now open at The Shed in New York City.

The experience guides you through the halls of Phaethon Labs, a futuristic company where you can build a digital clone of yourself called a LifeAgent. This AI clone is able to do all the unpleasant tasks you don't want to do, plus set you up for success when it comes to your life goals. All it and the Black Mirror Experience need from you are your name, your life goals, and your face and voice. You cannot participate in the experience without consenting to the use of your face and voice.

In a world where our personal data is sold and packaged on the daily, you may think, "What's one more consent form, right?" But for anyone who's seen Black Mirror, the idea of giving up your likeness is enough to raise red flags. (Or, if you're like me, it'll make you full-on queasy.) Plus, there is precedence for concern: Remember when Netflix used users' photos in billboard ads tied to "Joan is Awful"?

If you feel discomfort about giving up biometric data for a fun VR outing, staffers at the Black Mirror Experience will walk you through what the process actually entails. Your data is stored by UNIVRSE, the VR company behind the experience, for four weeks following your trip through Phaethon Labs. If you would like your data to be deleted earlier, there's an e-mail address you can reach out to. I did so, and the response to my request was speedy and helpful.

Once you get past the biometric data hurdle and strap on your VR headset, what's next? Attendees go through a "neural scan" to better understand what their LifeAgent can do for them. This involves playing mini games and telling Sigmund Freud about a recent dream. (Yes, really.) The latter sequence also involves AI-generated responses from Freud where he analyzes your response and cooks up an AI image of said dream.

Credit: Banijay Live Studios

After that, you finally meet your LifeAgent, a digital replica with your face and voice. The results brought back my nausea in full force. My LifeAgent was a postcard straight from the uncanny valley, one that prompted me to consider the AI technology behind it and how fast it has advanced over the past few years. I had signed up to have this version of me made, but we also live in a world where anyone can make AI deepfakes of anyone else, with examples ranging from viral memes to film and TV studios resurrecting deceased actors. (For its part, the Black Mirror Experience uses human performers. Karina Matas Piper voices Phaethon Labs founder Cody Winters, while James Phillips voices various characters. Elsewhere, Imanol Dieguez serves as the mocap actor.)

After the unsettling reveal of your LifeAgent, the rest of the Black Mirror Experience rings oddly hollow. Instead of truly interrogating the implications of AI deepfakes and concerns of privacy and misinformation, it launches you into a sci-fi action sequence. The VR environments here are impressive, especially a series of labyrinthine tunnels and a vast underground construction facility. However, none of this bombastic action feels in tune with the true spirit of Black Mirror, whose episodes most often build to devastating conclusions instead of rollicking shoot-outs.

The Black Mirror Experience doesn't let you sit in that dread long enough. It only briefly gestures out to the problems its AI LifeAgents could cause, ranging from alienation from simple human tasks to full-on identity theft. But then it turns around and revels in AI technology, even turning your AI-created LifeAgent into a souvenir video for you to remember this dystopian trip by. Staring at the eerie grin plastered over my AI self's face in my own souvenir video, I kept thinking of one of Black Mirror's most prescient reminders: If you give tech companies an inch, they'll take a mile.

The Black Mirror Experience is now at The Shed until Sept. 6.

How to watch Argentina vs. Scotland in the 2026 Nations Championship online for free

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Watch Argentina vs. Scotland in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Nations Championship showcases some huge matchups this weekend, and it all wraps up with Argentina vs. Scotland.

The Scots came close to securing a massive win at the 2026 Six Nations, but eventually fell just short. They'll be looking to restart the good vibes against Argentina. It's going to be a really tough game for both sides.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Argentina vs. Scotland?

Argentina vs. Scotland in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 8:10 p.m. BST on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes.

How to watch Argentina vs. Scotland for free

Argentina vs. Scotland in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream Argentina vs. Scotland in the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch Argentina vs. Scotland for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Nations Championship without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream multiple weekends before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 17 for free — heres how to claim

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro are free right now with T-Mobile. Here's how to qualify for this limited-time offer.

Credit: Apple

Apple iPhone 17

Free when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan..

Credit: Apple

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.

All we seem to hear about these days are price increases. Apple just bumped up the prices on its iPad and Mac lineups, RAM prices are about to rise nearly 50 percent, and smartphone price hikes are surely on the way.

So imagine our delight when we see that you can still score an Apple iPhone 17 for free with T-Mobile.

T-Mobile has dropped a fresh batch of free iPhone deals to beat the price increases:

Apple iPhone 17 — free when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan.
Apple iPhone 17 Pro — free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

Of course, T-Mobile isn't simply handing over these latest handsets as a favor. Instead, the retail cost of your new phone is offset by 24 consecutive monthly bill credits. Your monthly statement will show a standard charge for financing the phone, which is immediately balanced out by an equal credit to bring that charge to zero.

What's happening here is you are signing up for a 24-month commitment with the network. If you decide to cancel your service, switch to another carrier, or upgrade to the iPhone 18 before those 24 months are up, the remaining unpaid balance on the phone's retail value will become due immediately.

You will also need to cover the standard upfront taxes and a one-time $35 activation fee. But that's a small price to pay to lock in the iPhone 17 before Apple's prices bump up again.

Score the latest iPhones for free with T-Mobile.

Cancel ChatGPT and get lifetime access to Claude, Gemini, and more for $55.30 with this code

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: ChatPlayground gives you lifetime access to AI tools like Claude, GPT, and Gemini, and it’s only $55.30 for life with code JULY30.

Credit: ChatPlayground AI

ChatPlayground AI: Lifetime Subscription (Unlimited Plan)

$55.30
$619 Save $563.70

ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude all cost about $20 each per month, and they’re still annoying to use because you’re constantly switching tabs and burning through tokens trying to find the best results. If you want an easier way to work, ChatPlayground is a new platform that gives you access to 20+ major AI models like Claude and GPT, and it’s only $55.30 for a lifetime subscription (reg. $619).

ChatPlayground puts multiple AI models side by side so you can send one prompt to multiple and compare the results. The side-by-side comparison completely changes how you use AI for serious work. Instead of guessing which model handles a task best or burning through your daily limits trying to find out, you run the prompt once and choose the output that works. That matters most when you’re prompt engineering, drafting content, debugging code, or researching something where accuracy is non-negotiable.

