- Where to watch Champions League for free in 2026
- Top 3 UEFA Champions League VPNs
- How I tested and selected the best VPN for the Champions League
- 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League Schedule
- Best sites for UEFA Champions League streaming
- Is a free VPN good for streaming the Champions League?
- Summary: stream 2025/2026 Champions League for free
- FAQ
Wondering where to watch the UEFA Champions League final for free online? You can enjoy free Champions League streams on Ireland’s RTÉ Player or Virgin Media Play. Other options include RTVE Play in Spain, Caliente TV in Mexico, and SBT in Brazil. However, these streaming platforms are geo-restricted, which means viewers outside their supported regions can’t access them.
If you’re outside the countries offering free Champions League streams, you can use a VPN to watch live football matches online for free:
- Get a reliable streaming VPN. I recommend NordVPN, now 77% off for unblocking free soccer streams. It easily bypassed geo-blocks on any sports streaming site during my tests.
- Download and install the VPN software for your chosen VPN.
- Connect to a VPN server in a country offering free Champions League streams, such as Ireland (RTE) or Spain (RTVE Play).
- Access your chosen sports site to watch free Champions League streams without geo-restrictions
Alternatively, you can connect to a server in Turkey to watch Champions League matches on Tabii.
Where to watch Champions League for free in 2026
The 2025–26 UEFA Champions League is on a mid-season break after the league phase ended on January 28, 2026, with Arsenal topping the table with 24 points. Eight teams – including Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting CP, and Manchester City – have secured direct spots in the Round of 16. The knockout phase resumes on February 17, 2026, with first-leg matchups like Benfica vs. Real Madrid, Monaco vs. PSG, and Galatasaray vs. Juventus.
Currently, you can watch the UEFA Champions League on:
- Belgium. RTL Play (select matches for FREE), VTM GO (select matches for FREE), Proximus Pickx Sports (all matches for ~€20.99/month).
- Ireland: RTE (select matches for FREE), Virgin Media (select matches for FREE), Premier Sports (select matches for ~€33/month).
- Italy. TV8 (select games for FREE), Sky (select games for ~€24/month), Amazon Prime (select games ~€4.99/month).
- Luxembourg. RTL (select matches for FREE), DAZN (all matches for ~€34.99/month), Proximus Pickx Sports (all matches for ~€20.99/month).
- Austria: ServusTV (select matches for FREE), ORF (select matches for FREE), Canal+ (select matches for ~$24.99/month).
- USA: Paramount+ (all matches for $8.99/month), CBS Sports Network (select matches for FREE), CBS Sports Golazo Network (select matches for FREE).
- UK: TNT Sports (select games for FREE), Amazon Prime (select matches for £8.9/month).
- Germany. DAZN (select games for €34.99/month), Amazon Prime (select games for €8.99/month).
- Canada. DAZN (all matches for ~$24.99/month).
- Australia. Stan Sport (all matches for ~$32/month).
If you’re outside the channel’s country, use NordVPN to bypass location restrictions and watch the 2025/26 Champions League from anywhere.
To watch the 2025/26 Champions League for free, you can stream select matches through RTL Play (Belgium), RTÉ (Ireland), TV8 (Italy), RTL (Luxembourg), Servus TV (Austria), CBS Sports Network (USA), and TNT Sports (UK).
Based on my testing experience, I recommend using NordVPN to unblock free Champions League streams if you’re not in the right country to access them organically without blocks.
Thanks to the fastest streaming speeds and 9300 worldwide servers that unblock free Champions League streaming sites, NordVPN is the best Champions League VPN. During my tests, it unblocked free Champions League streaming platforms, such as RTÉ Player and VTM GO, without issues – all I had to do was connect to their specific countries’ servers.
You can get a 3-day free trial of NordVPN from the Google Play Store, and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for risk-free testing. Using these promotions lets you watch the Champions League entirely free.
Watch the Champions League for free with Ireland’s RTÉ Player
Anyone in Ireland can enjoy live-streaming any Champions League game for free on RTÉ, but it isn’t so simple if you’re not in the country. Websites, like RTÉ, read your IP address to determine your location and may block your access if you’re outside of their country/region. Here’s a step-by-step guide showing how to bypass geo-restrictions and stream the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League free on RTÉ Ireland.
