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There is no single app that shows every football match. That’s the first thing you need to know, and it’s the reason this guide exists.
Broadcasting rights for football are sold country by country, league by league, competition by competition.
The Premier League alone has different broadcasters in over 150 territories. Champions League rights are split between multiple platforms in most countries.
La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 each have their own patchwork of deals. The result is a fragmented landscape where watching all the football you want requires understanding which app carries which league, in which country, at what price.
In the US, a fan who wants to follow the Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, and Serie A needs a minimum of three separate subscriptions. In the UK, it’s worse — Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and at least one additional platform, and you still can’t watch every Premier League match due to the Saturday 3 PM blackout rule.
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This guide covers the best legitimate apps for watching live football in 2026. We’ve organized them by what they do best, what they cost, and which leagues they carry — so you can build the combination that covers exactly what you want to watch without paying for content you don’t.
How We Evaluated
Every app was assessed on four criteria: league coverage (which competitions are available), stream quality and reliability during live matches, pricing and value relative to content offered, and device compatibility. We prioritized apps with official broadcasting rights — every app in this guide is fully licensed and legal.
The Best Football Streaming Apps
1. Peacock — Best for Premier League
Peacock is the most cost-effective way to watch the Premier League in the English-speaking world. For US-based fans, it’s non-negotiable: Peacock carries all 380 Premier League matches per season, including matches not broadcast on NBC’s linear TV channels.
No other single subscription provides complete Premier League coverage at this price point anywhere in the world.
Football coverage: All 380 Premier League matches (2025-26 season). Full-match replays typically available within hours of the final whistle. A dedicated 24/7 Premier League TV channel featuring studio shows, classic match replays, and pre-match analysis. Sunday Night Football (NFL) and other NBC Sports content included.
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Stream quality: HD streaming standard on all plans. Peacock supports up to 3 simultaneous streams, which is adequate for most households. The interface includes a dedicated Premier League hub that makes finding live and upcoming matches straightforward.
Pricing:
- Peacock Premium: $7.99/month or $79.99/year (includes ads during on-demand content, no ads during live sports)
- Peacock Premium Plus: $13.99/month or $139.99/year (ad-free on-demand, downloads available, live local NBC channel)
Device compatibility: iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, PlayStation, Xbox, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, web browsers.
Who it’s for: Any fan whose primary focus is the English Premier League. At $7.99/month for complete 380-match coverage, Peacock offers the best value per match of any football streaming service in 2026. UK fans using a VPN to access Peacock save over £45/month compared to the Sky Sports + TNT Sports combination — while getting access to more matches.
What it doesn’t cover: No Champions League, no La Liga, no Serie A, no Bundesliga. Peacock is laser-focused on Premier League and NBC Sports content. You’ll need additional subscriptions for European competitions.
2. ESPN+ — Best Value for Multi-League Coverage
ESPN+ is the Swiss Army knife of football streaming. No other app at this price point covers as many leagues and competitions.
If you follow European football broadly — not just one league — ESPN+ delivers the most content per dollar of any platform on the market.
Football coverage: La Liga (all matches), Bundesliga (all matches), FA Cup, Carabao Cup, FA Women’s Super League, Eredivisie, Liga MX, Australian A-League, and selected international friendlies. ESPN+ has quietly built one of the deepest football libraries of any US-based streaming service.
Stream quality: HD standard. 4K available for select marquee matches. ESPN+ integrates within the main ESPN app, meaning you can switch between live football, highlights, analysis, and other sports content without changing apps.
Pricing:
- ESPN+ standalone: $11.99/month or $109.99/year
- Disney Bundle (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+): $16.99/month — adds two major entertainment platforms for $5 more
Device compatibility: iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, PlayStation, Xbox, Samsung Smart TV, web browsers.
Who it’s for: Fans who follow multiple European leagues and want a single subscription that covers La Liga, Bundesliga, and domestic cups. The Disney Bundle at $16.99/month is exceptional value if your household also watches entertainment content. ESPN+ is also the best option for FA Cup coverage in the US.