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Beyond comparisons, the platform includes prompt engineering tools to refine and optimize prompts for better results, image and PDF chat for context-aware responses, saved conversation history for ongoing projects, and AI image generation for creative work.

The Unlimited Plan removes message limits entirely, so it’s a great fit for teams running experiments or using AI heavily throughout the day. Priority access to new models and features is included, along with priority customer support. Available to both new and existing users, with unlimited devices supported and updates included. It runs on the latest versions of Chrome, Edge, and Firefox.

Stop paying monthly for AI. Until 11:59 p.m. PT on July 5, you can get a ChatPlayground lifetime subscription on sale for $55.30 with code JULY30.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Anyone who wants to learn piano should see flowkey’s best price so far — just $56 for 5 years

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Get flowkey’s five-year Classic Plan for $55.99 with code JULY30 (reg. $899) — its lowest price ever.

Credit: Flowkey

flowkey Piano Learning App: Classic Plan (5-Year Subscription)

$55.99
$899 Save $843.01

Future and current pianists who would love some lesson flexibility without sacrificing growth, flowkey has never been cheaper, and this price is not likely to come around again in the near future.

Through July 5, you can get the flowkey Classic Plan (five-year subscription) for just $55.99 (reg. $899) with code JULY30 — the lowest price we’ve seen on this piano learning app.

If learning piano has been living on your someday list, this is a good time to move it up.

Flowkey is designed to make practicing feel approachable instead of intimidating. Whether you’re sitting at a keyboard for the first time or returning after a long break, the app guides you through each lesson at your own pace. It even listens while you play, offering instant feedback so you know when you’ve nailed a note — or when it’s time to try again.

The Classic Plan includes access to more than 1,000 classical and public-domain songs, featuring composers like Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Bach, Debussy, Liszt, and Brahms. You’ll also unlock every course and exercise, covering everything from reading sheet music and learning chords to proper hand positioning and rhythm.

Helpful tools like Wait Mode, Slow Motion, Loop, and separate hand practice make difficult sections easier to master without feeling rushed. Because your subscription works across phones, tablets, and computers, it’s easy to fit practice into your schedule.

With five years of access at the lowest price ever, this is an easy opportunity to start building those piano skills while this offer is still available.

Get a five-year subscription to the flowkey Classic Plan for a one-time $55.99 (reg. $899) through 11:59 p.m. PT on July 5 with code JULY30.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Cancel your cloud storage and get 10TB for life for $252

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Cancel your monthly cloud storage subscription and get an Internxt 10TB lifetime subscription on sale for $251.99 with code JULY30.

Credit: Internxt

Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 10TB Plan

$251.99
$2,900 Save $2,648.01

Google One’s 10TB plan runs $49.99 per month, every month, with the meter still running five and ten years from now. That’s hundreds of dollars for not that much space. Internxt takes a different approach. Instead of paying monthly, you can get a 10TB secure cloud storage lifetime subscription, and it’s even on sale now for $251.99 (reg. $2,900).

Internxt uses zero-knowledge encryption, so your files get encrypted on your own device before they ever leave it. Not even Internxt can see what files you upload. Files are also chunked into smaller encrypted pieces during transfer, so even if data were intercepted, nothing readable would come through.

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Past the standard AES-256 encryption most cloud providers use, Internxt layers in post-quantum algorithms that protect against future quantum computing threats. That means your files are already protected against threats that may come in the future.

Internxt runs across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and any modern browser, with no cap on the number of devices you can sync. Sharing also works across all of those platforms, Linux included. Because Internxt is decentralized and open source, your files aren’t locked to a proprietary system. You can export your data whenever you want, so the storage stays portable as your needs change.

The full codebase is publicly available on GitHub, has been independently audited by Securitum, and the service is fully GDPR compliant. PCWorld also gave Internxt its Editors’ Choice award.

Stop renting your cloud storage. Through July 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get a 10TB Internxt lifetime subscription on sale for only $251.99 with code JULY30.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

AdultFriendFinder review: Is the famous hookup site legit or not?

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

If you haven’t heard of AdultFriendFinder (AFF), honestly, consider yourself lucky. This online platform has seriously earned its reputation for being one of the raunchiest and spammiest "dating" sites cluttering the internet.

Sure, the name sounds wholesome and innocent enough, right? But peel back those endless paywalls, and what you find is a digital den packed with X-rated content, questionable profiles, problematic language, and aggressive marketing tactics that seem way more interested in your wallet than your actual experience. They constantly push you to spend more money on basic functions. (Oh, and did I mention it’s also visually offensive? Seriously ugly, aesthetically speaking.)

The best way to describe the AdultFriendFinder website (no app) is through its overall layout, which feels like a relic from the early 2000s internet. It's a mess of flashing banners, intrusive ads, and a user interface so poorly designed it feels intentionally built to overwhelm and confuse anyone brave enough to sign up. You know that scene in Because I Said So where Diane Keaton’s character awkwardly stumbles upon AdultFriendFinder while trying to vet dates for her daughter? Yeah, that's still the energy.

But is there anything redeemable behind the chaos? In this review, we do a deep dive into the AdultFriendFinder experience to figure out exactly how it works (or doesn't), what features it offers, and whether it actually connects people looking for hookups.

This site is for making adult "friends," not friends who are adults. Credit: Screenshot: AdultFriendFinder

What is AdultFriendFinder?

AdultFriendFinder is one of the most well-known sites for finding quick sexual encounters and literally anything else even remotely related to sex. The rowdy feed of matches makes it heaven for anyone looking for a good time with no filter — and hell for someone who wouldn't be caught dead clicking on a "There are hot singles in your area" ad.

On AFF, you can find someone to sext via messaging or video chat (and plan to get it on IRL, if that's what you're looking for), watch live streams, or join niche group chat rooms to connect with other members. You can easily view photos and videos from other members, though interacting is often locked behind a paywall. Is it worth $20-something per month? Depends on how much fishy content you're willing to overlook for a juicy sexting session.

Credit: AdultFriendFinder

AdultFriendFinder

So, who's actually on this platform? While the site used to flash huge, questionable stats like "98,897,765 hot photos" on its signup page, those crazy numbers seem to be gone now (though they may show for people who've never logged onto the site before; we couldn't get it to replicate it in incognito mode, so it's probably safe to say they're just gone). According to Similarweb's data for May 2026, AdultFriendFinder has pulled in around 9.8 million visits.

