The use of virtual private networks (VPNs) is expected to double during the 2018 World Cup as football fans looking for free ways to watch live streams of matches.

VPNs allow people to connect their computers or smartphones to a server in a different country, by pretending they are from there. As such, they are an increasingly popular way to access content that would not normally be available in a certain country or jurisdiction.

A user in the US, for example, would be able to watch matches being broadcast for free in the UK by spoofing their device's location and pretending their computer is in Britain.

Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Show all 30 1 /30 Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Fifa 18 has rated several England players out of 100 and these are the results. Getty Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Harry Maguire - 78 England's defender Harry Maguire heads the ball during the 2018 FIFA World Cup European Qualifying football match between Lithuania and England at the LFF Stadium in Vilnius on October 8, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Michail Antonio - 79 TRNAVA, SLOVAKIA - SEPTEMBER 04: Michail Antonio of England warms up with team mates prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Group F qualifying match between Slovakia and England at City Arena on September 4, 2016 in Trnava, Slovakia. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Phil Jagielka - 79 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 15: Phil Jagielka of England during the EURO 2016 Qualifier Group E match between England and Slovenia at Wembley Stadium on November 15, 2014 in London, England.(Photo by Marc Atkins/Mark Leech/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Danny Drinkwater - 79 Football Soccer - England v Netherlands - International Friendly - Wembley Stadium, London, England - 29/3/16 England's Danny Drinkwater Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. - 14334445 REUTERS Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Danny Welbeck - 79 AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MARCH 23: Danny Welbeck of England controls the ball during the international friendly match between Netherlands and England at Amsterdam Arena on March 23, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Jordan Pickford - 79 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 10: Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford of England looks on during the international friendly match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium on November 10, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by TF-Images/TF-Images via Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Michael Keane - 79 March 26th 2017, Wembley Stadium, London, England; World Cup 2018 Qualification football, England versus Lithuania; Michael Keane of England looks on (Photo by John Patrick Fletcher/Action Plus via Getty Images) Action Plus via Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Nathaniel Clyne - 80 LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 29: Nathaniel Clyne of England during the International Friendly match between England and Netherlands at Wembley Stadium on March 29, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Ross Barkley - 80 LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 29: Ross Barkley of England in action during the International Friendly match between England and the Netherlands at Wembley Stadium on March 29, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Jermain Defoe - 80 DORTMUND, GERMANY - MARCH 22: Jermain Defoe of England looks on while warming up prior to the international friendly match between Germany and England at Signal Iduna Park on March 22, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Jesse Lingard - 80 LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Jesse Lingard of England during the International Friendly match between England and Italy at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Ryan Bertrand - 80 DORTMUND, GERMANY - MARCH 22: Ryan Bertrand of England controls the ball during the international friendly match between Germany and England at Signal Iduna Park on March 22, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Bongarts/Getty Images) Bongarts/Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Kieran Trippier - 80 LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Kieran Trippier of England during the International Friendly match between England and Italy at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Eric Dier - 80 LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Eric Dier of England during the International Friendly match between England and Italy at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Jordan Henderson - 80 Jordan Henderson of England during the International friendly match match between The Netherlands and England at the Amsterdam Arena on March 23, 2018 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images) VI-Images via Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? John Stones - 80 AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MARCH 23: John Stones of England in action during the International Friendly match between Netherlands and England at Amsterdam ArenA also called the Johan Cruyff Arena on March 23, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Daniel Sturridge - 81 LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 11: Daniel Sturridge of England (9) celebrates as he scores their first goal during the FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifying match between England and Scotland at Wembley Stadium on November 11, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Chris Smalling - 81 Chris Smalling of England during the International friendly match between France and England at Stade de France on June 13, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Anthony Dibon/Icon Sport) Icon Sport via Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Gary Cahill - 81 DORTMUND, GERMANY - MARCH 22: Gary Cahill of England applauds supporters after the full time whistle during the international friendly match between Germany and England at Signal Iduna Park on March 22, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Jamie Vardy - 81 LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Jamie Vardy of England in action during the friendly match between England and Italy at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Adam Lallana - 81 England's midfielder Adam Lallana runs with the ball during the World Cup 2018 qualification football match between England and Lithuania at Wembley Stadium in London on March 26, 2017. England won the game 2-0. / AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNIS / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Jack Butland - 81 England's goalkeeper Jack Butland is pictured during the International friendly football match between England and Italy at Wembley stadium in London on March 27, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Ian KINGTON (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Marcus Rashford - 81 Marcus Rashford of England during the International friendly match match between The Netherlands and England at the Amsterdam Arena on March 23, 2018 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images) VI-Images via Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Phil Jones - 81 PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 13: Phil Jones of England gestures during the international Friendly match between France and England at Stade de France, on June 13, 2017 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Danny Rose - 82 LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Danny Rose of England takes a throw-in during the International Friendly match between England and Italy at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Dele Alli - 83 AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MARCH 23: Dele Alli of England in action during the International Friendly match between Netherlands and England at Amsterdam ArenA also called the Johan Cruyff Arena on March 23, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Kyle Walker - 83 LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Kyle Walker of England looks on prior to the international friendly match between England and Italy at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Raheem Sterling - 84 LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 27: Raheem Sterling of England during the International Friendly match between England and Italy at Wembley Stadium on March 27, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Getty Images Who is the best England player at the 2018 World Cup? Harry Kane - 87 England's striker Harry Kane celebrates scoring the opening goal during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification football match between England and Slovenia at Wembley Stadium in London on October 5, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Adrian DENNIS / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images

Broadcasting rights for the World Cup have been purchased by 80 countries around the world, often with several broadcasters from each country winning the right to show matches.

In the UK, broadcasting rights will be split between the BBC and ITV, and all games will be shown for free to anyone with a TV license. In many countries, matches are being broadcast on premium, paid-for channels.

More than 1 billion people watched the 2014 World Cup final between Argentina and Germany, according to figures from FIFA, while 3.2 billion people watched at least one minute of a match during the month-long tournament.

These figures did not include viewers watching online or using their mobile phones.

VPN provider NordVPN said VPN users were likely to double after experiencing a 104 per cent increase in sales during the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Brazil.

"With each large sporting event, more and more people try the VPN technology they might have never used before," said Ruby Gonzalez, who heads communications at NordVPN.