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How To Watch Soccer

Soccer fans can get their kicks with these fútbol-friendly TV providers and streaming services.

Editor's choice
Fubo
Soccer channels:
NBC, FOX, ESPN, beIN SPORTS, TUDN, Fubo Sports Network, and GolTV
DVR storage:
Unlimited (for 9 mos.)
Free trial:
7 days
Soccer channels:
NBC, FOX, ESPN, beIN SPORTS, TUDN, Fubo Sports Network, and GolTV
DVR storage:
Unlimited (for 9 mos.)
Free trial:
7 days
Best value
ESPN+
Leagues:
Bundesliga, La Liga, Emirates FA Cup, and more
DVR storage:
N/A
Free trial:
N/A
Leagues:
Bundesliga, La Liga, Emirates FA Cup, and more
DVR storage:
N/A
Free trial:
N/A
Best soccer & entertainment
Paramount+
Leagues:
UEFA Champions League, Serie A, NWSL, EFL Championship, and more
DVR storage:
N/A
Free trial:
N/A
Leagues:
UEFA Champions League, Serie A, NWSL, EFL Championship, and more
DVR storage:
N/A
Free trial:
N/A
Every MLS game
MLS Season Pass
Leagues:
MLS and Leagues Cup
DVR storage:
N/A
Free trial:
N/A
Leagues:
MLS and Leagues Cup
DVR storage:
N/A
Free trial:
N/A
Cheapest
OTA Antenna
Soccer channels:
ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX
Features:
All local broadcast channels
Contract:
N/A
Soccer channels:
ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX
Features:
All local broadcast channels
Contract:
N/A

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Fubo’s Elite with Sports Plus plan ($99.99 a month) is the best overall TV package for soccer action. It offers 300+ channels, including the most soccer-oriented networks out of any TV provider. These channels encompass leagues such as the English Premier League, Ligue 1, and Major League Soccer (MLS) with both English- and Spanish-language coverage.

But if you seek a lower monthly price, ESPN+ offers the most bang for your buck at $11.99 a month. While traditional sports channels aren’t included with the subscription, you’ll still have access to all games from the Bundesliga, La Liga, and the FA Cup. Paramount+ also offers a handful of the world’s top soccer leagues if you want a taste of the beautiful game alongside a wide selection of movies and TV series.

Not every league is on the same set of channels, so if you’re after a specific one, we’ll explain which channels score you your favs.

Get the best soccer coverage for your TV setup

Whether you want a traditional cable or satellite TV service or need a more reliable internet plan for streaming, we’ll point you in the right direction. Enter your zip code below to find the best TV and internet providers available in your area.

What TV channel is soccer on?

The best soccer channel is the one that airs the games you want to see. But some soccer leagues are no longer accessible on traditional TV channels. In fact, you may need to sign up for a streaming service (or two) to watch your favorite team in action across all competitions. That’s why it’s essential that you know which competitions your favorite club participates in and where you must go to watch those games.

Best channels for watching soccer

Best TV providers for watching soccer

  • Editor’s choice: Fubo ($32.99–$89.99/mo.)
  • Best value: ESPN+ ($11.99/mo. or $119.99/yr.)
  • Best for soccer and entertainment: Paramount+ ($7.99–$12.99/mo. or $59.99–$119.99/yr.)
  • Cheapest: Over-the-air antenna ($20.00–$60.00 one-time purchase)

Editor’s choice: Fubo

Recommended plan:
Elite with Sports Plus ($99.99/mo.)
Soccer channels:
NBC, FOX, ESPN, beIN SPORTS, Univision, Fubo Sports Network, and GolTV
Features:
Unlimited DVR storage, 10 simultaneous streams

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Compatible device and internet connection required.

Pros

  • Large channel lineups for sports
  • Many add-on options
  • beIN SPORTS and TUDN overflow channels

Cons

  • Expensive plans
  • No TBS, TNT, and truTV

Some refer to Fubo (formerly fuboTV) as Netflix for soccer fans, and that’s not far off. Each of Fubo’s three main plans features 190+ channels, with a majority of them pertaining to sports. That’s exactly why it’s one of CableTV.com’s favorite streaming services for sports.

We recommend Fubo’s Elite with Sports Plus plan. For $99.99 a month, you’ll get a boatload of channels and unlimited DVR space. More importantly, you’ll have access to over 30 channels that offer soccer coverage. Because of this, Fubo shows the most soccer games per day than any other live TV service out there. These matches appear on NBCUniversal, FOX Sports, beIN SPORTS, ESPN, and Univision channels.