What it doesn’t cover: No Premier League (that’s Peacock). No Champions League (that’s Paramount+). ESPN+ covers breadth across domestic leagues but not the biggest single-league or continental competition rights.
3. Paramount+ — Best for Champions League
If Champions League nights are when football matters most to you, Paramount+ is your only option in the United States. It holds exclusive US rights to every UEFA club competition: Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League. There is no legal alternative for these matches in the US market.
Football coverage: UEFA Champions League (all matches), UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League, Serie A (Italian top flight), NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League), select Coppa Italia matches. Paramount+ also carries NFL, college sports, and CBS Sports content.
Stream quality: HD and 4K available on select matches. The Champions League multiview feature allows watching multiple simultaneous matches during group stage matchdays — essential when multiple games with title implications kick off at the same time.
Pricing:
- Paramount+ Essential: $7.99/month (includes ads, live sports included)
- Paramount+ with Showtime: $13.99/month (ad-free, includes Showtime content)
Device compatibility: iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, PlayStation, Xbox, Smart TVs, web browsers.
Who it’s for: Champions League is the premier club competition in world football. If Tuesday and Wednesday nights in the Champions League are sacred, Paramount+ is mandatory. The addition of Serie A makes it particularly strong for fans of Italian football. At $7.99/month for the essential plan, it’s competitively priced.
What it doesn’t cover: No Premier League, no La Liga, no Bundesliga. Paramount+ is focused on UEFA competitions and Serie A.
4. FuboTV — Best All-in-One Cable Replacement
FuboTV is the closest thing to traditional cable for cord-cutters who want live football alongside the full spectrum of live TV channels.
It’s the most expensive option on this list, but it’s also the most comprehensive — combining live football, other sports, news, and entertainment in a single subscription.
Football coverage: Premier League (via NBC and USA Network channels), Champions League (via CBS Sports channels), Liga MX, Ligue 1, selected Bundesliga matches, CONCACAF competitions, international friendlies, and FIFA tournament qualifiers.
FuboTV includes channels like beIN Sports, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, CBS Sports Network, and ESPN networks depending on the plan.
In Canada, FuboTV holds exclusive rights to all 380 Premier League matches — making it the most complete Premier League option for Canadian fans.
Stream quality: HD standard. 4K available for select events (primarily North American sports). Unlimited cloud DVR — record any match and watch later with no storage limits (recordings expire after 9 months). Up to 10 simultaneous streams on your home network.
Pricing:
- Pro plan: approximately $79.99/month (190+ channels)
- Elite plan: approximately $89.99/month (260+ channels, includes additional sports networks)
- Premier plan: approximately $99.99/month (280+ channels, includes Showtime and other premium networks)
Device compatibility: iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Xbox, web browsers.
Who it’s for: Fans who want to replace cable entirely and need football alongside other live TV. Families where different members watch different sports — FuboTV covers football, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, golf, tennis, and more. The unlimited DVR is a genuine advantage for fans in time zones where matches kick off at inconvenient hours. Canadian fans who want complete Premier League coverage.
What it doesn’t cover at base price: Some regional sports networks require additional fees. The absence of TNT (NBA, MLB playoffs) is a gap for multi-sport fans.
5. DAZN — Best for Global Football Access
DAZN operates differently from every other app on this list. Instead of being tied to one country, DAZN holds football rights across multiple territories worldwide — but the content library changes dramatically depending on where you access it.
DAZN in the US is combat-sports focused. DAZN in Germany carries Bundesliga. DAZN in Spain carries La Liga. DAZN in Canada carries Champions League and Premier League.
Football coverage (varies by region):
- DAZN Global (200+ territories): NFL Game Pass, selected boxing and MMA
- DAZN Germany/Austria: Bundesliga (Friday and Sunday matches), Champions League, Serie A
- DAZN Spain: La Liga, Premier League
- DAZN Italy: Serie A (all matches), La Liga, Premier League
- DAZN Canada: Champions League, Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1, MLS
- DAZN Japan: J-League, Champions League, La Liga, Serie A
Stream quality: HD and 4K (where available). DAZN’s interface is clean and sports-focused — no entertainment content diluting the experience.
