Where to Watch Soccer Online in 2026

The live-streaming landscape for soccer is incredibly complex, with streaming rights changing often. It’s certainly possible, however, to stream a soccer match you want to watch.

The broadcast rights for Major League Soccer, the Premier League, the English Football League, La Liga, Ligue 1, FIFA, and dozens of other national and international soccer leagues and tournaments are spread across various broadcasters.

If you want to watch soccer live streams and want the best coverage available, here’s who has the rights to broadcast what games, which broadcasters you need access to, and the best ways to get that access.

Where Is the Best Place to Stream Soccer?

Soccer, or association football, is one of the most popular sports in the world. There are major and minor leagues in the United States, plus leagues in several other countries and fiercely competitive international leagues, competitions, and tournaments.

Due to the massive worldwide popularity of soccer, the live-streaming picture for this sport is tremendously complex. Dozens of broadcasters own at least some soccer rights around the world.

The broadcasters that own the most English-language soccer rights in the United States are:

• Apple TV: All MLS games (including postseason games) stream on Apple TV. No games are blacked out.
• ESPN: Contracts include the US Open Cup, USL Championship, National Women’s Soccer League, FIFA qualification rounds, Bundesliga, La Liga, Copa del Rey, Liga MX (some games), and more. Some games are broadcast on the internet-only ESPN+ streaming service.
• beIN Sports: This network also has the rights to important soccer broadcasting contracts, including Ligue 1, FIFA World Cup qualifications, Copa Libertadores, Africa Cup of Nations, and more.
• FOX Sports: FOX has the rights to some significant games, including the FIFA World Cup finals and the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals. Other rights include some Major League Soccer (limited), Liga MX (some games), and Serie B.
• NBC Sports: NBCUniversal owns the broadcast rights for the English Premier League. NBC’s Peacock and USA networks also show English Premier League games.
• CBS Sports/Paramount+: CBS Sports is the rights-holder for the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, as well as the AFC Asian Cup. You’ll see Europa League games on the Paramount+ network, while select league games are available on the CBS Sports Network. AFC Asian Cup events are exclusively on Paramount+.

ESPN is the clear winner in the number of leagues and tournaments it owns the rights to, while CBS Sports and its Paramount+ service are gaining ground.

FOX Sports also owns the rights to extremely popular and important games, particularly the entirety of the FIFA World Cup finals.

Live Streaming Soccer on ESPN

If you want to watch some soccer live streams and don’t need access to everything, ESPN gives you access to more games than many other broadcasters.

Cable subscribers can watch soccer live streams on the Watch ESPN website without paying anything above and beyond their regular bill. Cord-cutters can gain access to ESPN through several streaming services.

Here’s how to live stream soccer through Watch ESPN:

1. Visit Watch ESPN and select a soccer game.

2. Choose a provider from the list and then log in with your email and password.

3. If your video doesn’t start playing automatically, return to Watch ESPN and select the game again.

Live Streaming Soccer on beIN Sports

beIN Sports has some crucial matches, but has lost a few major contracts, including Bundesliga and La Liga. As of publication, the only way to watch games via beIN Sports is via their apps listed on the site.

Television Streaming Services That Include Soccer

You can live stream soccer through a television streaming service if you don’t have a cable or satellite subscription. These services act like cable or satellite television, but you stream live channels over a high-speed internet connection.

You can watch on your computer or laptop, phone, tablet, or even on your television with a streaming device like a Roku.

Since these services provide access to the same channels as cable providers, you need to look for one that carries many networks with the rights to broadcast soccer.

Here are the two best options for soccer live streams:

• Fubo: This streaming service includes beIN Sports and ESPN channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3. It also includes NBC and Fox. It’s a good choice for soccer, especially international association football. Plus, there’s often a trial of Fubo available that lets you try it out for free.
• Sling TV: This streaming service includes beIN Sports if you choose the Orange or Orange & Blue plan. You’ll also get ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPNU. Fox and NBC are only available in limited markets, but this is still one of the best options for soccer.

Most streaming services, including YouTube TV, include access to ESPN, Fox Sports, and NBC Sports, so you can still get decent coverage if you’re primarily interested in the Premier League and the FIFA World Cup Finals.

Who Owns National Soccer Broadcast Rights in the United States?

Major League Soccer is the national league in the United States, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Countries worldwide have their own national leagues, and many of them have signed deals with broadcasters in the US.

If you want access to stream the most soccer from around the world, here’s a guide to the most common national leagues and cups and where to watch them: