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As the demand for soccer is increasing, and the Global Soccer market anticipates to register a compound annual growth rate of 3.57% between 2020 and 2025, television coverage of the sport throughout the United States is also growing. But, every year it feels like more and more satellite and cable TV providers are pushing content that covers exciting matches behind paywalls. The big reason behind the rising cost of TV subscriptions in the U.S. in recent years is rooted in the cost of their sports coverage rights. By a 2017 estimate sports drive up pay-tv bills by $20/month per subscriber.
And like so, from the Premier League to the Champions League, and College Soccer to the Major League Soccer, it has become more essential than ever before to drain your wallet upon a reliable TV service subscription which offers a selection of America’s favorite sports channels. Because after all, “Live sports is the most valuable content on the Planet”!
Faced by the dilemma, it is critical that fans learn about the best cable and satellite TV providers out there to watch soccer live in 2022. You are promised some sports channels with almost every TV provider, and the choice increases as you move up the tiers of their TV plans, but which soccer networks you get in how expensive a package, is what you must assess with care.
Before we take a look at the best TV providers for soccer fans in 2022, let’s talks about the best pay-tv networks which bring you the most soccer—be it live game telecasts and events, news and analysis, talk and debate, original sports programming such as series, TV movies, docuseries etc.
It won’t be an exaggeration to say the US fans get quite a variety of networks when it comes to watching soccer. But, the problem is the networks exclusively focused on soccer are usually included in the higher tiers of TV plans by most providers. So while networks like ESPN and Fox Sports 1 are commonly included in all plans, others like Fox Sports 2 or Fox Soccer Plus, or MLS Direct Kick, can be watched only if you subscribe to a more expensive channel package or a sports add-on.
This is why if soccer fans, who cannot be satiated by basic soccer coverage, need to ensure which networks are a must-have for them before taking their pick of a cable or satellite TV provider. This way when you look at the channel lineup and available add-ons for various pay-tv service plans, you’d know which one fits both your needs and your pocket.
Here is a list of the best ranking sports networks in the US, which offer you the perfect front row spot in your home! Tune in anytime, and take delight in quality sports programming from the world of soccer!
The network enjoys access to a number of soccer leagues which would not otherwise be showcased for the US audiences. You can catch all the excitement from the French Ligue 1, Spanish LaLiga, Italian Serie A, English Premier League, South American Copa Libertadores and the UEFA Champions League. The network holds broadcast rights to Major League Soccer (MLS) matches in South America and Asia.
ESPN currently airs regular-season MLS matches on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2, and also broadcasts all out-of-market games on ESPN . College soccer is aired on ESPNU, SEC, ACC and Longhorn. And, all matches from the USL Championship are telecast on ESPN , with select games aired on sister channels ESPNU and ESPNews.
As for the sister network ESPN , it carries Copa America, Serie A, English Football League, Major League Soccer, Carabao Cup, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, Bundesliga, Eredivisie, Superliga, Indian Super League, UEFA Nations League, FA Challenge Cup, and more.
FOX Sports 1 & 2 (FS1 & FS2) offer some of the most sought-after international soccer events—the network holds exclusive coverage rights to the CONCACAF Gold Cup. And, also the English-language rights to telecast FIFA tournaments, such as the FIFA World Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup. Moreover Fox airs MLS matches and has the right to cover local MLS clubs.
The network brings you great games from the Mexican Liga MX as well, and just last year entered a broadcast partnership with the Canadian Premier League—the first American network to do so.
As for FOX Soccer Plus, the channel covers leagues like the German Bundesliga, and broadcasts replays of MLS matches telecast on Fox Sports, as well as FIFA events which Fox holds rights to. You can also catch games from the Liga MX and Copa do Brasil with FOX Soccer Plus.
MLS Direct Kick is an out-of-market sports package distributed by a vast majority of cable and satellite TV providers. Soccer fans, whose favorite team is in another city, can feast on out-of-market games with MLS Direct Kick.
Watch the English Premier League on NBCSN. Or catch on select FIFA World Cup games in Spanish—simulcasts from Telemundo or Universo. NBCSN is known for the blast it caused on American TV with stellar coverage of the MLS and Premier League a decade ago, and in spite of the backslide during recent years, the network has quality content to offer for soccer fans.
The network broadcasts soccer matches from the UEFA Champions & Europa League, the UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Europa Conference League, and National Women’s Soccer League.
GolTV shows soccer 24/7, and showcases international soccer leagues like the Portuguese Primeira Liga, the Ecuadorian Serie, and Primeira Division Paraguaya & Uruguaya A. The network features international soccer leagues in both English & Spanish languages.
Let’s keep it a buck. Nobody has sufficient time to watch every soccer telecast in the world. But, deep down every true sports aficionado wants to try. For this reason, a good initial step is to look for a satellite or cable TV provider which carries the maximum number of soccer networks.
