Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

How to watch FA Cup soccer in the US without cable

Manchester United v Manchester City Carabao Cup Semi-Final 2020 soccer
Simon Stacpoole / Offside / Getty Images

For those following English football, it should come as no surprise that the FA Cup third round on January 7 is a pretty big deal. But a small dilemma, at least for U.S. viewers, is figuring out how to watch FA Cup soccer. Where do you tune in, and what network should you be using? Outside of the U.K. and local broadcasts, it’s not always apparent which network has the rights. Don’t worry, we have all the details for you right here, including how you can watch if you’re traveling abroad, outside the U.S..

Recommended Videos

How to watch the FA Cup in the U.S.

The ESPN+ logo on a blue background.
ESPN

Soccer fans can watch the FA Cup in the U.S. exclusively on ESPN+. Meanwhile, Canadian viewers in the north can tune in to Sportsnet NOW. ESPN+ if you didn’t already know, is the sports network’s live streaming platform, available on a variety of devices, including smart TVs, streaming players, and mobile. ESPN+ by itself is $11 per month, or you can grab the Disney bundle, which includes Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu, . That bundle is one of the best deals in the streaming world right now, especially considering you get access to three excellent services and their extensive libraries of digital on-demand content. If you’re planning to watch, you’ll definitely want to sign up for an account and get the app installed on your devices before the matches kick off so you don’t miss out on the action.

How to watch the FA Cup while traveling abroad

NordVPN logo
NordVPN

Outside of tuning in to local services from where you are, and it certainly depends on what country you’re visiting, there is a way to tune in to the FC Cup round three matches while traveling abroad. Normally, streaming services like ESPN+ geo-restrict access, which means they lock you out from streaming based on your IP address. If you’re in a different country, you won’t be able to stream anything, no matter what you’ve paid for the service, which is unfortunate. However, you can use something called a VPN or virtual private network to bypass those restrictions.

We highly recommend NordVPN, one of the best ways to mask your IP, protect your privacy and anonymity while browsing, and also to bypass region-locks. The way it works is pretty simple. When you connect through the VPN, it acts as a minor shield, assigning you a remote IP from the country you want to connect to, like the United States. Then, no matter where you are, it looks like you’re browsing from your home country. Right now, NordVPN is offering some great deals, like 65% off select plans plus three months extra tacked on to the end. So, for example, the Plus tier is normally $286 for the first two years, but discounted to just $108, or $4 per month. You get those three extra months added to the end, too, so really that price is for over two years. There are other plans available, as well. Much like your streaming service, you’ll want to sign up before the FC Cup games kick off so you don’t miss anything.

Briley Kenney
The Manual's resident cigar enthusiast and expert. Branded content writer. Purveyor of all things tech and magical.
Austin Butler and Jeremy Allen White are set to face off in A24’s Enemies
The movie follows a detective and contract killer who play a game of cat and mouse.
Austin Butler in Masters of the Air.

A24 definitely knows how that one surefire way to drum up interest in its movies is to cast actors who are red hot in the industry. Now, reports suggests that the studio has done just that with Enemies, which will star Jeremy Allen White and Austin Butler as, you guessed it, enemies.

The film is described as a crime saga and comes from director Henry Dunham. The film's official synopsis says that it follows “a relentless detective and an infamous contract killer" who "collide in a deadly game of cat and mouse.” Production on the project is slated to begin this summer in Chicago.

Read more
Nobody 2: Everything we know so far
Bob Odenkirk is back for another action adventure
Bob Odenkirk in Nobody 2

Before Bob Odenkirk turned in a seminal performance of TV's prestige era playing Jimmy McGill and Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, he was most known for his comedy chops. People were surprised to see him step out of his comfort zone in the world of drama television, but it helped usher in a new reputation for the veteran, everyman star.

Odenkirk got to play an action hero in 2021's Nobody, and the sequel is finally on the way. Nobody 2 might just be one of the best movies of the summer. Here is everything we know about it so far, from the cast to the trailer and the release date.
Is there a trailer for Nobody 2?
Nobody 2 | Official Trailer

Read more
9 shows to watch if you love The Walking Dead
AMC's zombie show was a phenomenon. These shows will help you revisit that thrill
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.

The Walking Dead started as a niche zombie series in the early 2010s, but it built up steam and transformed into a runaway hit just a few seasons after its inception. By the middle of the decade, Robert Kirkman's post-apocalyptic series was the most popular program on basic cable TV. It revolutionized long-form storytelling and created a rabid fandom that allowed it to run for over a decade and spawn many spinoffs.

Undead monsters aren't the only thing that made The Walking Dead such a fascinating and addictive watch, though. The depth of the characters and the survivalist strategies of the entire group made for thrilling, adrenaline-filled episodes that other shows had a hard time matching. We have the best shows like The Walking Dead to watch next if you love the binge-worthiness of world-ending drama in this comic book adaptation.

Read more