How to watch Argentina vs Benin live on DAZN in Japan

Lionel Messi's last night in an Argentina shirt streams exclusively on DAZN in Japan. Here is everything Japanese fans need to know: the kickoff time, the DAZN app, and the subscription.

Lionel Messi takes a free kick for Barcelona against Arsenal in the Champions League. Photo: Miquel C. / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

Quick answer

Watch Argentina vs Benin live and exclusively on DAZN in Japan. The friendly — Lionel Messi’s farewell in an Argentina shirt — streams on Wednesday 7 October 2026 at 8:00 AM JST (23:00 UTC; 20:00 on Tuesday in Buenos Aires). DAZN Japan holds the exclusive Japanese rights, so a DAZN subscription is the only legal way to watch.

Is Argentina vs Benin exclusive to DAZN in Japan?

Yes. Japanese sports daily Nikkan Sports reported that DAZN will exclusively live-stream Messi’s farewell friendly against Benin, and DAZN’s own listings carry the match at 8:00 AM JST on 7 October. DAZN has been the home of Argentina’s October friendlies in Japan throughout the window — it also streamed Argentina vs Bolivia on 1 October and Argentina vs Burkina Faso on 4 October — but the Benin match is the crown jewel.

This is not an ordinary friendly. It is the first senior meeting between Argentina and Benin, and it has been designated as Lionel Messi’s farewell in the Albiceleste shirt after he announced his international retirement on 31 August with 207 caps and 125 goals. If he plays, it will be cap number 208. Tickets sold out in under two hours, and more than 80,000 fans will fill the Estadio Más Monumental to say goodbye.

How to stream Argentina vs Benin on the DAZN app

DAZN is a streaming-only service, so there is no TV channel to find — everything happens in the DAZN app or on dazn.com. Sign up for a DAZN subscription (or sign in if you already have one), open the app on 7 October, and the match will be listed on the home screen from the morning.

The DAZN app runs on iOS and Android phones and tablets, in any web browser on a laptop, and on smart TVs from Samsung, LG and Android TV, as well as Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Chromecast. PlayStation and Xbox consoles are supported too. If 8:00 AM is too early to be at the television, DAZN’s full-match replays and highlights go up on demand after the final whistle, so the farewell can wait for your lunch break.

What time does Argentina vs Benin kick off in Japan?

Because Buenos Aires is 12 hours behind Tokyo, the Tuesday-night match in Argentina becomes a Wednesday-morning match in Japan. The kickoff times, confirmed by DAZN’s Japanese listings:

20:00 — Tuesday 6 October, Buenos Aires (ART)
23:00 — Tuesday 6 October, UTC
8:00 AM — Wednesday 7 October, Tokyo (JST)

Set an alarm — and open the app a little before 8:00, because the pre-match farewell ceremony for Messi is part of the broadcast and you will not want to miss it.

How much does DAZN Japan cost?

A DAZN subscription is required — there is no free legal way to watch in Japan while DAZN holds the exclusive rights. DAZN Japan’s Standard plan is sold as a monthly or an annual subscription, and prices are revised from time to time, so check the current figure at dazn.com before you sign up.

What you should not do is hunt for a pirate stream. Illegal feeds are unreliable, frequently killed mid-match, and against the law. For a once-in-a-lifetime farewell at 8:00 on a Wednesday morning, a proper DAZN subscription is the only sensible option.

Key takeaways

Argentina vs Benin — Messi’s farewell — streams exclusively on DAZN in Japan.
Kickoff is 8:00 AM JST on Wednesday 7 October 2026 (23:00 UTC; 20:00 Tuesday in Buenos Aires).
Watch in the DAZN app on phones, tablets, smart TVs, streaming sticks and game consoles, or at dazn.com.
A DAZN subscription is required; full-match replays and highlights are available on demand afterwards.

Don't miss Messi's last dance

Twenty-one years after his Argentina debut, Lionel Messi pulls on the Albiceleste shirt for the last time — in front of more than 80,000 people at the Monumental, with his World Cup-winning teammates back to honour him. In Japan, DAZN is the only place to watch it live: get the subscription sorted before matchday, set the alarm for 8:00 AM, and check our full country-by-country TV guide if you will be travelling. On the morning, follow the live score with us.

Questions people ask

What time is Argentina vs Benin in Japan?

Kickoff is 8:00 AM Japan Standard Time on Wednesday 7 October 2026 — 23:00 UTC on Tuesday, and 20:00 local time in Buenos Aires. DAZN Japan lists the match at 8:00 AM JST, so open the app a few minutes early to catch the pre-match farewell ceremony for Messi.

Is Argentina vs Benin free on DAZN Japan?

No. DAZN holds the exclusive rights in Japan, so there is no free legal way to watch the match. You need an active DAZN subscription — monthly or annual — signed up at dazn.com or through the app. Avoid illegal pirate streams: they are unreliable, often taken down mid-match, and against the law.

What devices can I watch DAZN Japan on?

The DAZN app works on iOS and Android phones and tablets, in web browsers on laptops, and on smart TVs including Samsung, LG and Android TV, plus Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and Chromecast. PlayStation and Xbox consoles are supported too, so you can watch on the biggest screen in the house.

Does DAZN Japan show Argentina's other October friendlies?

Yes. DAZN Japan also carried Argentina's other October 2026 friendlies: Argentina vs Bolivia on 1 October and Argentina vs Burkina Faso on 4 October. The Benin match on 7 October is the last of the three — and the one that matters most, as Messi's farewell in the Albiceleste shirt.

Will DAZN Japan have Japanese commentary?

DAZN Japan's football coverage typically includes Japanese commentary, and a match of this size is expected to get the full treatment. Audio options can vary by event, so check the match page inside the DAZN app on 7 October to confirm the commentary languages available before kickoff.

Can I watch a replay if I miss the 8:00 AM kickoff?

Yes. DAZN offers full-match replays and highlights on demand after the final whistle, so you can watch the entire farewell later in the day. The replay usually appears in the app within hours of the match ending — just avoid the scoreline if you want to stay unspoiled.