If the sheer amount of sports is not your game, you can go for a TV service provider which hits the sweet spot. We have shortlisted six satellite TV and cable TV providers which give you the ideal spread of sports networks, so you can choose the one that best fits your sports cravings. Remember these networks may not be available in every plan from these providers. While some may only be offered as add-ons.
| Network | Spectrum | Optimum | AT&T DIRECTV | RCN | Cox | Xfinity |
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ABC |
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CBS |
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CBS Sports Network |
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FOX |
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FOX Deportes |
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FOX Sports 1 |
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FOX Sports 2 |
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FOX Soccer Plus |
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NBC |
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NBCSN |
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ESPN |
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ESPN2 |
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ESPN Deportes |
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beIn SPORTS |
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GolTV |
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MLS Direct Kick |
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Telemundo |
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TUDN |
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UniMás |
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Universo |
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Univision |
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As we said earlier, due to the high cost of sports programming, cable and satellite TV providers do not include the entire range of soccer networks in their low tier channel lineups—in most cases you’ll have to move up the tier ladder to get the variety you want. Or else, subscribe to an add-on sports package.
Spectrum offers 3 TV tiers—SELECT, SILVER and GOLD. And, each brings a different mix of sports networks showcasing soccer. Spectrum also allows fans to add-on networks like Fox Soccer Plus, BeIN Sports, and MLS Direct Kick to their primary channel lineup. Contact Spectrum professionals at 1-844-481-5997 for more details and package availability in your area.
Optimum offers TV plans in 4 tiers—Core, Value, Select and Premier, but for a good variety of sports networks that cover soccer, you must consider Value and above. Optimum offers subscribers the choice to add on MLS Direct Kick and Fox Soccer Plus to their plan. For more information on Optimum TV plans, call at 1-844-520-8978.
DIRECTV is the undoubted leader in sports coverage. And brings you the best in soccer in the industry’s best picture format—4K UHD. Most popular sports networks are included in the 4 tiers of the DIRECTV lineup, but the best part is the satellite TV provider brings you a sports pack with 35 regional and premium networks, among which many are dedicated to soccer coverage. Contact AT&T representatives at 1-855-925-2541 for details.
Cox is also a pretty good choice for soccer fans, and gives you 2 TV tiers to pick from—each of which gets you a balanced mix of sports networks. Plus, you can customize your package by subscribing to the add-on Sports Pak and Seasonal Sports Package. For additional information contact Cox Customer Service at 1-855-349-9316.
RCN offers Signature and Premier TV for subscribers to take their pick. And, with both you get popular sports networks, albeit the choice expands if you go for Premier. RCN also has a sports add on package which includes quite a few networks, however it has a downside to it. MLS Direct Kick is not included. If you can live with watching MLS matches on other networks, go ahead and give RCN a call at 1-855-349-9313 and get your hands on one of the most competitively priced services.
Xfinity gets you great options with its PREFERRED tier bringing you all the sports networks America loves to watch. But, some soccer fans may be disappointed to know MLS Direct Kick is only available as a Pay-per-View option. Albeit, you still get plenty of networks to watch MLS games on. Browse Xfinity TV packages here.
This is for cord-cutters who want to stream soccer coverage on their preferred screen!
One of the topmost choices among soccer streaming services is ESPN which gets you access to UEFA Nations League, the EFL Championship, MLS out-of-market games, and so much more!
CBS All Access is yet another counted among the best streaming services for sports. In August 2020 the streaming service became the new platform to watch UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Conference League in the US.
fuboTV cannot be forgotten as it makes one of the most sought-after streaming platforms that showcases everything soccer. The streaming service gets you NBC and NBCSN, FS1& 2, Fox Soccer Plus, BeIN Sports and others. The only network you’ll miss on the service is ESPN.
Sling TV, Hulu, VIDGO, and YouTube TV are other options you can consider if you are looking for a soccer streaming service.
Now that you have learned about different TV providers and their offerings, its time you weighed the pros and the cons, and subscribed to a service. So that you can grab a bowl of popcorn, put on your jersey, and sit in the solace of your living room watching your favorite team lead the show
If you need more information about package options from satellite TV and cable TV providers call 1-855-349-9328 and get expert advice and assistance.
1- What is the best TV streaming service for sports fans?
Depending on your sports needs and preferences, you can choose from any of the TV streaming services available in the US market. To watch soccer live in 2022, you can consider fuboTV, Sling TV, YouTube TV, CBS All Access or ESPN . Among these fuboTV is known for its wide coverage of soccer.
2- How can I watch soccer games on my Smart TV?
Some of the best apps to watch soccer games on Smart TV include Live Net TV, RedBox TV, Mobdro, and Kodi. While streaming services include ESPN , CBS All Access, fuboTV, Sling TV, Hulu Live TV, VIDGO, and Fanatiz.
3- Which streaming service has the most sports channels?
fuboTV Elite plan is one of the best for streaming sports. It brings you the widest selection of sports channels that offer both national and international coverage. From college football, MLB, soccer, MMA, hockey, and golf and more—you get it all.
4- What is the best streaming service for soccer?
fuboTV is one of the best streaming services for all soccer fans. It comes with a wide range of soccer channels with many in Spanish, and you get access to Fox Soccer Plus too. On the other hand, ESPN is one the cheapest soccer streaming services that gives you access to a great many league matches from around the globe.
5- Does ESPN have LaLiga?
ESPN does not broadcast the Spanish LaLiga. For the Spanish LaLiga your best bet is beIN Sports.
6- Where can I watch live sports for free?
To watch FREE live sports streams you can try out Fubo Sports Network (FSN) and Xumo from Comcast.