How to watch Argentina vs Benin live on Premier Sports in Ireland

Ireland gets the same exclusive coverage as the UK for Lionel Messi's Argentina farewell — Premier Sports shows Argentina vs Benin live on 6 October. Here is how to watch it.

Quick answer

Watch Argentina vs Benin live on Premier Sports in Ireland on 6 October 2026. The friendly — Lionel Messi’s farewell in an Argentina shirt — is exclusive to Premier Sports, which holds the Irish rights for all three of Argentina’s October friendlies. It also streams on the Premier Sports Player. Kickoff is 20:00 in Buenos Aires, which is midnight in Ireland — 00:00 IST on Wednesday 7 October.

Which channel shows Argentina vs Benin in Ireland?

Premier Sports is the home of this match in Ireland. The broadcaster holds exclusive rights for Argentina’s October series — the Bolivia and Burkina Faso friendlies as well as the Benin farewell — so Irish viewers get the full build-up, not just the 90 minutes. The game airs on the Premier Sports channel; the exact channel number depends on your provider (Sky, Virgin Media or direct streaming), so check the listings on matchday.

This is not on RTÉ. With a friendly of this magnitude — a sold-out Monumental saying goodbye to the greatest player in the country’s history — the rights went to subscription TV, and Premier Sports is where Irish fans need to be.

How to stream on the Premier Sports Player

The Premier Sports Player carries the channel live online, so you are not tied to the living-room TV — useful for a midnight kickoff. Subscribe directly at premiersports.com, sign in on the app or website, and watch on a phone, tablet, laptop or smart TV.

The Player shows the same feed as the TV channel, including pre-match build-up and half-time analysis. If you already get Premier Sports through Sky or Virgin Media, check whether streaming access is included in your package before paying twice.

What time does Argentina vs Benin start in Ireland?

Kickoff is Tuesday 6 October at 20:00 in Buenos Aires (23:00 UTC). Ireland is on Irish Standard Time (UTC+1) in early October, so the match starts at 00:00 IST on Wednesday 7 October — midnight, straight into Wednesday morning.

Set the alarm rather than trusting yourself to stay up: a midnight start after a working day is exactly how people miss the first half of historic nights.

Do you need a subscription?

Yes. Premier Sports is a subscription service in Ireland and there is no free legal broadcast of this match. Packages are available through TV providers or direct via the Premier Sports Player — check premiersports.com for current Irish pricing and any monthly versus annual options.

Skip the pirate streams. They collapse under big audiences, and for Messi’s last night in an Argentina shirt that is a risk not worth taking.

Key takeaways

• Argentina vs Benin — Messi’s farewell — is live and exclusive on Premier Sports in Ireland.
• Stream it on the Premier Sports Player with a subscription.
• Kickoff is midnight: 00:00 IST on Wednesday 7 October.
• Not on RTÉ — a Premier Sports subscription is required.

Don't miss Messi's last dance

Midnight kickoffs are part of the deal for Irish football fans, and this one is worth it — the last time Lionel Messi wears the Argentina shirt, at a sold-out Monumental with his World Cup-winning teammates back to honour him. Get Premier Sports sorted before matchday, set the alarm, and check our full country-by-country TV guide if you will be anywhere else. On the night, follow the live score with us.

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