World Cup streams are intentionally freezing your video player — here is why your VPN’s ad blocker is causing the crash and the way that you can fix it before England vs Mexico
Many of the best VPNs come with ad-blockers built in, meaning you can surf the web uninterrupted, but when it comes to watching live broadcasts like the 2026 World Cup online, ad-blockers can bring your entire stream to a standstill.
Those using an ad-blocker on a streaming service usually have no problems – until the ad break, at which time the screen can freeze or turn black.
This is because many streaming sites use server-side ad insertions (SSAI), which deliver ads from the same pre-browser server as the rest of the broadcast, rather than through a third-party domain.
When the VPN’s ad-blocker detects an advertisement, it shuts down the entire viewing experience, rather than only the ads – because the ads and broadcast are coming from the same place. Your ad-blocker can’t tell the difference between the two and calls time on your stream.
Thankfully, most VPNswill allow...
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