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Four apps. Four different approaches to live football. Four different price points. And the question every fan eventually asks: which one is actually worth paying for?
The honest answer is that no single service covers everything. The Premier League is on one platform, Champions League on another, La Liga on a third. The streaming industry has carved football into pieces and sold each piece to the highest bidder. For fans, that means choosing which pieces matter most — and paying only for those.
This guide puts DAZN, ESPN+, FuboTV, and Peacock side by side on every metric that affects your decision: football coverage, total sports content, stream quality, pricing, device support, and the hidden costs that don’t appear on the marketing page. By the end, you’ll know exactly which service (or combination) matches how you watch football.
The Quick Verdict
If you’re short on time, here’s the answer:
Best for Premier League: Peacock. No contest. All 380 matches for $7.99/month.
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Best for multi-league European football: ESPN+. La Liga, Bundesliga, FA Cup, and more for $11.99/month.
Best cable replacement with football included: FuboTV. Most sports channels of any streaming service, but at $85/month.
Best outside the US: DAZN. Coverage varies by country, but DAZN Canada and DAZN Germany offer some of the best multi-league packages in the world.
If you want the full analysis, keep reading.
Round 1: Football Coverage
This is what matters most. Which football can you actually watch on each platform?
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Peacock
Peacock’s football offering is narrow but deep. It carries all 380 Premier League matches for the 2025-26 season — the only platform in the US that provides complete coverage. This includes matches exclusive to Peacock that don’t air on NBC’s linear TV channels, full-match replays (typically available within hours of the final whistle), and a 24/7 Premier League TV channel with studio shows, classic matches, and analysis.
What Peacock doesn’t carry: Champions League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, or any other European domestic league. If you follow football beyond the Premier League, Peacock alone won’t be enough.
Football coverage score: 7/10 — Perfect for Premier League, nothing else.
ESPN+
ESPN+ is the broadest football platform in the US market. Its rights portfolio includes La Liga (all matches), Bundesliga (all matches), FA Cup (all rounds), Carabao Cup, FA Women’s Super League, Eredivisie, selected Liga MX matches, and Australian A-League. For fans who follow multiple European leagues, ESPN+ covers more ground per dollar than any competitor.
What ESPN+ doesn’t carry: Premier League (that’s Peacock) and Champions League (that’s Paramount+). The two biggest single properties in world football are absent.
Football coverage score: 8/10 — The widest range of leagues, missing only the two biggest prizes.
FuboTV
FuboTV’s football coverage is a byproduct of its massive channel lineup rather than dedicated football rights. Because FuboTV includes NBC, CBS Sports, ESPN channels, Fox Sports, and beIN Sports (depending on the plan), it picks up Premier League matches (via NBC/USA Network), Champions League (via CBS), La Liga and Bundesliga (via ESPN), Ligue 1, and Liga MX (via beIN Sports and Fox). In Canada, FuboTV holds exclusive rights to all 380 Premier League matches.
The catch: not every match from every league airs on linear TV channels. FuboTV gives you whatever those channels broadcast, which for the Premier League means a portion of matches — not all 380. For complete Premier League coverage in the US, you still need Peacock.
Football coverage score: 7/10 — Broadest channel-based coverage, but incomplete for any single league.
DAZN
DAZN’s football coverage depends entirely on where you access it. In the US, DAZN focuses primarily on combat sports (boxing, MMA) with limited football content. But in other territories, DAZN is a football powerhouse.
DAZN Germany carries Bundesliga (Friday and Sunday matches), Champions League, and Serie A. DAZN Spain carries La Liga and Premier League. DAZN Italy carries all Serie A matches, La Liga, and Premier League. DAZN Canada carries Champions League, Premier League, Serie A, and Ligue 1 — making it arguably the single best football subscription in any country.
For US-based fans, DAZN’s football value is minimal. For fans in Germany, Spain, Italy, or Canada, it’s essential.
Football coverage score (US): 3/10 — Limited football in the American market. Football coverage score (international): 9/10 — World-class in select territories.
Round 2: Beyond Football — Total Sports Content
Football isn’t the only sport on these platforms. If you watch other sports, the total package matters.