Pricing: Varies significantly by region. Ranges from approximately $9.99/month (some territories) to $29.99/month (premium markets like Germany and Spain). The US version is $19.99/month and focuses primarily on combat sports.
Device compatibility: iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Smart TVs, web browsers.
Who it’s for: Fans outside the US who want multi-league football coverage on a single platform. DAZN Canada is arguably the best single football subscription in the world, covering Champions League, Premier League, and multiple domestic European leagues. For US-based fans, DAZN’s football offering is limited — ESPN+, Peacock, and Paramount+ are better options.
6. YouTube TV — Best User Experience
YouTube TV isn’t a football-specific app, but its interface, reliability, and channel lineup make it one of the smoothest ways to watch live football in the US.
It includes the channels that carry football — NBC, CBS, Fox, ESPN — meaning it picks up Premier League, Champions League, and other content broadcast on those networks.
Football coverage: Premier League matches broadcast on NBC and USA Network, Champions League on CBS, selected La Liga and Bundesliga on ESPN networks, MLS on Fox Sports.
Coverage depends on which matches the channels carry on any given matchday — not all matches are on linear TV.
Stream quality: HD standard. Unlimited cloud DVR with no storage cap — recordings are kept for 9 months. The DVR is YouTube TV’s strongest feature for football fans: record every match from every relevant channel and watch on your schedule.
Pricing: $82.99/month (100+ channels). Add-on packages available for additional sports content.
Device compatibility: iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, PlayStation, Xbox, web browsers.
Who it’s for: Fans who want the best overall live TV experience and are willing to pay premium prices. YouTube TV’s interface is genuinely superior to every competitor — intuitive search, excellent recommendations, and the most reliable DVR in the streaming industry.
If you pair YouTube TV with Peacock ($7.99) and Paramount+ ($7.99) for complete Premier League and Champions League coverage, the total of approximately $99/month replaces cable entirely.
7. Apple TV — Best for MLS
Apple TV’s partnership with MLS represents a unique model in football streaming: every single MLS match, in one place, with no blackouts, no regional restrictions, and no fragmented broadcast deals.
Football coverage: MLS Season Pass includes every regular season match, every playoff match, and Leagues Cup. Starting in 2026, Apple TV also carries all Formula 1 races in its standard subscription. Selected international friendlies and CONCACAF content.
Stream quality: 4K HDR available for most MLS matches. Apple’s production quality is among the highest in sports streaming — the visual presentation is noticeably superior to most competitors.
Pricing:
- Apple TV+: $9.99/month (includes MLS Season Pass as of 2026, plus F1 and all Apple original content)
- MLS Season Pass standalone: $14.99/month or $99/season (if purchased separately without Apple TV+ subscription)
Device compatibility: iOS, Android (limited), Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, PlayStation, Xbox, web browsers.
Who it’s for: MLS fans who want complete, blackout-free coverage. The inclusion of MLS Season Pass in the standard Apple TV+ subscription makes it exceptional value for fans who also enjoy Apple’s entertainment content.
Side-by-Side Comparison: Which Leagues Are on Which App?
| League/Competition | Peacock | ESPN+ | Paramount+ | FuboTV | DAZN (US) | YouTube TV | Apple TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | ✅ All 380 | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Partial | ❌ | ✅ Partial | ❌ |
| Champions League | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ All | ✅ Via CBS | ❌ | ✅ Via CBS | ❌ |
| La Liga | ❌ | ✅ All | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Via ESPN | ❌ |
| Serie A | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ All | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Bundesliga | ❌ | ✅ All | ❌ | ✅ Partial | ❌ | ✅ Via ESPN | ❌ |
| Ligue 1 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Via beIN | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| FA Cup | ❌ | ✅ All | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Via ESPN | ❌ |
| MLS | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ All |
| Liga MX | ❌ | ✅ Partial | ❌ | ✅ Partial | ❌ | ✅ Partial | ❌ |
The Budget Build: Maximum Football, Minimum Spend
If your goal is to watch as much football as possible while spending as little as possible, here are the optimal combinations for US-based fans.