AdultFriendFinder's ranking has slipped significantly; noting a steady drop from previous years, it currently sits at 84th in the Adult category in the United States. This suggests people might be finding better alternatives elsewhere, and we're not surprised. Today, you can download kink- and poly-friendly hookup apps like Feeld and Pure, plus hookup destinations like Tinder, which have a huge user base of people ready to meet.

Specifics on the demographic that most people care about — the gender ratio — can be hard to track down. According to SimilarWeb, the audience is roughly 76.44 percent male and 23.56 percent female. This kind of imbalance is pretty common on hookup-focused sites. It means it's likely a paradise if you're a straight man, maybe hit-or-miss if you're a straight woman or LGBTQ man, and probably an actual hellscape if you're an LGBTQ woman trying to navigate it.

On the flip side, AFF does let you identify as and search for a man, woman, a couple, or trans. They've made some attempts to be a "sex-positive" site with blogs, groups, and even a "sex academy." However, their language around the LGBTQ community has historically been anything but inclusive or positive. Previously, the AFF sign-up page listed "TG/TV/TS" as the "trans" gender selection — we'll let you infer what those stand for. After reaching out to AdultFriendFinder about it, this language has improved somewhat with more gender options that are appropriately labeled, though "trans" is still a separate selection from "man" or "woman," which feels more like fetishization than inclusivity.

The sexual oreintation selection is a bit more inclusive than the "searching for" section. Credit: Screenshot: AdultFriendFinder

Is AdultFriendFinder legit?

As far as legitimacy goes, AdultFriendFinder is a real site with real users. However, the question is whether you can really find what you're looking for there, or if you'll mostly find a bunch of bots and scammers. Many users report that it feels like a scam site due to the number of fake profiles and the pressure to spend more money. Compared to other legit sites, its reputation is definitely questionable.

Because AFF is pretty spammy, it's hard to tell how many active members are actually using the site. The 1.4 Trustpilot score isn't reassuring either.

From the start, AdultFriendFinder makes it clear that it's not really aiming to build long-term relationships. The site emphasizes casual hookups and even allows for explicit content, so users know what they're getting into. But if you're looking for something more than just a one-night stand, you might want to consider other platforms.

One of the biggest turnoffs for potential users is that so many features are locked behind a paywall. While you can technically sign up for free, you can't do much beyond browse profiles or view photos from other members. Free members have very limited interaction options; you typically need to upgrade to send messages or see anything substantial. There’s also a brand-new age verification feature that won’t let you past the home page unless you verify you’re actually of age. You can either take a photo of your face to confirm your age or upload a valid photo ID that confirms your birth date. (Honestly, we’re glad they’re at least trying to protect minors from seeing anything they shouldn’t be seeing or connecting with pervy older people.)

There's brand-new age verification feature that won’t let you past the home page unless you verify you’re actually of age. Credit: Screenshot: AdultFriendFinder

How does AdultFriendFinder work?

Signing up takes like 30 seconds. Seriously, just an email, username, password, and a quick intro will do. Of course, you'll have to go through the strict new age verification process too, but it's pretty quick.

Once you're in, brace yourself for the instant notification spam; apparently, a gray silhouette is enough to attract attention here. To even think about connecting with someone real, you absolutely have to add photos and details to your profile — essentially, prove you're not just another bot contributing to the noise.

AdultFriendFinder features a personality questionnaire to personalize your profile and up your chances of finding a compatible match. Credit: Screenshot: AdultFriendFinder

After registering, there are a ton of ways to personalize your account (way more than you'd expect for a hookup site, honestly). The more you fill out, the better your chances of meeting someone (and improving your sex life). There are the basic physical appearance questions about eye and hair color, and since I identified as a woman, cup size was an option. (If you identify as a man, I'm sure you can guess what question they ask.)

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Xnxx porn for free

The site also features a Personality Type test and a "My Kinks" form where you can select whether or not you're "curious about, into, or can't live without" a certain kink (e.g., anal, bondage, role play, etc.). It also lets you choose whether you're a voyeur, the giver, or the receiver.

One weird thing about the Personality Type test is that it asks several questions about whether or not you enjoy shopping at discount stores — not really sure what that's about. It also asks whether or not "a quiet time for prayer should be allowed in school." You can choose "strongly disagree, somewhat disagree, somewhat agree, or strongly agree."

Once you finish the personality test (20 questions), you can opt to have your Personality Type show up on your profile or have it hidden. It will also show you which personality types complement yours.

Credit: Screenshot: AdultFriendFinder

Matching on AdultFriendFinder: What to expect

Here’s what you can expect when you're looking for a connection:

Like a traditional dating site, AFF throws a collage of potential matches at you, showing who's online or nearby. But any resemblance to a "traditional" site stops there.
You barely have to scroll before noticing that there's no shortage of nudity. Depending on whether you set your preferences to men, women, or both, you'll see all of that stuff up close, personal, swinging around, in action. You name it, it'll pop up.
You can try to refine your results by gender, age, location, race, sexual orientation, body type, etc., but good luck making a dent in the sheer volume of profiles (real or otherwise).
The message section looks weirdly like old Gmail. You'll get a mix of messages; some might be genuinely friendly, but expect a fair share of instant, crude ones too. It's the online dating equivalent of creeps on Tinder, but amplified.

How much does AdultFriendFinder cost?

You can do a decent amount of looking without paying (this includes browsing profiles, getting limited messages, and hitting up some chat rooms). But hit any of that "juicier hidden content" or try to actually talk to someone, and you'll smack into a paywall or the site's non-monetary currency, "points." You earn points through activity on the free version, which is kind of like playing a mini-game just to unlock basic functionality.

To really get anywhere, especially if you're a guy looking for women (as some on Reddit noted, women prefer paid members for perceived credibility), you'll need a Gold membership. The prices bounce around a bit, but generally, the longer you commit, the cheaper the monthly rate.