Peacock
Beyond Premier League, Peacock carries Sunday Night Football (NFL), Big Ten college football and basketball, PGA Tour golf (select events), Olympic sports, cycling (Tour de France), and WWE events. Starting in 2026, Peacock also offers access to NBC-owned regional sports networks for an additional fee, covering local NBA, NHL, and MLB teams in select markets.
Peacock is a strong secondary sports platform but not comprehensive. If your primary non-football sport is the NFL, NBA, or Olympics, Peacock fills gaps that other services don’t.
ESPN+
ESPN+ is a sports content machine. Beyond football, it carries UFC (all events from 2026), NHL (select games), college football and basketball, PGA Tour and LPGA, tennis (Australian Open, Wimbledon), cricket, rugby, boxing, and one of the deepest on-demand libraries in sports streaming — including the entire 30 for 30 documentary catalog. The integration within the main ESPN app means you can switch between live football, SportsCenter, and other content without changing apps.
For pure volume of sports content per dollar, ESPN+ is unmatched.
FuboTV
FuboTV is the most comprehensive sports package available. Its channel lineup includes ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, beIN Sports, Golf Channel, Olympic Channel, NFL Network, and over 100 other channels depending on the plan. Add-ons bring in NBA TV, NFL RedZone, and MLB Network. The unlimited DVR means you can record everything and watch on your schedule.
FuboTV is the closest equivalent to a traditional cable sports package. If you watch NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, golf, tennis, motorsports, and football, FuboTV covers more ground than any single alternative.
DAZN
In the US, DAZN’s non-football content centers on combat sports: boxing (including major PPV events), MMA, and related programming. It’s the best platform for boxing fans by a significant margin. Internationally, DAZN carries F1 (select territories), tennis, darts, and snooker alongside football.
Round 3: Stream Quality and User Experience
Peacock
HD standard on all plans. 4K available for select events (primarily Olympics and some Premier League matches). Up to 3 simultaneous streams. The Premier League hub is well-designed — upcoming matches, live games, replays, and standings are organized clearly. No DVR (on-demand replays replace the need). Replays are typically available within 2-3 hours of the final whistle and remain accessible for 30 days.
The interface is functional but not exceptional. Navigation can be cluttered with entertainment content competing for attention alongside sports.
ESPN+
HD standard, with 4K for select marquee events. The ESPN app — which houses ESPN+ — is one of the best-designed sports apps in the market. Live scores, breaking news, and streaming content coexist in a single interface. The “Watch” tab surfaces live and upcoming content by sport, making it easy to find football matches.
No traditional DVR, but replays and highlights are available on-demand. The integration with the broader ESPN ecosystem (scores, analysis, podcasts) adds genuine value beyond just watching matches.
FuboTV
HD standard, with 4K for select events (primarily North American sports). Up to 10 simultaneous streams on your home network — the highest of any service on this list. Unlimited cloud DVR with recordings stored for 9 months.
FuboTV’s interface is designed around the concept of channel surfing. If you’re coming from traditional cable, the experience feels familiar. But if you want to find a specific football match quickly, the channel-based structure can be less intuitive than the dedicated football hubs on Peacock or ESPN+.
The DVR is FuboTV’s killer feature. Record every match from every relevant channel automatically. For fans in inconvenient time zones — US-based fans watching Premier League morning kickoffs, for example — the DVR alone justifies the price.
DAZN
HD and 4K (where available). Clean, sports-only interface with no entertainment content diluting the experience. DAZN’s design is arguably the most focused of any platform — you open the app, you see sports, you watch. No TV shows, no movies, no recommended content outside your sporting interests.
Simultaneous streams vary by plan: typically 2 devices on the standard plan.
Round 4: Pricing Deep Dive
Here’s what you’ll actually pay — including the details the marketing pages don’t emphasize.
Peacock
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium | $7.99 | $79.99 | All Premier League, ads on non-live content |
| Premium Plus | $13.99 | $139.99 | Ad-free on-demand, downloads, live local NBC |
Hidden costs: None. Peacock’s pricing is transparent. The Premium plan at $7.99 includes everything you need for Premier League football. Premium Plus adds value primarily for entertainment viewers who want ad-free content.