- Get a solid VPN. I recommend NordVPN, now 77% off due to its fast speeds and reliable servers that easily unblock any soccer streaming site. I’ve personally tested NordVPN, and it is one of few VPNs that are compatible with the RTÉ Player.
- Download and install the VPN app on your device (smartphone, computer, tablet, etc.).
- Connect to a server in Ireland.
- Visit Ireland’s RTÉ Player and enjoy the Champions League for free.
Top 3 UEFA Champions League VPNs
You need a VPN to access free Champions League streams because most are geo-restricted and require a VPN to unblock them. Below, you’ll find my shortlist of the best VPN providers for watching the UEFA Champions League for free online. NordVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN stood out thanks to fast HD and 4K streaming speeds, a vast server fleet for unblocking free streams, and robust anonymity features.
1. NordVPN – best VPN to watch the Champions League for free
- Rating: 9.3 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Servers: 9300 servers in 137 countries
- Free trial: 3-day free trial (Android), plus 30-day money-back guarantee
NordVPN is the best VPN for Champions League free streams thanks to 9300 VPN servers that can unblock any soccer streaming platform worldwide. This includes servers in Belgium and Ireland, which let me unblock RTE Player and VTM GO and stream the Champions League without charge. It also produced the fastest speeds, over 800 Mbps, during my streaming tests with sites like Paramount+.
NordVPN brings speed, reliability, and privacy to any game you’re streaming. With its unlimited bandwidth and obfuscated servers for enhanced anonymity, you can watch the UEFA Champions League without the frustration that comes with buffering, lag, or server blacklisting. Thanks to its intuitive user interface with a click-and-go map, even a novice user can easily figure out how it works and connect to a server. Find Ireland or Turkey on the map, connect to the server, and enjoy free Champions League streams on RTE Player or SBT.
Not to mention, it lets you pull your friends and family from the bench, allowing up to ten simultaneous connections across mobile and desktop operating systems. If you install NordVPN on a router, you can even stream the Champions League on devices without native VPN app support.
It goes without saying that NordVPN takes security seriously, with military-grade AES 256-bit encryption protecting your data from prying eyes and a kill switch that ensures you won’t be detected if your connection drops.
Try NordVPN risk-free first today with a 3-day free trial from the Google Play Store and a 30-day money-back guarantee, letting you watch the Champions League for a limited time completely free. NordVPN is currently offering a 75% discount that cuts NordVPN’s price to only $ 3.49 monthly!
Check out our comprehensive NordVPN review to learn more about this provider.
2. Surfshark – affordable Champions League VPN
- Rating: 9.0 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Servers: 4500 servers in 100 countries
- Free trial: 7-day free trial (Android and iOS), plus 30-day money-back guarantee
Surfshark is one of the best VPNs to watch the Champions League free on an unlimited number of devices. It also offers 4500 worldwide servers, including servers in Belgium, which allowed me to unblock free RTI Play Champions League streams in my tests.
Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections across all major operating systems and devices, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. It’s a great way to share the excitement of the UEFA Champions League with your friends and family under a single account.
To prevent mid-match buffering, Surfshark provides high-speed connections using 10Gbps servers and the WireGuard protocol. Meanwhile, it protects your viewing with AES-256 encryption, an audited no-logs policy, and a kill switch, which prevent ISP throttling and keep your data private while you’re focused on the game.
Surfshark pricing is highly affordable, starting from just $ 2.08/month. Plus, it has a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee to stream the Champions League free for a limited period.
Want a complete breakdown of how Surfshark performed in our tests? Check out our full Surfshark review.
3. Proton VPN – freemium Champions League streaming VPN
- Rating: 8.9 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Servers: 20300 servers in 148 countries
- Free trial: Free subscription tier, plus 30-day money-back guarantee
Proton VPN is one of the best VPNs to watch the Champions League free, thanks to a truly free unlimited tier and blazing-fast streaming speeds. However, I recommend upgrading to the Premium tier for access to 20300 global servers that let me watch free Champions League streams during my tests. This includes 49 servers in Ireland for access to the RTE Player UEFA Champions League streams.