Here is how the current pricing breaks down:

1 month of Gold is $24.95 (billed monthly)
3 months of Gold is $20.95 per month (billed quarterly at $62.85)
12 months of Gold is $14.95 per month (billed once at $179.40)

The prices bounce around a bit, but generally, the longer you commit, the cheaper the monthly rate. Credit: Screenshot: AdultFriendFinder

The site shoves other weird add-ons at you, too. For example, there's a separate fee required just to "interact with standard members" on the platform. That costs $19.95 for one month, or $11.95 a month if you bill it quarterly. These layer-on costs, meaning the price you see for Gold might not be the actual price of a usable experience.

AdultFriendFinder also gives members the option to confirm their identity with ConfirmID. If you do this, the site promises to give you two weeks of Gold for free. The ConfirmID works by entering your legal first and last name, home address, gender, and date of birth, and uploading a copy of your driver's license, passport, or other government-issued ID.

If you spend more quality time on the site than expected, springing for a paid membership is definitely something to consider. Once you're paying, you basically become royalty on the site: Your profile will appear way higher in searches, you can use the most advanced searches, unlock profiles with private photo albums, check out video profiles, and message to your heart's content. A general rule is that increased involvement and payment on your end generally equals more success on the website, as your constant activity and heightened searchability make it easier for others to find you.

So, does AdultFriendFinder work?

Once you get past the in-your-face sexplosion of naked profile pictures, horny AIM-era profile names, and explicit videos, the big question is: Does AdultFriendFinder actually work? Like, can you realistically log on and find what you're looking for? The short answer is... maybe, but probably not as well as you'd hope. While you're there, you will have to stay on guard for window shoppers and scammers.

Let's put it this way: AFF might work if you are very open-minded, specifically looking to blow off steam with casual sex or explore niche kinks, and you're completely over the slow pace of traditional dating sites. It has a ton of activities, ranging from direct messaging, sending virtual gifts and tips, watching live videos of people in your feed, joining adult chat rooms that can get very niche, or entering photo contests.

Aside from the NSFW content, the website is relatively straightforward (albeit ugly). Every feature is advertised in big letters, notifications are displayed clearly with labels, and you don't really have to click around to find anything. This makes it super accessible for users of all ages, even those who aren't tech-savvy and can't even figure out Facebook. Buttons are all over the place, but you figure it out after messing around for a few minutes.

AdultFriendFinder is like a PornHub that you can interact with.

Think of AdultFriendFinder as the dating site version of New York City — it never sleeps. It's like that booty call who's always awake when you text them. Or at least that used to be the case... 10 years ago. What was once a hot site that a few Reddit users were quick to hype up is now one of the dating sites that Reddit users can't help but diss — in the few instances that AFF is even being discussed at all. It's notable that, on a site where online dating is such a mammoth topic of discussion, AdultFriendFinder has rarely been mentioned in a positive light since the early 2010s. The Reddit community is diverse and open-minded; if a dating site exists, someone on Reddit has used it and has an opinion. When an innocent soul does ask if it's legit, AFF usually gets dragged for sketchy pricing and being riddled with fake profiles.

However, some Reddit members have praised AFF as a site for men meeting men. Even so, the site's still buggy and isn't exactly great for meeting real people who aren't, as one Reddit user so eloquently put it, "busted and unstable."

Good for: Very open-minded people looking to blow off steam

Stating the obvious, AdultFriendFinder is a space for people who want to bang with no strings attached, people who are in a sexual rut, people who are tired of porn, and people who find sites like eharmony boring. Getting to know someone for weeks before meeting up can be exhausting, and sometimes, you want to skip the small talk and do the dirty with a random. It's gonna get kinky out there, and that's great for those who are dying to blow off steam and want someone who will respond well to a brusque, sexy message.

As with all dating sites, catfishing is a big buzzkill. Your chances of being pursued are way higher if you have a lot of pictures of the same person (AKA you), videos, and a genuine profile that lets people know they're not dealing with something sketchy. Even if you've had bad luck with online dating in the past, AdultFriendFinder is the place to be honest.

SEE ALSO: What is consensual non-monogamy?

Bad for: People looking for a real relationship and the entire socially conscious community

If you're a cynic, conservative by any means, get sketched out easily, or aren't a fan of dick pics, you'll probably hate it. Similarly, if you appreciate a well-crafted, aesthetically pleasing website that feels safe, no matter how badly you want to have sex, one glance at the landing page likely signals that it's not for you.

AdultFriendFinder is not the place to be if you're trying to make friends unless "with benefits" is tacked onto the end. Every inch of the site screams: "This website is used to have sex," and you should really listen to that.

As illustrated by the flood of artsy activism guides on Instagram in recent years, it's clear what content appeals to young people on the internet: Something aesthetically pleasing, shareable, and digestible. The "shareable" part doesn't totally apply to online dating, but apps like Hinge and OkCupid closely follow this design trend by limiting the number of words (and ads) in each tab, steering clear of endless scrolling, and ensuring that important info isn't cluttered with flashing clickbait.

AFF could do so much more to make people take it seriously

We're not knocking a quick hookup or no-strings-attached relations. This isn't about morals. Genitals are quite literally in your face from the moment you make an account, and that's just not cute. There are chiller ways to go about insinuating that this is a hookup website without feeling like you're trapped in a sex dungeon with strangers.

I could not get past the fact that the entire site looks like it's about to invite five viruses to your computer. We're talking terrible graphics that look like they were made on Microsoft Paint and pictures of women who look like they're from Pornhub in 2007. (That's when AdultFriendFinder was officially sold and rebranded from its original parent company.) Reddit user Snoo53279 summed it up in a comment from July 2020: "The people on AFF are definitely real, but there is a huge smattering of bots that also get in the way, so it can be a bit of a PITA to use." If they're not bots, they could be men posing as a couple to seem less threatening.

The parade of women on the landing page is questionable for two reasons. This shouldn't even need to be clarified, but not everyone is looking for a woman. At the least, the advertising isn't inclusive — but this crosses into fetishization territory. The cherry on top is that the women in the photos (unsurprisingly) probably aren't even members of the site, according to a disclaimer at the bottom of the landing page.

AdultFriendFinder's overall outdated vibe goes past an aesthetic annoyance — it's downright problematic at times. The lack of inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ community is nearly unforgivable, and we'd be scared to see some of the related rhetoric that AFF users feel comfortable spewing. Without even a dash of social awareness, it's hard to see how anyone who's not an out-of-touch straight cis man would feel comfortable on this site.

