How to Watch Soccer Games in the United States
A comprehensive guide to understanding the fragmented landscape of soccer broadcasting, covering domestic leagues, European giants, and international tournaments.
Soccer fans in the United States face a uniquely challenging landscape. Unlike other major sports where games are consolidated on a few networks, soccer matches are spread across a dozen different streaming services and cable channels.
To follow the sport closely, you need to understand exactly which platform holds the rights to the specific competition you want to watch. This guide breaks down the structure so you can find your match.
Why Soccer Broadcasts Are So Fragmented
The complexity stems from how rights are sold. Broadcasting rights are sold by the competition organization, not by a central governing body for the sport.
This means the English Premier League sells its rights separately from Spain's La Liga, separate from Major League Soccer (MLS), and separate from UEFA for the Champions League. As a result, different media companies bid for different pieces of the pie, scattering games across multiple platforms.
Where Soccer Games Are Broadcast in the US
Generally, rights are grouped by league. Here is the typical breakdown for the major competitions popular in the US:
- Premier League (England)Broadcast primarily on NBC Sports networks (USA Network, NBC) and streamed on Peacock.
- Major League Soccer (MLS)Broadcast globally via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with select games on FOX networks.
- UEFA Champions LeagueBroadcast in English on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.
- La Liga (Spain) & Bundesliga (Germany)Broadcast and streamed primarily on ESPN platforms (ESPN+ and ESPN networks).
- International TournamentsRights vary heavily. The World Cup rights are typically held by FOX (English) and Telemundo (Spanish) in the US.
Watching Soccer Games Without Cable
Fortunately, soccer is one of the most accessible sports for cord-cutters. Because so many leagues have moved to dedicated streaming services, you can watch the vast majority of matches without a traditional cable subscription.
However, this often requires managing multiple subscriptions. A dedicated fan following a Premier League team, a Champions League team, and an MLS team might need three separate services to catch every game.
How to Find Where a Specific Soccer Match Is On
Because rights change frequently and cup competitions (like the FA Cup or Carabao Cup) may be on different channels than league games, the channel is rarely guaranteed.
The most reliable method is to check a daily schedule that aggregates all competitions. We track every match across every league to show you exactly where to watch.
Check the Schedule
See confirmed TV channels and streaming options for today's matches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are different soccer leagues on different platforms?
Broadcast rights are sold by individual competitions (like the Premier League or MLS), not by the sport as a whole. This means you often need different services to watch different leagues.
Can I watch soccer games live without cable?
Yes. Most major soccer competitions in the US are available on streaming services like Peacock, Paramount+, ESPN+, and Apple TV, which do not require a traditional cable subscription.
Do soccer broadcasts vary by country?
Yes, broadcast rights are sold regionally. A service that carries the Premier League in the United Kingdom may not have the rights to show those same games in the United States.