Proton VPN also provides excellent security while streaming, with AES-256 encryption, a built-in kill switch, leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy. Its Secure Core servers route traffic through privacy-friendly countries to prevent ISP throttling or interruptions. This makes it ideal for watching matches from anywhere, while avoiding congested networks due to the sheer size of Proton VPN’s server fleet.
Proton VPN isn’t the cheapest Champions League VPN, but prices are affordable starting from $ 2.99/month. Instead of a free trial, you can use Proton VPN free for an unlimited time, though you need to upgrade for full access to servers and functionality. Fortunately, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for risk-free testing with Champions League streams.
If you want more information about this VPN, check out our in-depth Proton VPN review.
How I tested and selected the best VPN for the Champions League
My list of the best VPNs for the Champions League was drafted carefully through extensive testing that paid special attention to the following factors:
- Server locations (40% weighting). To catch free UEFA Champions League matches, you’ll need to access broadcasts from Ireland and Turkey. If a VPN doesn’t have servers in those countries, that’s the end of the road.
- Speed and bandwidth (35% weighting). If your bandwidth or streaming data is limited, there’s no way you’ll make it through an HD, action-packed UEFA Champions League match. Similarly, lackluster network speeds will cause annoying lags and delays.
- Price and usability (25% weighting). Everyone knows that pricing and ease of use factor into a selection. Fortunately for sports fans and streamers, many quality VPNs with great prices are among the most user-friendly.
2025/2026 UEFA Champions League Schedule
Make sure you don’t miss any key dates in the 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League schedule. Below, I’ve rounded up the most important dates for the season, from the qualifying rounds through to the final in Budapest, Hungary.
| 2025/2026 UEFA Champions League Round | Dates |
| Qualifying rounds | 8–9 July 2025 15–16 July 2025 22–23 July 2025 29–30 July 2025 5–6 & 12 August 2025 |
| Playoff round | 19–20 August 2025 26–27 August 2025 |
| Knockout phase play-offs | 17–18 February 2026 24–25 February 2026 |
| Round of 16 | 10–11 March 2026 17–18 March 2026 |
| Quarter-finals | 7–8 April 2026 14–15 April 2026 |
| Semi-finals | 28–29 April 2026 5–6 May 2026 |
| Final | 30 May 2026 (Budapest) |
Best sites for UEFA Champions League streaming
There are numerous UEFA Champions League streaming sites available worldwide, but each of them differs. Some only stream a handful of matches, while others show every Champions League match. Others have blackouts on specific games, limiting what you can stream. What’s more, each platform carries different costs, with some being far more expensive. This is why I’ve rounded up the main UEFA Champions League streaming platforms in one place, so you can compare and choose the best option for you.
| Champions League streaming site | Availability (country) | Games you can watch | Subscription price | Free trial | Languages offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paramount+ | US | All matches | $7.99/month | 7 days | English |
| DAZN | US | 38 matches | $24.99/month | No | Spanish |
| ViX Premium | US | Select matches | $6.99/month | No | Spanish |
| Univision / UniMás / TUDN | US | Select matches | Varies | No | Spanish |
| Amazon Prime Video + Paramount+ Channel | US | All matches | $8.99/month (Prime) + $7.99/month (Paramount+) | 7 days | English |
| RTÉ Player | Ireland | Select matches | Free | n/a | English |
| Virgin Media Play | Ireland | Select matches | Free | n/a | English |
| RTVE Play | Spain | Select matches | Free | n/a | Spanish |
| SBT | Brazil | Select matches | Free | n/a | Portuguese |
| TNT Sports | Brazil | All matches | Varies | No | Portuguese |
| CazéTV | Brazil | Select matches | Free | n/a | Portuguese |
| Tabii | Turkey | Select matches | $4.99/month | n/a | Turkish |
| ServusTV | Austria | Select matches | Free | n/a | German |
| TV8 | Italy | Select matches | Free | n/a | Italian |
| CBS Sports Network | US | Select matches | Free | n/a | English |
| TNT Sports | UK | Select matches | Free | n/a | English |
| RTL | Luxembourg | Select matches | Free | n/a | German |
Most affordable UEFA Champions League streaming service
There are plenty of ways to watch the Champions League for cheap, with many platforms airing a selection of matches:
- Paramount+ ($7.99/month) is the cheapest way to watch all matches of the Champions League for English-speaking viewers.