Attempting to navigate the shoddy design might be enough to smother your horniness. Three main issues can make the site borderline unusable: It looks shady as hell, an alarming portion of the user base is made up of bots and spam accounts, and the user interface itself is outdated and rife with bugs.

AdultFriendFinder alternatives

Given AdultFriendFinder's... challenges... you're probably wondering where else you can look for casual connections or kink exploration online. While AFF might feel slightly more "legit" than sites with names that scream spam (you know the ones), there are definitely much better places to spend your time and money.

Here are a few alternatives that offer a significantly better experience:

Pure: Think of Pure as a more modern, less eyeball-assaulting option for no-strings-attached hookups. It has a sleek, "hella-millennial" design (way better than AFF's retro mess) and features like self-destructing messages and profiles that disappear after an hour, giving it a casual, in-the-moment feel. It's basically a sexier, more private Snapchat for hookups.
Feeld: If you're a single or couple looking for group sex, polyamory, or exploring LGBTQ+ friendly dynamics, Feeld is a much better bet than navigating AFF's often problematic space. It's designed for open-minded individuals and couples and is generally praised for being more inclusive (though it had some bugs after a recent update, which seem to be getting addressed). It skips the unicorn hunting and rampant fetishization found elsewhere.
FetLife: If the "My Kinks" section on AFF piqued your interest but the endless bots scared you off, FetLife is exactly where you need to be. It's kind of like Myspace (RIP) for the BDSM, fetish, and kink community. You can find local kink events, join hyper-specific groups, and connect with real people who share your exact desires in a much safer, community-policed environment.
Sniffies: If you're a gay, bi, trans, or queer man looking for a hyper-direct hookup, skip AFF entirely and head to Sniffies. This map-based cruising platform lets you see exactly who's looking for action in your immediate area. You don't even need to register for an account to browse the map, and it displays users' intentions and preferred sex positions right on their avatars.
Mainstream Apps (like Hinge or OkCupid): While not strictly hookup-focused, even mainstream apps offer a more palatable and less spammy user experience. Their design is cleaner, there's less ad overload, and they prioritize clear information over flashing explicit content, which some users might find a relief compared to AFF's chaos.

Ultimately, you have options that are more modern, more inclusive, and simply less likely to make you feel like you need a virus scan after logging on.

The final verdict: Is AdultFriendFinder worth it?

AdultFriendFinder is a low-pressure way to find a friends-with-benefits situation without insulting anyone. Everyone is pretty much there for the same reason, and though it'll feel pretty unorthodox if you've only ever used Tinder to scope this type of thing out, AFF's blunt advertising at least means you won't have to explain that you're not looking for a relationship. It's niche-friendly and has a ton of interactive outlets to indulge your primal urges.

But that freedom comes with a price — the price is feeling like one of those people who fall for the ads that pop up before a free Pornhub video. It's not that a site dedicated to sex and sexting is inherently scammy — it's that AdultFriendFinder drowns you with explicit photos on profiles that might not even be real people while asking you to pay for a subscription with every click.

Unfortunately, no matter how in the mood you are, some people aren't cut out for the nothing-left-to-the-imagination approach with grammar mistakes all over the place. It wants to be sex-positive so badly, but the language the site has used in reference to the trans community is the furthest thing from that.

The site's functionality and safety aren't where they need to be in 2026. If security measures were tightened, graphics and photos were cleaned up to feel more relevant, and decision-makers behind the scenes were given a lesson in inclusivity and pronouns/identities, AdultFriendFinder could be a handy tool to find attachment-free hookups and connect with a community that's down for anything.

This isn't a dating or hookup site we would personally use, but if you're feeling brave, you can register for AdultFriendFinder here. Just don't try this at work.

Credit: AdultFriendFinder

AdultFriendFinder

FIFA World Cup schedule today: Games, kickoff times, livestream info for July 4

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0000

The excitement continues at the 2026 World Cup, with Canada looking to extend its historic run with a victory over a more confident, more experienced Moroccan team, while France looks to storm into the next round against Team Paraguay, bent on taking down the French giant.

The action kicks off at 1 p.m. ET in Texas before moving to the City of Brotherly Love at 5 p.m. ET.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: July 4

Canada vs. Morocco (Houston Stadium) — kickoff at 1 p.m. ET
Paraguay vs. France (Philadelphia Stadium) — kickoff at 5 p.m. ET

How to watch FIFA World Cup games today

Watch Canada vs. Morocco

Is Canada's historic run a result of lucky breaks or genuine, underrated talent? Team Morocco will provide the ultimate proof: take them down and immortalize your place in soccer history, or else lose and satisfy the gambling odds. Canada's leading scorer, Jonathan David, will need to be in top form here against a Moroccan defense that has allowed just two goals in the group stage thus far.

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Paraguay vs. France

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are drawing big crowds, but the consensus best player in this year's World Cup is France's own Kylian Mbappé, who knows full well that victory here is expected, and a loss would be devastating, not only to France but to his legacy as a player. Team Paraguay, on the other hand, has nothing to lose and everything to gain from a victory against the favored French team. But you underestimate Paraguay at your peril — just ask the Germans! — and if they can manage to keep the scores low late into the match, anything can happen.

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Credit: Fox One

Fox One (3-Month Subscription)

$39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99

Credit: Peacock

Peacock (Spanish Language)

Starting at $10.99/month

More live streaming options

Live TV cable replacement

Not interested in signing up for a standalone streaming service like Fox One or Peacock? You can sign up for a live TV cable replacement service, like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.

These services carry over 100 live channels, but run off a WiFi connection. You'll get live access to Fox and FS1, plus a whole lot more. Here are some options to consider:

YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months
Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month
Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

Watch the World Cup for free with a VPN

It's possible to watch the World Cup for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. Our global World Cup watch guide can walk you through the process.

You will need a VPN to live stream the World Cup on these free streaming services. We recommend ExpressVPN — a Mashable-tested service and an Official Tournament Supporter of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Europe — as our VPN of choice for sport. It offers servers in 105 countries, a user-friendly app available on all major devices, a speedy connection, and up to 10 simultaneous connections.

