10 Best Streaming Services for Football

I’m a football fan who travels a lot, so having access to a reliable site for streaming football, including NFL, college football, Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A, is important to me. I used to try any streaming site I could get my hands on, but the stream often buffered or froze, I had to click through multiple pages of ads, and I was always afraid of malware or other garbage infecting my computer.

After doing some research, I found the best legal streaming platforms for football. Some are free, while others provide a free trial period you can use to catch a specific game. I also installed the streaming apps on my Fire TV Stick, so I can take them with me wherever I go. At the same time, I downloaded the CyberGhost VPN app for Fire TV Stick so I could access my streaming accounts when I travel abroad. Now I never miss a game

Quick Guide: How to Watch Football with CyberGhost VPN

  1. Get CyberGhost VPN and install it on your streaming device. You’ll get unlimited access to streaming-optimized servers, so you never miss a play.
  2. Connect to a server in the country where your football streaming account is registered.
  3. Sign in to your streaming platform and enjoy the game!

1. The NFL Game Pass International — Best for NFL Football

The NFL Game Pass International home page
Where is it available?Everywhere outside the US and China
What can you watch?Every game from the preseason through the Super Bowl
NFL RedZone
Complete on-demand game replays or condensed games
Highlights from every game
Coaches Film
NFL Network
Compatible devicesAndroid, iOS, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, Fire TV, and web browsers 
Free trial 1 week, subject to availability.

The NFL Game Pass is the only streaming platform that NFL fans outside the US need. You can stream every game, live or on demand, including the NFL RedZone channel. That’s over 335 games, including the preseason, playoffs, and the Super Bowl. NFL Game Pass International has thousands of hours of content year-round to satisfy that football hunger, with access to the NFL Network, draft, combine, Hard Knocks, and more.

The on-demand streams give you the ability to go back and rewatch any game. You have the option to stream the complete game, condensed version, highlights, or coaches film.

2. YouTube TV — Best for Watching Out-of-Market Games

The YouTube TV NFL landing pages - includes the NFL Sunday Ticket
Where is it available?US
What can you watch?NFL Sunday Ticket
All out of market games 
NFL RedZone 
Local games are subject to availability
Websitehttps://tv.youtube.com/learn/nflsundayticket/
Compatible devicesAndroid, iOS, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, Fire TV, and web browsers 
Free trial 5 days

YouTube TV is the best football streaming service in the US for NFL, NCAA Football, and soccer. It has the exclusive rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket, so you can watch every out-of-market game live. If you miss a game, you can watch it on demand, as long as you watch before the following Wednesday. 

For games broadcast locally, YouTube TV plans include network channels such as NBC, Fox, CBS, and national channels like ESPN and Fox Sports. You can watch football on these channels, as long as they aren’t blacked out in your area. 

3. Hulu + Live TV — Best for Watching College Football 

Hulu + Live TV has college football
Where is it available?US
What can you watch?Live NFL and college games on Fox, CBS, NBC, and ESPN
BIG 10, ACC, ESPNU, SEC, AND College Extra Unlimited DVR to record games for later 
Websitehttps://www.hulu.com/live-sports
Compatible devicesAndroid, iOS, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, Fire TV, and web browsers 
Free trial None

Hulu + Plus Live TV gives you access to all the football games broadcast in your area. The 90-channel lineup includes local TV, so you can watch your favorite college and professional football teams play. You’ll also get access to nationally televised games on ESPN, the Big 10 Network, SEC, and the ACC conference channels. 

You can also find plenty of soccer, both the MLS and international leagues like Champions League, EPL, La Liga & more. Hulu + Live TV has an unlimited DVR feature, so you can catch up on any games you missed and watch them at your convenience. 