Through Fubo alone, you’ll have English-language access to the Premier League, Ligue 1, and the FIFA World Cup. You’ll also get Champions League, Liga MX, and Leagues Cup matches en Español. But you may not get every game within those competitions.

Fubo screenshot of soccer player Isaác Brizuela celebrating with teammates.
Isaác Brizuela celebrates with his Guadalajara teammates after opening the scoring against Club Puebla as seen on Fubo through a web browser.

If you want a little extra, Fubo also offers channel add-ons. These are especially great if your enthusiasm for sports extends beyond soccer (hello, NFL RedZone and NBA League Pass). But its International Sports Plus add-on ($6.99 a month) can take your soccer viewing to the next stage with eight additional soccer-heavy channels, including GolTV and FOX Soccer Plus.

If you’re seeking specific leagues not found on traditional TV channels, ESPN+ and Paramount+ will most likely have your back.

Best value: ESPN Plus

Price:
$11.99/mo. or $119.99/yr.
Soccer leagues:
Bundesliga, La Liga, Emirates FA Cup, Scottish Premiership, United Soccer League (USL), Eredivisie, and more
Features:
On-demand ESPN content and ESPN+ originals

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Compatible device and internet connection required.

Pros

  • Plenty of live soccer and college sports
  • Rich on-demand library

Cons

  • No traditional ESPN channel access without TV provider login
  • No live NFL or NBA games

ESPN+ is the streaming service with the most soccer leagues. At $11.99 a month, you’ll get the best value for your money with the service’s extensive coverage of some of the world’s biggest leagues and tournaments.

Two of the world’s top leagues, the German Bundesliga and Spain’s La Liga, receive exclusive coverage on ESPN+. That means El Clásico and Der Klassiker are under the same roof. While select games from these leagues also air on ABC and ESPN, every game on ESPN+ has English- and Spanish-language options.

ESPN Plus screenshot of soccer player Arne Maier setting up to take a corner kick.
Hertha Berlin loanee Arne Maier sets up to take a corner in Augsburg’s match against Bayern München as viewed on ESPN+ through a web browser.

Pro tip: What do Robert Lewandowski, Baby Yoda, and June Osborne have in common? Probably not a whole lot, but you can watch all three of them when you bundle ESPN+ with Disney+ and Hulu for as low as $16.99 a month.

The major downside of ESPN+ is that you don’t get access to the traditional ESPN channels (ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNews) alongside your ESPN+ content without a login from a cable, satellite, or live TV streaming provider. From a soccer standpoint, this means ESPN+ won’t give you every MLS and college soccer match because those leagues aren’t exclusive to the service the way some of the foreign leagues are.

If you’re looking for a TV provider to pair with ESPN+, we recommend Hulu + Live TV or Sling TV for traditional ESPN access. Hulu + Live TV (starting at $81.99 a month) is a winning choice because it includes ESPN+ at no extra cost and has unlimited DVR space. But Sling TV’s Orange plan ($40.00 a month) is a much cheaper option for getting ESPN and ESPN2—though you’ll need a separate subscription to ESPN+.

Best for soccer and entertainment: Paramount Plus

Price:
$7.99–$12.99/mo. or $59.99–$119.99/yr.
Soccer leagues:
UEFA Champions League, Serie A, National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), Argentina Liga Profesional de Fútbol, and more
Features:
Large library of TV shows and movies

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Compatible device and internet connection required.

Pros

  • All live Champions League games
  • Live World Cup qualifiers from select confederations

Cons

  • Limited sports and movies
  • Small (but growing) lineup of original shows

Behind ESPN+, Paramount+ is the second most important streaming service for fans of the beautiful game (sorry, Peacock Premium). That’s because Paramount+ is home to every live game in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Conference League.

Through these leagues, you will see Europe’s top soccer teams in one app. Paramount+ also carries Serie A, Coppa Italia, and NWSL matches, as well as some CONCACAF and AFC competitions.

What separates Paramount+ from ESPN+ is that it’s not primarily a sports streaming service. That means you can also stream thousands of TV episodes and movies during the offseason or between matchdays of your favorite soccer leagues. You can literally go from watching Mo Salah score a worldie to Jean-Luc Picard trying to enjoy his retirement from Starfleet.

Paramount Plus screenshot of soccer player Mohamed Salah celebrating a goal.
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after converting a penalty against Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League as seen on Paramount+ through a web browser.

Paramount+ has two plans. Its Essential plan ($7.99 a month) comes with ad-based, on-demand content and doesn’t give you live TV streaming access to your local CBS station. On the other hand, its Paramount+ with SHOWTIME plan ($12.99 a month) has ad-free, on-demand content and in-app access to CBS and SHOWTIME.