Cost per match (Premier League): At $7.99/month over 10 months of season: approximately $0.21 per match. This is the cheapest cost-per-match for Premier League coverage in any English-speaking market.
ESPN+
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESPN+ standalone | $11.99 | $109.99 | All ESPN+ content including football |
| Disney Bundle | $16.99 | — | ESPN+ plus Disney+ and Hulu |
Hidden costs: Some premium UFC PPV events require additional purchase ($79.99-$99.99) on top of the subscription. For football fans, there are no additional costs — all league matches included in the base price.
Cost per match (La Liga + Bundesliga combined): At $11.99/month over 10 months: approximately $0.16 per match across both leagues. Exceptional value.
FuboTV
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pro | ~$85/month | — | 190+ channels, unlimited DVR |
| Elite | ~$95/month | — | 260+ channels, additional sports networks |
| Premier | ~$100/month | — | 280+ channels, premium entertainment |
Hidden costs: Regional Sports Fee — a variable monthly charge (typically $5-15/month) added based on your location to cover local sports network costs. This fee is not prominently displayed on the sign-up page. Some add-on packages (NFL RedZone, NBA TV) cost extra.
Actual monthly cost: $90-115/month when Regional Sports Fee and relevant add-ons are included. Significantly more expensive than the advertised base price.
Why it might still be worth it: FuboTV replaces cable. If you’re currently paying $100-200/month for a cable package plus streaming services, FuboTV at $90-115/month (including the Regional Sports Fee) may actually save money while providing comparable or better sports coverage.
DAZN
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | What You Get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Flex (US) | $29.99 | — | Combat sports, limited football |
| Monthly Saver (US) | $19.99 | $239.88 | Same content, 12-month commitment |
| International (varies) | $9.99-29.99 | varies | Region-dependent football coverage |
Hidden costs: PPV events for major boxing fights require separate purchase ($49.99-79.99) on top of the subscription. In the US, football content is minimal relative to the price — the $19.99-29.99/month is primarily paying for boxing and MMA.
International pricing advantage: DAZN Canada at approximately CAD$24.99/month includes Champions League, Premier League, Serie A, and Ligue 1. DAZN Germany at approximately €14.99/month (annual) or €29.99/month (monthly) includes Bundesliga and Champions League. For international fans, the value proposition is dramatically better than the US offering.
Round 5: Device Compatibility
All four services support the major platforms: iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, web browsers, PlayStation, and Xbox. The differences are in the details.
| Device | Peacock | ESPN+ | FuboTV | DAZN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart TV (Samsung/LG) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Apple TV | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Roku | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Amazon Fire TV | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| PlayStation | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Xbox | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Chromecast | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Smart DNS support | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Simultaneous streams | 3 | 3 | 10 (home) | 2 |
| DVR | ❌ (replays) | ❌ (replays) | ✅ Unlimited | ❌ (replays) |
FuboTV’s 10 simultaneous streams and unlimited DVR are significant advantages for households where multiple people watch different content simultaneously.
The Scenarios: Which Service Wins for You?
“I only watch the Premier League”
Winner: Peacock ($7.99/month)
No deliberation needed. All 380 matches, complete replay library, dedicated Premier League hub. At $7.99/month, it costs less per month than a single coffee shop visit. Peacock is the only US platform where you can follow every match from every team across the full season.
“I follow Premier League and Champions League”
Winner: Peacock ($7.99) + Paramount+ ($7.99) = $15.98/month
Neither DAZN, ESPN+, nor FuboTV can match this combination for $16/month. Peacock covers the Premier League. Paramount+ holds exclusive US rights to all Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League matches — plus Serie A as a bonus. Two subscriptions, complete coverage of the two biggest competitions in club football.
“I follow multiple European leagues”
Winner: ESPN+ ($11.99/month) as the foundation
ESPN+ covers La Liga, Bundesliga, FA Cup, Eredivisie, and more. Add Peacock ($7.99) for Premier League and Paramount+ ($7.99) for Champions League and Serie A. Total: $27.97/month for the most comprehensive European football coverage available in the US.
“I want football plus other sports, no cable”
Winner: FuboTV (~$85/month)
If you watch NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, golf, tennis, and football, FuboTV’s channel lineup covers more sports than any standalone combination. The unlimited DVR means you never miss a match or game regardless of scheduling conflicts. Yes, it’s the most expensive option — but it replaces a cable package that would cost as much or more.
