With soccer fans around the world counting down the hours until the Nov. 20 start of the FIFA World Cup, now is the perfect time to sort out exactly how you’re going to watch the games from Qatar, whether that’s in the comfort of your own home, a local bar, or on the sly at your desk at work. Ahem.
Thanks to the proliferation of cable replacement streaming services in recent years, a traditional cable or satellite TV package is no longer necessary to see the likes of soccer superstars Mbappé (France), Messi (Argentina), Pulisic (USA), Neymar (Brazil) , and Ronaldo (Portugal) in action.
The biggest change since 2018, the last time we analyzed World Cup streaming options, is that you can watch the entire tournament this year for as little as $5—as long as you speak Spanish or don’t mind Spanish-language commentary.
That’s because Peacock Premium, which costs $4.99 per month, will stream every showdown, from the opening match between host Qatar and Ecuador to the Dec. 18 final, with Spanish commentary.
This makes Peacock Premium the least expensive way to watch the entire tournament, outside of using an over-the-air antenna or one of those free-but-perilous sports streams you find via Google searches. Again, as long as you’re willing to brush up on your Spanish.
Of course, there are other ways to watch the World Cup.
The Fox broadcast network and the FS1 cable channel will show the tournament in English, while the broadcast network Telemundo and the cable channel NBC Universo will carry the tournament in Spanish. Most matches will appear on the broadcast channels, with only a handful on cable.
You’ll also be able to find the action on the major cable replacement services, including DirectTV Stream, Sling TV, and YouTube TV.
Those services stream cable channels over the internet, making it easy to watch on smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs. You can also tune in on a non-smart TV using a Roku or Chromecast streaming player.
The services typically start between $35 and $65 per month and offer access to a variety of cable channels like CNN, Food Network, HGTV, and TBS. The exact lineup varies by service.
Unlike cable or satellite, these services don’t come with lengthy contractual commitments, meaning you could, if you were so inclined, cancel as soon as the tournament wraps up.
What follows is a guide to the major streaming services (from least to most expensive) that will air World Cup action.
Write a Reply or Comment
You should Sign In or Sign Up account to post comment.