Iraq vs Japan live stream: how to watch AFC Asian Cup 2023 game online for free today

Takumi Minamino of Japan celebrates prior to the Iraq vs Japan live stream at the AFC Asian Cup
(Image credit: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Japan may be favourites for the Asian Cup title, but in-form Iraq, the 2007 winners, will be keen to underline their own credentials. With both teams on decent unbeaten streaks, something has got to give today – and you can watch it from anywhere with a VPN.

Iraq vs Japan live stream, date, time, channels

Iraq vs Japan live stream is today, Friday, January 19.
• Time: 11:30 a.m. GMT / 6:30 a.m. ET / 3:30 a.m. PT / 10:30 p.m. AEDT
• U.S.Paramount Plus
• AUS — Paramount Plus
• Watch anywhere — Try
ExpressVPN 100% risk free

Iraq are well known for flying out of the blocks in the Asian Cup and their 3-1 win over Indonesia in the first group game marked the third time in successive tournaments that they have begun with a victory. Exciting 23 year old forward Mohanad Ali, Osama Rashid and substitute Aymen Hussein were all on the scoresheet against a team 83 places below them in the FIFA world rankings.

Japan, however, had to come from 2-1 down against Vietnam, the group’s weakest team, with goals from former Liverpool midfielder Takumi Minamino (now at AS Monaco in France’s Ligue 1), Keito Nakamura and Ayase Ueda, in a far from comfortable 4-2 opener. “Opening games in tournaments are always difficult and that's what we saw today," apologised coach Hajime Moriyasu after the game but he knows there will have to be an improvement against Iraq.

For Iraq vs Japan live streams today — and where to watch AFC Asian Cup games generally — keep reading this article, where you'll also find out about free streams around world.

IRAQ: Jalal Hassan, Ahmed Yahia, Rebin Al Sulaka, Saad Natiq, Frans Putros, Hussein Ali, Ibrahim Bayesh, Amir Al-Ammari, Ali Jasim, Aymen Hussein, Youssef Amyn

JAPAN: Zion Suzuki, Yukinari Sugawara, Shogo Taniguchi, Kou Itakura, Hiroki Ito, Hidemasa Morita, Wataru Endo, Takumi Minamino, Junya Ito, Takuma Asano, Takefusa Kubo

FREE Iraq vs Japan live stream

How to watch Iraq vs Japan live streams today for FREE

There are free-to-air options in Indonesia via RCTI+, and in the U.K. and U.S. thanks to free trials for Triller TV+ and Paramount Plus respectively.

If you're usually based in one of those countries but are overseas when the Iraq vs Japan game is on, you'll find that your usual stream on the above services will be blocked.

Thankfully, however, with a VPN you can still live stream Iraq vs Japan as if you were right at home. We'll explain how below.

Watch Iraq vs Japan live streams today from anywhere

How to watch Iraq vs Japan live streams today from anywhere with a VPN

A VPN, or virtual private network, makes it look as if you're surfing the web from your home country, rather than the one you're in. That means you can access the streaming services you already pay for, from any country on Earth.

For instance, a Brit who's currently away from the U.K. could watch India vs Uzbekistan live streams on Triller TV+

VPNs are inexpensive and easy to use. We've tested lots of the best VPN services and our favorite is ExpressVPN. It's fast, works on loads of devices, and even offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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ExpressVPN really does tick every box. It's fast, secure and straightforward to use. Even if you do run in to trouble, there's genuinely helpful 24/7 customer service there to get you through. And you can even give it a try risk-free, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

Check out the 12-month plan for the best value

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, ExpressVPN is our favorite.

2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. So if you're in Canada and want to view a British service such as Triller TV+, you'd select 'U.K.' from the server list.

3. Sit back and enjoy the action and watch the Iraq vs Japan live stream on Triller TV+.

Iraq vs Japan live streams today by country

How to watch Iraq vs Japan live streams in the U.S.

US flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

In the U.S., streaming service Paramount Plus will show Iraq vs Japan today, along with every Asian Cup soccer game. This game starts at 6:30 a.m. ET / 3:30 a.m. PT on Friday morning.

If you don't already have a subscription, prices start from only $5.99/month for the basic package, rising to $11.99/month ad-free. There's currently a 7-day FREE trial of Paramount Plus available to new users, so it's well worth checking out if you haven't already.

If you're outside of the U.S., then using a VPN like ExpressVPN will help you access the otherwise blocked India vs Uzbekistan live stream.

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Paramount Plus combines what used to be CBS All Access with even more content from the vault. From $5.99/month, get access to Survivor and Big Brother episodes, as well as originals like Star Trek: Picard and The Good Fight, and all of the AFC Asian Cup. 

How to watch Iraq vs Japan live streams in the U.K.

British flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

You can live stream Iraq v Japan today and watch all other 2023 Asian Cup games on the little-known Triller TV+ platform.

Better known for showing combat sports, Triller TV+ works across a wide range of streaming devices and costs £7.99/month or £69.99/year with a 7-day FREE trial for anybody who hasn't used it before.

Iraq vs Japan kicks off at 11:30am GMT on Friday morning.

How to watch Iraq vs Japan live streams in Australia

Australia flag

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Iraq vs Japan is being shown on Paramount Plus in Australia today. Subscriptions cost from $9.99/month, with kick-off set for 10:30 p.m. AEDT today.

It's also worth noting that all of Australia's games, together with the final, are being shown for free thanks to Network 10 and the 10Play streaming service. 

Not in Australia right now? You can simply use ExpressVPN to watch all the action on your travels as if you were back home.

Iraq vs Japan squads

IRAQ SQUAD - Goalkeepers: Jalal Hassan, Ahmed Basil, Fahad Talib Defenders: Ali Adnan, Rebin Al Sulaka, Frans Putros, Saad Natiq, Zaid Tahseen, Allan Mohideen, Hussein Ali, Ahmed Yahia, Merchas Doski Midfielders/ Forwards: Amjad Attwan, Amir Al-Ammari, Osama Rashid, Ahmad Allee, Zidane Iqbal, Ibrahim Bayesh, Montader Madjed, Danilo Al-Saed, Youssef Amyn, Bashar Resan, Ali Jasim, Aymen Hussein, Mohanad Ali, Ali Al-Hamadi

JAPAN SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Daiya Maekawa, Zion Suzuki, Taishi Brandon Nozawa Defenders: Shogo Taniguchi, Kou Itakura, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Yuta Nakayama, Koki Machida, Seiya Maikuma, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Hiroki Ito, Yukinari Sugawara Midfielders/forwards: Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Takuma Asano, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Kaoru Mitoma, Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate, Ritsu Doan, Ayase Ueda, Keito Nakamura, Kaishu Sano, Takefusa Kubo, Mao Hosoya

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Iraq vs Japanlive stream — VPN statement

Bill Borrows

Bill Borrows is an award-winning journalist, feature writer and columnist (Times Magazine/ Guardian/ Telegraph/ Daily Mirror/ Mail On Sunday/ Radio Times), author (The Hurricane: The Turbulent Life and Times of Alex Higgins) and book editor. A frequent contributor on talkSPORT and talkRADIO, his areas of specialisation include sport, history, politics, TV and film. He doesn’t get much free time but does admit to an addiction to true crime podcasts, following Man City home and away, and a weakness for milk chocolate cookies