Credit: ExpresVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

How to watch New Zealand vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship online for free

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 06:51:59 +0000

TL;DR: Watch New Zealand vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We don't exactly know what to expect from the first-ever 2026 Nations Championship, but one quick glance at the schedule over this opening weekend and we're excited. There's absolutely loads of huge matchups between the best sides in the world, and that can only be a good thing.

It all starts with arguably the best of the bunch: New Zealand vs. France at the One New Zealand Stadium. This is big.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is New Zealand vs. France?

New Zealand vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 8:10 a.m. BST on July 4. This fixture takes place at the One New Zealand Stadium.

How to watch New Zealand vs. France for free

New Zealand vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

Livestream New Zealand vs. France in the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch New Zealand vs. France for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

Hurdle hints and answers for July 4, 2026

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

To seize.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

USURP

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Alert.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

AWAKE

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Fantastic.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

GREAT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

"Go away!"

Hurdle Word 4 answer

SCRAM

Final Hurdle hint

Listened.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

HEARD

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

How to watch South Africa vs. England in the 2026 Nations Championship online for free

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Watch South Africa vs. England in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Nations Championship opening weekend is stacked with huge matchups, but it doesn't really get any bigger than South Africa vs. England.

The 2026 Six Nations was tough going for England, finishing in fifth place in the standings. They'll need to turn things around to get anything out of a dominant South African side that thrashed Wales and the Barbarians in their last two games.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is South Africa vs. England?

South Africa vs. England in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 4:40 p.m. BST on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Emirates Airline Park.

How to watch South Africa vs. England for free

South Africa vs. England in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

Livestream South Africa vs. England in the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch South Africa vs. England for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Fiji vs. Wales in the 2026 Nations Championship online for free

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Watch Fiji vs. Wales in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Nations Championship starts this weekend with a number of really interesting fixtures, including Fiji vs. Wales.

The Welsh did not enjoy the 2026 Six Nations, but they did at least finish with a victory over Italy. That wasn't enough to move them up from bottom spot in the standings. They'll be desperate to start with a positive result against an always-tricky Fiji side.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Fiji vs. Wales?

Fiji vs. Wales in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 2:10 p.m. BST on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Cardiff City Stadium.

How to watch Fiji vs. Wales for free

Fiji vs. Wales in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

Livestream Fiji vs. Wales in the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch Fiji vs. Wales for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Australia vs. Ireland in the 2026 Nations Championship online for free

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Watch Australia vs. Ireland in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2026 Nations Championship's opening weekend is littered with high-profile matchups, including Australia vs. Ireland. The Irish will come into this clash expecting to win, but Australia have shown promising signs of progress in recent fixtures. Could this be the moment that Les Kiss makes his mark?

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Australia vs. Ireland?

Australia vs. Ireland in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 11:10 a.m. BST on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Sydney Football Stadium.

How to watch Australia vs. Ireland for free

Australia vs. Ireland in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

Livestream Australia vs. Ireland in the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch Australia vs. Ireland for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

How to watch Japan vs. Italy in the 2026 Nations Championship online for free

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Watch Japan vs. Italy in the 2026 Nations Championship for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first-ever 2026 Nations Championship starts with a number of really interesting matchups.

Japan vs. Italy is probably not the most exciting fixture on the schedule, but there's a lot of reasons to watch the action. Italy are still riding high from the 2026 Six Nations and wins over England and Scotland, and they'll come into this game with hopes of starting with a win.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Japan vs. Italy?

Japan vs. Italy in the 2026 Nations Championship kicks off at 9:40 a.m. BST on July 4. This fixture takes place at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium.

How to watch Japan vs. Italy for free

Japan vs. Italy in the 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

Livestream Japan vs. Italy in the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch Japan vs. Italy for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on July 4

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Tonight marks day 19 of the lunar cycle, with the Moon continuing through its Waning Gibbous phase. As we get closer to the next phase, the Last Quarter, the illuminated portion of the Moon will continue to appear smaller each night.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Saturday, July 4, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in its Waning Gibbous phase, with 84% of its surface visible.

If you look up tonight with just your naked eye, you should be able to see the Mares Imbrium and Serenitatis, as well as the Kepler Crater. If you have binoculars, you'll be able to catch a glimpse of the Posidonius Crater, the Alps Mountains, and the Grimaldi Basin. And if you have a telescope, you'll see all this plus the Apollo 11 and 17 landing spots, and the Rima Ariadaeus.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on July 29.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon completes one orbit around Earth approximately every 29.5 days, moving through eight recognised phases along the way. Although the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, the amount of its surface illuminated by the Sun changes as it travels around our planet. As a result, the Moon appears to shift in shape throughout the month, progressing from slender crescents to quarter moons and eventually reaching the brightly lit Full Moon stage. This repeating pattern is known as the lunar cycle.

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

How to watch the 2026 Nations Championship online for free

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 04:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: All fixtures of the 2026 Nations Championship are available to watch for free on ITVX. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

This is shaping up to be a special year for sport.

The schedule has been ridiculously busy this year. We've hardly had time to breathe between the Winter Olympics, T20 World Cup, and World Cup, and now the world of rugby has dropped a totally new competition to grab its share of the spotlight.

The Nations Championship is changing the game. This fresh tournament promises to deliver six rounds of elite matchups between top international sides followed by a blockbuster Finals Weekend. It feels like the Rugby World Cup without the filler.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the Nations Championship?

The 2026 Nations Championship is an international rugby union competition featuring 12 men's teams. The teams are divided into two pools of six (Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere). Over two international windows, each team plays all the teams in the opposite pool once. Every team plays three games at home and three away.

After six rounds, a finals series will be contested over three days with each team matched against the same ranked team in the other pool to decide final placements.

When is the 2026 Nations Championship?

The 2026 Nations Championship is the first edition of this competition. This year's tournament runs from the first round of fixtures on July 4 to the final on Nov. 29. The first round of fixtures is as follows:

New Zealand vs. France — 8:10 a.m. BST on July 4
Japan vs. Italy — 9:40 a.m. BST on July 4
Australia vs. Ireland — 11:10 a.m. BST on July 4
Fiji vs. Wales — 2:10 p.m. BST on July 4
South Africa vs. England — 4:40 p.m. BST on July 4
Argentina vs. Scotland — 8:10 p.m. BST on July 4

How to watch the 2026 Nations Championship for free

The 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

Livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 4, 2026

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 02:00:00 +0000

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a writer.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

Yellow: To keep on
Green: Written works
Blue: Thirst quenchers
Purple: Nice!

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Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

Yellow: Persist
Green: Kinds of poems
Blue: Tropical drinks
Purple: Sweet ___

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1119 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

Persist: CONTINUE, LAST, LINGER, STAY
Kinds of poems: BALLAD, EPIC, ODE, VILLANELLE
Tropical drinks: HURRICANE, PAINKILLER, SCORPION, ZOMBIE
Sweet ___: DREAMS, NOTHINGS, PEA, SPOT

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

NYT Strands hints, answers for July 4, 2026

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love to celebrate.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Ooh!

The words are related to the Fourth of July.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a holiday celebration.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Fireworks.

NYT Strands word list for July 4

Dazzling
Bright
Colorful
Fireworks
Exciting
Sparkling

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 4, 2026

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 02:00:00 +0000

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a foodie.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An Italian staple.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter Z appears twice.

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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

PIZZA

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

A new piano app listens while you play, and a lifetime subscription is only $105 today

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 22:00:00 +0000

TL;DR: Use code JULY30 by July 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a Skoove lifetime subscription on sale for $104.99.

Credit: Skoove

Skoove Premium Piano Lessons: Lifetime Subscription

$104.99
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Self-taught musicians have always faced a frustrating problem. Without a teacher in the room, you can’t tell whether you’re playing the right note, holding the right rhythm, or just confidently repeating the same mistake. Skoove uses live note recognition that listens to your playing through a microphone or MIDI connection and gives feedback in real time, and a Premium lifetime subscription is on sale right now for $104.99 (reg. $299.99).

Skoove’s app analyzes audio coming from an acoustic piano or a connected USB/MIDI keyboard, identifies the notes you played, and compares them against what the current lesson called for. If you stumble, the app pauses and waits for you to correct yourself. If you nail it, you move forward. That tight feedback loop is the part traditional sheet music and YouTube tutorials can’t replicate, and it works whether you’re on iOS, Android, Mac, or Windows.

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Skoove’s library includes more than 400 lessons plus thousands of instructional videos, with new lessons and songs added every month. Beginners can start with the basics like posture and single-hand playing, then move into chords, theory, and full pieces in genres including classical, pop, and blues. More experienced players can jump straight into chart hits by John Legend, The Beatles, and Adele, or pieces from Bach and Beethoven.

One-on-one support from Skoove’s music instructors is also included for the moments when an automated lesson isn’t enough, along with special courses for specific learning goals.

Skip the recurring monthly fee, and learn piano at your own pace.

Use code JULY30 to get a Skoove Premium Piano lifetime subscription on sale for $104.99. Offer ends July 5 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

How to watch the 2026 Tour de France online for free

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:35:01 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Tour de France for free on SBS on Demand. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

We know there's a lot of sport taking place right now and your schedule is probably stacked with live action from the World Cup and Wimbledon, but can we suggest making a little time for the Tour de France. It is the world's most prestigious cycling race, after all.

This edition of the Tour de France is shaping up to be pretty special. Tadej Pogacar is seeking a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title, but he's going to face stiff competition from his rival Jonas Vingegaard and new star Paul Seixas. It's going to be a fascinating ride over the next few weeks.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Tour de France for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the Tour de France?

The Tour de France is an annual men's multi-stage bicycle race held in France (and often passing through nearby countries). This famous race forms part of the Grand Tours (alongside the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España).

The defending champion is Tadej Pogacar.

When is the 2026 Tour de France?

The 2026 Tour de France is the 113th edition of the event. This year's event takes place from July 4-26.

How to watch the 2026 Tour de France for free

The 2026 Tour de France is available to live stream for free on SBS on Demand.

SBS on Demand is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone from around the world can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the 2026 Tour de France from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 Tour de France for free by following these simple steps:

Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN )
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia
Connect to SBS on Demand
Stream the 2026 Tour de France from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

The best VPNs for unblocking streaming sites are not free, but they do tend to offer free trials and money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Tour de France without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you time to follow the 2026 Tour de France before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free live streams from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Tour de France?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for accessing free live streams from around the world, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, as well as platforms like Linux, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and routers
Strict no-logging policy
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 Tour de France for free with ExpressVPN.

Spotify deletes 500K streams of popular song for suspected Kalshi, Polymarket user manipulation

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:10:12 +0000

Malcolm Todd is currently one of the fastest-rising stars in the music industry, with his viral hit "Earrings" recently topping the Spotify charts.

However, Todd has just fallen off the Spotify charts after an internal investigation by the company found manipulation through artificial streaming. As a result of the investigation, Spotify removed 500,000 streams for his song. "Earrings" fell to fourth on the charts after the stream removals.

“All streaming services face ever-changing stream manipulation. Spotify has best-in-class detection and mitigation practices for manipulated streams, and we don’t pay out associated royalties,” a Spotify spokesperson said in a statement.

The manipulation has been linked to those who placed bets on prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi. The artist is not believed to be involved, according to Financial Times.

Both Polymarket and Kalshi allow users to bet on which artists will have the top charting songs. In fact, the investigation into botted listens seems to have been sparked by other prediction market traders who closely analyze Spotify data and noticed fishy activity.

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Last week, Kalshi gave Todd a 2.5 percent chance of having the number one charting Spotify song by the end of June. Earlier this week, in the final days of the month, artificial streaming manipulation caused Todd's song to skyrocket 70 percent to the top of the charts within a 24-hour period.

Spotify has since confirmed the manipulation after its investigation. The company also requested that Polymarket and Kalshi remove Spotify logos from their websites to prevent users from believing there is a partnership between the entities, according to Bloomberg.

Kalshi and Polymarket are actively reviewing the claims, according to reports from The Hollywood Reporter and Wired.

Prediction markets have grown in popularity in recent years. However, these companies have also struggled to deal with increasingly common cases of insider trading and market manipulation.