- ViX Premium ($6.99/month) is the most affordable UEFA Champions League streaming service for Spanish-language speakers.
- Tabii (~$4.99/month) is the most budget-friendly option to watch all of the Champions League matches in Turkey.
If you aren’t in the relevant country, use NordVPN’s 3-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee to watch matches entirely free.
Is a free VPN good for streaming the Champions League?
While free VPNs promise the same features as premium ones at no cost, my testing results show that they may not be the best option for streaming high-speed sporting events like the UEFA Champions League. Here’s why:
- Speed and bandwidth restrictions: While testing the free VPNs, I noticed that they usually have poor speeds and data restrictions. This can cause your streaming quality to deteriorate or stop working altogether during an important match.
- Limited server locations: I found that free Champions League VPNs often offer a limited number of servers that are usually restricted to one region or country. To watch free UEFA Champions League streams, you’ll need a VPN with reliable servers in locations where streams originate. If your free VPN doesn’t have servers in those countries, you might miss out on the game entirely, just like it happened to me when I tried to watch last year’s Champions League final.
- Privacy concerns: When reviewing the free Champions League VPNs, I noticed many lacked a no-logs policy, meaning they collect your personal information and possibly sell it to third parties. This defeats the purpose of good VPNs entirely. Premium VPNs ensure a secure browsing experience by encrypting all network traffic and not keeping user logs.
If you’re considering a free VPN, choose from our list of the best free VPNs.
Summary: stream 2025/2026 Champions League for free
You can watch selected 2025/2026 Champions League matches for free on platforms like RTE Player (Ireland), SBT (Brazil), and RTVE Play (Spain). The caveat, however, is that these platforms are geo-restricted to their respective countries.
Luckily, by using a VPN, these sites can be unblocked, and you can stream platforms like RTE Player from anywhere. To find the best VPNs for watching Champions League online, I tested more than 20 providers, and NordVPN stood out as the best one. Thanks to its fast speed and 8900 worldwide VPN servers that can unblock Champions League streaming services, it effortlessly delivers a high-quality viewing experience.
Interested in Europa games? Check out our guide to watching UEFA Europa League games for free.
Be sure to read the articles below to learn how to unblock other sporting events:
- How to Watch the FIFA World Cup Online for Free
- How to Watch Premier League From Anywhere
- Where to Watch the La Liga for Free From Anywhere
- How to Watch Indian Premier League for Free
- How to Watch Serie A Games Live From Anywhere
- How to watch the Winter Olympics games 2026
- How to watch Real Madrid vs Man City Champions League for free
- How to watch PSG vs Arsenal Champions League final for free
Note:
The techniques described in this article to watch the Champions League and unblock streams are only general tips. It’s your responsibility to read the terms of use of the service you choose. This, of course, also applies to the laws of the country you are located.
FAQ
Have you got questions about live streaming UEFA Champions League matches free? Just click one of the FAQs below to see the answer.
You can watch the Champions League for free on RTE Player in Ireland, or by using a VPN to unblock RTE Player if you’re not located in Ireland. Other options include SBT in Brazil and RTVE Play in Spain. I recommend using NordVPN if you need to unblock any of these sites, as it offers the fastest streaming speeds and a broad 9300 worldwide servers based on my tests.
Yes, you can watch the Champions League on Amazon Prime. However, only selected matches are available on this streaming platform, and it costs around $8.99/month to do so.
No, the Champions League is not on ESPN since the Champions League rights currently belong to CBS Sports and Paramount. If you want to watch the Champions League in the US, you can do so through CBS Sports (for FREE) or Paramount+ (for $7.99/month).
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League is exclusive to Paramount+ in the U.S., which holds the full English-language broadcast rights through to 2026. Paramount+ has all live and on-demand matches, including group stage, knockout rounds, and the final in May 2026. If you’re not in the US, you can unblock Paramount+ with a VPN like NordVPN.
In Ireland, you can watch 2025/26 Champions League select matches for free via RTÉ2 and Virgin Media or purchase a Premier Sports subscription, which holds the primary rights and streams most live matches.
Can you tell me which of the broadcasters offer a free service or free trials ?
If you use a Swiss VPN-server, RTS will offer you a free service to watch matches. We tested this using ExpressVPN and were able to watch live television straight away. Hope this helps!