Supplement with Peacock ($7.99) for complete Premier League coverage (FuboTV only carries matches that air on NBC/USA Network channels, not all 380).
“I live outside the US”
Winner: DAZN (territory-dependent)
DAZN Canada carries Premier League, Champions League, Serie A, and Ligue 1 in a single subscription — something no US platform offers. DAZN Germany covers Bundesliga and Champions League. DAZN Italy covers Serie A comprehensively. Check DAZN’s content library in your specific country before subscribing, as coverage varies dramatically.
“I’m on a strict budget”
Winner: ESPN+ ($11.99/month)
More leagues per dollar than any other platform. La Liga and Bundesliga alone justify the price — add FA Cup, Eredivisie, and Liga MX as bonuses. If $11.99/month is the maximum budget and you want the widest possible football coverage, ESPN+ is the answer.
For the absolute minimum spend on the most-watched single competition: Peacock at $7.99/month for the Premier League.
The Combination Strategy
The reality for serious football fans is that one subscription isn’t enough. But the right combination provides comprehensive coverage for less than the cost of cable.
The Essential Three ($27.97/month): Peacock ($7.99) + ESPN+ ($11.99) + Paramount+ ($7.99)
This covers: Premier League (all 380), Champions League, Europa League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, FA Cup, Eredivisie, and more. Every major European league and continental competition for under $28/month.
The Complete Package (~$44.96/month): Peacock ($7.99) + ESPN+ via Disney Bundle ($16.99) + Paramount+ ($7.99) + Apple TV ($9.99)
Adds: Disney+, Hulu, MLS (all matches), Formula 1, and Apple originals. Covers essentially every major football competition plus the two entertainment platforms most households want anyway.
Both options cost significantly less than a traditional cable subscription while providing more football content than cable ever did.
Final Comparison Table
| Category | Peacock | ESPN+ | FuboTV | DAZN (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $7.99/mo | $11.99/mo | ~$85/mo | $19.99/mo |
| Premier League | ✅ All 380 | ❌ | Partial | ❌ |
| Champions League | ❌ | ❌ | Partial (CBS) | ❌ |
| La Liga | ❌ | ✅ All | Partial (ESPN) | ❌ |
| Serie A | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Bundesliga | ❌ | ✅ All | Partial (ESPN) | ❌ |
| FA Cup | ❌ | ✅ All | ❌ | ❌ |
| NFL | ✅ SNF | ✅ MNF | ✅ Most games | ❌ |
| NBA | ✅ Select | ✅ Select | ✅ Most games | ❌ |
| Combat sports | ✅ WWE | ✅ UFC (2026) | ❌ | ✅ Boxing/MMA |
| DVR | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Unlimited | ❌ |
| Simultaneous streams | 3 | 3 | 10 | 2 |
| 4K available | Select | Select | Select | Select |
| Free trial | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ 7 days | ❌ |
| Best for | EPL fans | Multi-league | Cable cutters | International |
The Bottom Line
There is no single “best” streaming service for football. There is only the best service for how you watch football.
If you watch one league religiously, the answer is simple: Peacock for Premier League, ESPN+ for La Liga or Bundesliga, Paramount+ for Champions League or Serie A.
If you follow football broadly across leagues and competitions, the Essential Three combination at $27.97/month covers virtually everything and costs a fraction of any cable package.
If you need football plus NFL plus NBA plus everything else, FuboTV at $85/month replaces cable entirely — supplemented by Peacock at $7.99 for complete Premier League access.
The streaming landscape is fragmented, competitive, and sometimes frustrating. But compared to the cable era — when watching La Liga from the US required expensive international sports packages, when Champions League coverage was unpredictable, and when cord-cutting meant losing sports entirely — 2026 offers more football, on more devices, at lower prices than at any point in history.
The only bad decision is not choosing at all.
Pricing and coverage reflect publicly available information as of early 2026 and may change based on contract negotiations, promotional offers, and platform updates. Verify current pricing and content availability on official platform websites before subscribing. This article is for informational and educational purposes only.