How to watch Argentina vs. Cape Verde online for free

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:08:58 +0000

TL;DR: Live stream Argentina vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage showcased a number of interesting storylines, but Cape Verde's qualification from a really tough group that included Spain and Uruguay was probably the moment of the tournament so far. The question now is can they go further and beat the defending champions? That's probably a step too far, but you never know.

If you want to watch Argentina vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Argentina vs. Cape Verde?

Argentina vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 6 p.m. ET on July 3. This fixture takes place at the Miami Stadium.

How to watch Argentina vs. Cape Verde for free

Argentina vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

Live stream Argentina vs. Cape Verde for free by following these simple steps:

Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch Argentina vs. Cape Verde for free from anywhere in the world

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Argentina vs. Cape Verde (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

Servers in 105 countries including the UK
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections

Live stream Argentina vs. Cape Verde in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: Games, kickoff times, livestream info for July 3

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:58:28 +0000

There was major 2026 World Cup drama yesterday — with a late goal by Portgual sending Croatia home after a hard-fought game.

The high-stakes drama continues on July 3, as the final Round of 32 matches determines the fates of three teams.

It all kicks off at 2 p.m. ET, with three games played across the afternoon and evening.

FIFA World Cup schedule today: July 3

Australia vs. Egypt (Dallas Stadium) — kickoff at 2 p.m. ET
Argentina vs. Cape Verde (Miami Stadium) — kickoff at 6 p.m. ET
Colombia vs. Ghana (Kansas City Stadium) — kickoff at 9:30 p.m. ET

How to watch FIFA World Cup games today

Watch Australia vs. Egypt

Neither Australia nor Egypt have a clean World Cup record going into this game, though Egypt's looks a little better on paper with a win and two draws. Australia has a win, a draw, and a loss heading into this matchup.

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Argentina vs. Cape Verde

Cape Verde is having a memorable World Cup run, but they will face quite the test in an Argentina team that is seemingly always a major World Cup contender. Both teams have a lot to lose, and one shot to move forward.

Live coverage will be on Fox and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Watch Colombia vs. Ghana

Colombia certainly has more momentum going into this game, with two wins and a draw versus Ghana's win, draw, and a loss. But both survived the group stage, and anything can happen in the knockout rounds.

Live coverage will be on FS1 and Fox One. Peacock will carry the live Spanish-language coverage.

Credit: Fox One

Fox One (3-Month Subscription)

$39.98
$59.97 Save $19.99

Credit: Peacock

Peacock (Spanish Language)

Starting at $10.99/month

More live streaming options

Live TV cable replacement

Not interested in signing up for a standalone streaming service like Fox One or Peacock? You can sign up for a live TV cable replacement service, like YouTube TV or Hulu + Live TV.

These services carry over 100 live channels, but run off a WiFi connection. You'll get live access to Fox and FS1, plus a whole lot more. Here are some options to consider:

YouTube TV — 10-day trial, then $67.99/month for 3 months
Fubo Sports — 1-day trial, then $45.99/month for 1 month
Hulu + Live TV — 3-day trial, then $89.99/month

Watch the World Cup for free with a VPN

It's possible to watch the World Cup for free on international services like ITVX, BBC iPlayer, NOS, or RTÉ. Our global World Cup watch guide can walk you through the process.

Credit: ExpresVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

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July 4th fireworks livestreams: See the best Independence Day fireworks live

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:30:39 +0000

Happy 4th of July, America. This year's Independence Day celebrations are a little extra special as we celebrate the United States of America's 250th birthday.

Across the country, many people will spend the day at the beach or at a barbecue, capping the night off with a fireworks display. But, if you're spending the night indoors, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate with an array of July 4th fireworks livestreams.

Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks

Perhaps the most well-known of the Independence Day celebrations is the Macy's 4th of July fireworks. If you live in NYC, you can catch them live. Otherwise, you can tune into NBC or Peacock at 8 p.m. on July 4th to watch the show.

While the U.S. is celebrating its 250th, Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks is also celebrating a milestone with its 50th anniversary this year.

PBS's America Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together

While many of the livestream options on this list will require a paid subscription to a particular streaming platform, PBS is airing its 4th of July special on YouTube for absolutely free.

America Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together will start at 8 p.m. on July 4th and culminate in a fireworks and pyrotechnics display from Colonial Williamsburg.

Disney Celebrates America

Disney is also getting in on the 250th anniversary of the United States celebrations with its own event.

Disney+, Hulu, and the ESPN app will stream a 24-hour broadcast called "Disney Celebrates America" that checks in on 4th of July celebrations around the country, which will ostensibly include at least a few fireworks displays. The grand finale, Star-Spangled Bash in Nashville, will also be hosted by ABC and deliver one of the country's largest fireworks and drone shows.

The broadcast kicks off at 10 p.m. on Friday, July 3rd, with the main event out of Nashville starting at 8 p.m. on July 4th.

Freedom 250 fireworks display

There's been a lot of controversy surrounding President Donald Trump's own Freedom 250 group, set up to lead Trump's 250th anniversary celebrations. You've probably seen the memes about the lackluster attendance for Trump's Great American State Fair all week.

With that said, Freedom 250 is claiming they're about to have a record-breaking 40 minute long firework display on the 4th of July with more than 850,000 fireworks. And, according to the group, the MonumentCam atop the Washington Monument will be the premier free-to-watch livestream to watch it all.

The Great American Block Party 250

Paramount+ and CBS are hosting their own 3-hour Independence Day special at 8 p.m. on July 4th.

Like Disney's, the show will check in on 4th of July celebrations and firework displays from around the country. The broadcast will also culminate in their own feed of Freedom 250's Washington, DC, fireworks display.

Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on July 3

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 14:44:46 +0000

Keen skywatchers will see a Waning Gibbous Moon again tonight as the lunar cycle continues and we further away the Full Moon and closer to the New Moon. This means that the Moon will continue to appear smaller and less illuminated each night.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Friday, July 3, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in its Waning Gibbous phase, with 90% of its surface visible.

You don't need lots of fancy equipment to see features on the Moon's surface. In fact, you can see the Mares Imbrium and Serenitatis, as well as the Copernicus Crater without any visual aids at all. If you do however have binoculars, you'll be able to catch a glimpse of the Clavius Crater, Mare Frigoris, and the Grimaldi Basin. And if you have a telescope, you'll see all this plus the Apollo 14, 15, and 16 landing spots.