No matter what plan you choose, you’ll have access to every sporting event unless it airs live on your local CBS channel (which you can watch via a digital antenna), so we recommend the Essential plan for $6.00 less a month—as long as you can stand the ads.

Cheapest: Over-the-air (OTA) HD TV antenna

Get free local channels
Price:
Mohu Leaf 50 ($39.99, one-time payment*)
Soccer channels:
ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX
Features:
All local broadcast channels

CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links. Amazon.com Price; $39.99 (as of 7/2/24 10:15 a.m. CT). Read full disclaimer.

Pros

  • Low, one-time price
  • Local coverage

Cons

  • No out-of-market coverage
  • No DVR

At the bare minimum, you should invest in an over-the-air (OTA) antenna to watch soccer games that play on your local TV stations. An antenna is a one-time purchase that’ll give you access to several channels depending on your location and the antenna’s range. We like the Mohu Leaf 50 because of its 60-mile range and lightweight design. But we highlight several other great antennas on our Best OTA Antennas page.

Local channels carry some of the biggest soccer matchups, like the recent MLS Playoffs and the NWSL Championship. You can watch select Premier League games on NBC, while other league fixtures air on ABC and FOX. CBS is also a go-to channel for some Champions League and NWSL games.

A digital antenna also provides coverage to some of the world’s biggest sporting events, like the FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the Olympics.

How to watch soccer for free

If you’re looking for (legal) ways to watch soccer without spending a penny, you won’t find much more than extended highlights, replays, and analysis programs. Regardless, you can catch those on the following services.

  • FIFA+: Soccer’s highest governing body recently launched its streaming service for free. It includes 40,000 live matches per year and an archive with over 2,000 hours of content—including every men’s and women’s World Cup match captured on video.
  • Canela.TV: Canela Media’s free streaming platform offers live and on-demand Spanish-language programming. Some of its sports offerings are like other free services, but its Canela Deportes channel has unique and original coverage.
  • OneFootball: The soccer media platform includes a TV hub with free games from K League 1, the Danish Superligaen, and the Ukrainian Premier League.
  • Pluto TV: This free service has 200+ live and on-demand channels, including CBS Sports Golazo Network, CBS Sports HQ, beIN SPORTS XTRA, and FOX Sports.
  • The Roku Channel: Roku’s free live TV service recently broke the 200-channel barrier, and it features channels like beIN SPORTS XTRA, Fubo Sports Network, ViX (formerly PrendeTV), and Real Madrid TV.
  • Tubi: With nearly 100 live and on-demand channels, Tubi’s sports offerings include beIN SPORTS XTRA, FOX Sports, Fubo Sports Network, and Real Madrid TV.
  • ViX: TelevisaUnivision’s streaming service offers Spanish-language soccer coverage with free channels like beIN SPORTS XTRA en Español, Zona TUDN, Lo Mejor de Liga MX, and Lo Mejor del Futbol Europeo.
  • Xumo Play: This live and on-demand service has 190+ free channels, including beIN SPORTS XTRA, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports, and Fubo Sports Network.

How to watch soccer FAQ

Where can I watch soccer on TV?

You can watch soccer across channels like NBC, ESPN, FS1, and beIN SPORTS. Cable, satellite, and live TV streaming services feature many soccer channels depending on your chosen plan. But we recommend Fubo for the best overall coverage.

What soccer leagues does ESPN have?

ESPN shows select college soccer games and matches from the German Bundesliga and Spain’s La Liga. A separate subscription to ESPN+ provides even more soccer coverage, including all Bundesliga, La Liga, and FA Cup games.

What is the best streaming service to watch soccer?

ESPN+ is a fantastic soccer streaming service because it carries matches from the German Bundesliga, La Liga, and NCAA Division I. But Paramount+ is also necessary for its coverage of the UEFA club competitions, EFL, and Serie A, while Peacock is a must-have for any Premier League and Olympic soccer fan.

What is the best channel for soccer?

The best channel for soccer is the one where you can find the most action from your favorite leagues. Fubo is the TV service with the most soccer channels, so you’ll most likely find the best channel for your soccer needs within its different plans.

Why you should trust us

Our soccer-crazed experts spent over 100 hours testing TV plans and streaming services to determine the best ways to watch domestic and international soccer. We evaluated each provider on several devices and compared prices, channel lineups, and league coverage.

To learn more about our methods, check out our How We Rank page.

CableTV.com Sports logo featuring animated athlete with raised hands.

Disclaimer

Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

*Amazon.com price as of 7/2/24 10:15 a.m. CT. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. CableTV.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time. 

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