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Proton VPN added 89 new Brazilian servers to combat network congestion

This follows intense World Cup streaming traffic that flooded its servers

Football fans globally are using VPNs to watch matches on CazeTV

Proton VPN has been forced to drastically expand its South American infrastructure, deploying 89 new servers in Brazil over a single week to combat massive network congestion caused by 2026 World Cup streaming.

The Swiss-based privacy provider confirmed the rapid rollout after its existing Brazilian servers struggled under the immense weight of international fans bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the tournament. The massive influx of traffic specifically spiked during the Brazilian national team's matches, grinding connections to a halt for some users.

According to Proton VPN , the culprit is the immense popularity of CazeTV , a Brazilian YouTube channel showing the entire tournament for free. Savvy football fans are utilizing the best VPN services to route their internet traffic through Brazil, unlocking the geo-blocked broadcast.

The sudden demand forced the company’s engineering team to take drastic action ahead of the heavily anticipated Brazil vs. Norway fixture, working overnight to ensure their network could handle the load.

"Please don't break these too"

The sheer scale of the server upgrade highlights just how much bandwidth live 4K streaming demands.

General Manager at Proton VPN, David Peterson, confirmed the emergency rollout in a post on X (translated from Portuguese): "Fans, you can rest easy: the ProtonVPN infrastructure team pulled an all-nighter reinforcing servers in Brazil. That's +59, on top of the 30 already added this week."

Every time Brazil play, our 🇧🇷 servers get flooded.We assume Brazilians abroad are connecting to our Brazil servers to watch the World Cup for free on the CazéTV YouTube channel.We've added a bunch more servers to help with that. Please don't break these too. https://t.co/7ntWPEAUHV July 5, 2026

Peterson assured users that the network was now ready, adding: "To watch Brazil vs. Norway today via Proton VPN, just connect and cheer."

The official Proton VPN account also took to X to address the unprecedented traffic surges directly.

"Every time Brazil plays, our 🇧🇷 servers get flooded," the company stated. "We assume Brazilians abroad are connecting to our Brazil servers to watch the World Cup for free on the CazéTV YouTube channel. We've added a bunch more servers to help with that. Please don't break these too."

How CazeTV is driving the VPN boom

If you are already using a VPN to tune in to the World Cup , Proton VPN’s swift infrastructure upgrade is excellent news.

Adding extra servers directly increases the overall bandwidth available in the region. This reduces the load on individual servers, meaning your connection is much less likely to stutter just as your team lines up to take a crucial penalty.

For those who want to try the workaround themselves, the setup process remains incredibly simple. You can read our full guide on how to watch CazeTV from outside Brazil with a VPN for step-by-step instructions.

Just remember that streaming 4K video requires strong, consistent speeds. Furthermore, most free VPN plans restrict access to South American servers, so you will likely need a premium subscription to reliably grab a virtual seat in the stadium.

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A Ghost in the Shell tabletop RPG is inbound, and it plunges players straight into the beloved story by letting them create their own Section 9 agent.

Developed by Mantic Games (the studio behind wargames like Halo: Flashpoint) and due to launch on Backerit later in July, this Ghost in the Shell tabletop RPG is based on the manga by Shirow Masamune rather than the anime. It promises to be "the most authentic tabletop roleplaying experience ever created" for the franchise, and features a custom system put together by the legendary designer Alessio Cavatore (co-creator of Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game, Mordheim, Kings of War, and more) alongside Zak Barouh, an award-winning tabletop RPG writer.

It's still early days so we can't tell for sure how this system will compare to the best tabletop RPGs , but Mantic promises that it "combines fast-paced, narrative-driven mechanics with the philosophical depth and visual flair that define The Ghost in the Shell." Judging by the sneak-peek via DrivethruRPG , it appears to use different dice to represent your character's skill rather than static numbers that provide a bonus. They might use a d8 for reflexes but have a d12 for hacking, say.

(Image credit: Mantic Games) A lot also seems to hinge on your character's "Synthesis Conflict" that represents an inner conflict they're fighting. This provides "a way to reflect character development through a personal story tied to each Player Character," and uses aspects like duty vs. family, humanity vs. technology, or tradition vs. progress.

Not that the Ghost in the Shell tabletop RPG is purely philosophical, of course; you'll need to arm up with cybernetic enhancements along with a host of weapons to battle corruption in this dystopian future, and it seems as though you'll be able to use miniatures for fights if you'd like.

We'll be able to find out soon enough. The Ghost in the Shell: Tabletop Roleplaying Game will launch on Backerit this July 28, and backers will immediately receive the full digital rulebook as a PDF after the campaign ends.

For more tabletop recommendations, why not drop in on the best board games ? If you're planning a vacation this summer, it's also worth visiting our guide to the best travel board games in case there's something you can add to your suitcase.

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DAMASCUS — Two blasts rocked the Syrian capital near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron is staying during a visit for talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

In a statement shared on X after the incident, Macron confirmed his visit would continue and praised the “aspiration” of the Syrian people. “This morning I met Syria in all its diversity. I saw dignity, courage and determination,” read the post. “My visit continues.”

Macron’s convoy had just left the hotel when the first explosion hit. “`The Elysée Palace has confirmed the French president is safe.

“We are currently at the presidential palace where the expanded meeting between the presidents and their delegation is taking place,” an Elysée official told POLITICO.

The blasts occurred just outside Syria’s Ministry of Tourism, near the Four Seasons hotel where Macron held meetings Tuesday morning.

Syria’s Ministry of the Interior reported 18 people injured, including four police officers. Both devices were improvised, said the ministry. The first blast came from inside a trash container and the second from a parked car, which detonated near an ambulance a few meters away.

This visit marks the first time a European head of state has visited Damascus since 2024, when groups led by al-Sharaa brought an end to the administration of Bashar al-Assad. It was meant to showcase the transformation of Syrian politics under the new president, who has worked to establish positive relations with Western powers.