4. Sling TV — Best for Streaming Prime Time Football Games

Sling TV has live NFL football with the RedZone, ESPN, and in some markets on FOX, NBC, and ABC
Where is it available?US
What can you watch?NFL games on ESPN and in some markets on FOX, NBC and CBS
NFL RedZone
NCAA Football SEC, ACC, Big 10 and PAC 12 networks
Websitehttps://www.sling.com/programming/sports/
Compatible devicesAndroid, iOS, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, Fire TV, and web browsers 
Free trial7 days – based on availability

Combine Sling TV’s Orange and Blue packages to watch the NFL, NCAA, and soccer on ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNU, FS1, and FS2. Its college network coverage gives you access to conference channels for the SEC, ACC, Big 10, and PAC 12.

In-market games on FOX, CBS, and NBC are subject to availability based on your location and local blackout restrictions. The package includes 50 free hours of DVR storage, which allows you to record live games and watch them when you have the time.

5. NFL+ — Best for Watching Local Games and RedZone

The NFL+ app gives you access to the NFL Network and RedZone channel
Where is it available?US
What can you watch?In market NFL games
Nationally televised NFL games
NFL RedZone
Websitehttps://www.nfl.com/plus/
Compatible devicesiOS and Android
Free trial7 days

NFL+ allows you to stream one team, as long as it’s in your local TV market. For example, if you live in or around Pittsburgh, you’ll have access to the Steelers games. However, an LA Rams fan living in Pittsburgh won’t be able to watch the Rams, unless they’re playing a prime time game. 

In addition to local games, NFL+ comes with access to the NFL RedZone, so you can enjoy 8 hours of commercial-free football every Sunday, and watch every score from every game in real time. 

CyberGhost VPN has servers in 11 NFL cities in the US, so even if you’re not living near your favorite team, you can still watch them on NFL+.

6. DIRECTV STREAM — Best for Access to Regional Sports Networks

DIRECTV STREAM is where you can catch in-market and out of market games
Where is it available?US
What can you watch?NFL and college games broadcast on regional sports channels
NFL RedZone
Websitehttps://www.directv.com/sports/nfl/
Compatible devicesAndroid, iOS, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, Fire TV, and web browsers 
Free trial 5 days

DIRECTV STREAM is one of the rare football streaming platforms with access to regional sports networks (RSN) such as AT&T Sportsnet, SportsNet LA, NESN, Yes Network, NBC Sports regionals, and 21 Bally Sports regions. These are great if your college or pro football teams play on any of these networks. You also get the prime time games broadcast on FOX, CBS, and NBC, plus ESPN and the NFL RedZone channel. 

Just a heads up, DIRECTV STREAM is the most expensive option on this list, because it comes with the regional sports channel lineup. Although you’re paying more, at least you’re getting good value for your money. 

7. Fubo — Best for Soccer

Fubo has live and on-demand soccer games
Where is it available?US, Canada, Spain
What can you watch?Live soccer on USA Network, FS1, beIN Sports, Univision, Telemundo, and more
NFL and College Football on FOX, CBS, NBC, ESPN, and Fox SPorts 
Websitehttps://www.fubo.tv/stream/soccer/
Compatible devicesAndroid, iOS, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, Fire TV, and web browsers 
Free trial 7 days

Fubo is a streaming platform with a strong focus on live sports. A typical package includes the local channels needed to watch NFL and college football games, similar to YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV. 

However, it separates itself when it comes to the world’s football game, or “the beautiful game.” You can stream matches from Serie A, the EPL, La Liga on beIN Sports, Univision, USA Network, FS1, Telemundo, and more.

8. Peacock — Best for Sunday Night Football and the English Premier League

Peacock has Live sports, including Sunday Night Football
Where is it available?US 
What can you watch?Sunday Night Football
English Premier League
Big Ten college football games
 
Websitehttps://www.peacocktv.com/sports
Compatible devicesAndroid, iOS, Smart TVs, gaming consoles, Fire TV, and web browsers 
Free trial None

Peacock is the home of every Sunday Night Football game. You’ll hear the broadcast team of Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth do the play-by-play and color commentary for one of the premier games each week. 

Speaking of premier, NBC is the exclusive US home of the English Premier League (EPL), with some games only streaming on Peacock. Meaning, even if you have a live TV streaming platform or cable TV with NBC, you need Peacock to watch the match.