Essentials package — $27.97/month: Peacock Premium ($7.99) + ESPN+ ($11.99) + Paramount+ Essential ($7.99). This combination covers the Premier League (all 380 matches), Champions League, Europa League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup. That’s every major European league and continental competition for less than $28/month. Compare this to a UK fan paying £62/month for Sky Sports + TNT Sports and still missing matches.
Essentials + MLS — $37.96/month: Add Apple TV+ ($9.99) to the essentials package for complete MLS coverage plus F1 and Apple’s entertainment library.
Complete cord-cutter — $95.97/month: FuboTV Pro ($79.99) + Peacock ($7.99) + Paramount+ ($7.99). Replaces cable entirely while covering football, NFL, NBA, NHL, and more. The FuboTV DVR means you never miss a match regardless of time zone.
UK-Specific Guide
UK fans face the most fragmented — and most expensive — football viewing landscape in the world.
Current UK costs for football coverage: Sky Sports (Premier League + other sports): approximately £22/month on the Sky Sports package. TNT Sports (Champions League + 52 Premier League matches): approximately £30.99/month. Total for basic coverage: approximately £52.99/month — and you still can’t watch all 380 Premier League matches because of the Saturday 3 PM blackout.
The VPN alternative: Using a VPN to access US streaming services changes the equation dramatically. Peacock ($7.99/month) provides all 380 Premier League matches. Paramount+ ($7.99/month) provides all Champions League matches. ESPN+ ($11.99/month) adds La Liga, Bundesliga, and FA Cup. Total: approximately $28/month (roughly £22/month) for more comprehensive coverage than the £53/month UK package provides. Add a VPN subscription of approximately £2-3/month and the total is still under £25/month. This approach requires a US payment method or a VPN provider that works with US-based streaming platforms.
Free Options Worth Knowing About
Pluto TV (US, free): Ad-supported service with a CBS Sports HQ channel and occasional live sports content. Not reliable for specific match coverage but useful for highlights and sports news.
BBC iPlayer (UK, free with license): Premier League highlights via Match of the Day. No live matches, but comprehensive highlight packages available the evening after matches.
Tubi (US, free): Carries selected CONCACAF Champions Cup, Liga MX Femenil, and UEFA Women’s Champions League matches. Limited football content but completely free.
RTÉ Player (Ireland, free): Selected Champions League matches broadcast free-to-air. Accessible from other countries with a VPN connected to an Irish server.
Idman TV (Azerbaijan, free): Broadcasts all Premier League matches and selected La Liga and Champions League matches. Available outside Azerbaijan via VPN. Interface is in Azerbaijani but can be switched to English.
What to Expect in Late 2026 and Beyond
The football streaming landscape is shifting. Disney’s planned merger of Hulu + Live TV into the Disney+ app will reshape how US fans access live football through ESPN networks. ESPN’s standalone streaming service — separating from the Disney Bundle — is expected to launch, potentially consolidating football rights currently split between ESPN+ and Disney’s cable channels.
DAZN continues to aggressively acquire rights globally and may expand its US football offering beyond combat sports. The Premier League’s next international broadcast deal (2028-2031) could redistribute rights across platforms.
For now, the combination of Peacock + ESPN+ + Paramount+ remains the most efficient way to cover major European football in the US. But the landscape changes faster than most other entertainment categories — staying informed about rights shifts is part of being a modern football fan.
Pricing and league coverage reflect publicly available information as of early 2026. Broadcasting rights and platform availability change based on contract negotiations. Verify current pricing on official platform websites before subscribing. This article is for informational and educational purposes only.