9. 7plus — Best for Free Football Streams in Australia

7plus is the home to the NFL in Australia
Where is it available?Australia
What can you watch?Select NFL regular season games
All NFL playoffs game and the Super Bowl
Australian Rules Football (AFL) 
 
Websitehttps://7plus.com.au/nfl
Compatible devicesAndroid, iOS, web browsers 
Free trial None

If you want to watch football in Australia, and it doesn’t matter which teams are playing, then 7plus is your best option. The free streaming platform offers two games every Sunday, or you can watch them on-demand throughout the week, which can be better than waking up at 5am to watch a game. 7plus is also the home to every NFL playoff game and the Super Bowl. 

You can also stream Australian Rules Football, or Footy, on 7plus. You’ll find AFL, AFLW, VFL, WAFL and SANFL matches, plus press conferences and bonus content. 7plus is free to stream, but you do need to provide an Australian postcode, like 2001 or 3001, to register your account. 

10. RTL, RTL+, and Nitro — Best for Watching the NFL for Free in Germany

Watch American football on RTL+
Where is it available?Germany and Austria
What can you watch?3 NFL regular season games per week
All NFL playoffs game and the Super Bowl 
Websitehttps://plus.rtl.de/video-tv/live/american-football
Compatible DevicesAndroid, iOS, Smart TVs, Streaming Sticks, Web Browsers 
Free Trial None

RTL signed a broadcast deal with the NFL in Germany through the 2028 season. You can watch 3 games a week on the free-to-air Nitro channel and the RTL+ streaming platform. The network uses German broadcasters to call the games. This can be difficult to follow if you’re not a German speaker, or see it as an opportunity to learn a new language while you watch football. 

How to Watch Football When You’re Traveling Abroad

All of the football streaming sites mentioned above only work in specific locations. Here’s what you can do if you’re traveling and can’t access your accounts: get CyberGhost VPN and connect to a server in the country where your account is registered. This will give you an IP address in your home country, so you can sit back and enjoy the game.

How to Stream the NFL with a VPN

CyberGhost is the best VPN for sports because it has streaming-optimized servers for YouTube TV, Peacock, Hulu, ESPN+, as well as Paramount Plus and Amazon Fire TV. In addition to having a large bandwidth capacity, they’re tested to make sure their IP addresses can access the streaming services. 

If you’re traveling abroad and you want to watch football on NFL Game Pass International or RTL, which don’t have dedicated VPN servers, you can just connect to a regular server in the location you need. For example, if you’re going to watch two free games a week on 7plus, connect to a server in Australia. If you have the NFL Game Pass International, connect to any server outside of the US, and log in to your account. You’ll still have access to high-speed servers and unlimited VPN data transfer, perfect for spending the day watching football.

Here are the steps for streaming the NFL with a VPN:

  1. Get CyberGhost VPN.
  2. Connect to a server in the correct country.
  3. Log in to your streaming account, sit back, and enjoy the game. 

Troubleshooting: If you get a notice that the service is restricted based on your location, clear the cache of your browser or go to the app settings and choose the Force Stop option. Then reload the app, and it should work. If you’re still unable to watch the game, connect to another server in the same country. Thiswhich should fix your issue. 

How to Stream College Football with a VPN

The best streaming options for watching college football are Hulu and Fubo, so if you’re traveling overseas, US VPN servers are a must. CyberGhost VPN goes the extra mile: we have streaming-optimized servers that are tested with Hulu to make sure the IP addresses work and you won’t have any connection issues. 

With unlimited data and high-speed servers, including 10-Gbps servers in popular locations, you can watch NCAA Football all day Saturday with no buffering or lagging streams. 

To stream college football, follow these simple steps:

  1. Get CyberGhost VPN.
  2. Connect to a US server. If you’re watching college football on Hulu, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Fox, Peacock, or Paramount Plus, connect to our streaming-optimized server for the specific platform. If you’re watching on Fubo or DIRECTV STREAM, you can connect to any US server. 
  3. Log in to your streaming account and enjoy the game! 

Troubleshooting: If you’re being blocked based on your geolocation, clean your browser’s cache and reload the page. If you’re still having connection issues, disconnect CyberGhost and reconnect to a different US VPN server.

Why CyberGhost Is the Best VPN for Streaming Football

CyberGhost VPN has everything you need to stream football from anywhere:

    • A global network of high-speed VPN servers, including 10-Gbps servers in popular locations, making server overcrowding a thing of the past.
    • Streaming-optimized servers that are frequently tested with the leading streaming platforms.
    • Unlimited data and bandwidth.
    • Easy setup and user-friendly interface.

Don’t Miss a Snap, Touchdown, or Goal This Football Season

There are plenty of ways to stream football, the trick is knowing which platform is the best for you. If you just want to watch the NFL and you’re outside the US, the Game Pass International is your best option. US-based cord-cutting options like YouTube TV, Sling TV, and Hulu + Live TV give you access to college football and soccer games, but you might miss out on your local teams. 

If you want to watch local games, you’ll need to subscribe to the NFL+ app, Fubo, or DIRECTV STREAM, which have a large selection of RSN and local network channels.

If you’re traveling abroad, make sure to take CyberGhost VPN with you. It’s the easiest and safest way to stream football. Connect to a fast VPN server in your home country, log in to your streaming account, and enjoy the games. 

FAQ

What is the best site to stream football for free?

If you’re in Australia or Germany, your best options for streaming football for free are 7plus and RTL+ respectively. They each have several free live games every Sunday. You can also watch games you missed on demand during the NFL season. If you’re in the US, getting free trials on streaming platforms like Sling TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV STREAM will allow you to stream games for free for a limited time. 

What is the best live sports streaming site?

If you’re looking for more than just football, DIRECTV STREAM is the best, albeit most expensive, option. In addition to the national channels, ESPN, FS1, TNT, and TBS that you’ll get with Hulu, Sling TV, and YouTube TV, it has a large collection of Regional Sports Networks (RSN). These channels are where you can watch local baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer games.

What’s the best VPN to stream the NFL?

CyberGhost is the best streaming VPN for live NFL games. Whether you’re visiting the US and need to access your Game Pass International or you’re traveling out of the US and want to log in to your streaming platform, we have you covered. Our large network of streaming-optimized servers and no data limits ensure that you can spend all day Sunday, Monday night, and Thursday night watching the game. 

Can I stream football with a free VPN?

Most free VPNs won’t allow you to connect to your streaming platform, either due to limited server selection or blocked IP addresses. Even if you manage to find one that does connect, the slow speeds and daily data limits will make it impossible to get through the game. 
A better option is to try CyberGhost VPN risk-free with our 45-day money-back guarantee. You’ll get fast speeds, unlimited bandwidth, and access to a large global server network. 

What is the best live sports streaming service in Australia?

The best platform for live streaming football, including the NFL and Aussie Rules Football, is 7plus. It’s free and streams the top matches. However, Kayo Sports Is the best overall sports streaming platform. It has a wide range of sports, including NRL, multiple cricket leagues, rugby, basketball, tennis, golf, racing, and more.

Can you watch Fox Sports live for free?

No, you need a US cable account or a streaming package that includes Fox Sports. That being said, you can find free trials with YouTube TV and Sling TV that will give you free access to Fox Sports for a few days. The same is true for the regular Fox network channel, which broadcasts NFL and college football games. You can try it risk-free with our 45-day money-back guarantee and access your FOX Sports account if you’re traveling outside the US.

How can I watch soccer games online?

Hulu + Live TV has a good selection of live soccer games. Catch all the matches from the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, MLS, and more. Fubo TV is another reliable option, soccer channels like BeIN Sports, Univision, USA Network, FS1,and Telemundo. You can watch soccer on both these streaming platforms, even while traveling abroad, with CyberGhost VPN. 

Is there an app to watch live soccer?

Yes, you can download apps for both Hulu + Live TV and Fubo on your mobile device and streaming sticks to watch soccer. 

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