How to watch the MLS Cup Playoffs 2020 live online (bypass blackouts)

The 2020 Major League Soccer playoffs start November 20. In total, 18 teams from both conferences clinched places in the playoffs, which will culminate in the final match on December 12. Fans can stream the playoffs online, but access to those streams is dependent on where you live. Read on to find out how to watch the MLS Cup playoffs live online from anywhere.

Note that we’ll only be recommending official sources. Although third-party streams may be available, these are often laggy, with low-resolution video. Additionally, they can be taken offline at any moment for copyright violation. Luckily, there are plenty of legitimate ways to watch the MLS Cup online, so there’s no need for unofficial streams.

MLS Cup playoff games will only be shown on region-locked platforms, meaning you’ll need a VPN to watch on your usual home services while traveling abroad.

How to watch the MLS Cup playoffs live online with a VPN

Regional blackout restrictions may prevent you from being able to live stream MLS games that include your favorite local teams. To get around this, we recommend using a VPN. Short for Virtual Private Network, a VPN encrypts all of a device’s internet traffic and routes it through an intermediary server in a location of the user’s choosing.

Here’s how to watch the MLS Cup Playoffs online from anywhere:

1. Sign up for a VPN. ExpressVPN works well for this but NordVPN and Surfshark are two excellent low-cost alternatives.
2. Install the VPN app.
3. Connect to a server in the US that’s outside of the blackout region.
4. Watch games without live blackout restrictions. If you have any problems, clear your cache and cookies then try again.

How to watch MLS Cup Playoffs 2020 live online

USA

You can stream every out-of-market MLS playoff game on ESPN+ in the United States. If you happen to be in market—your local team is playing—then blackouts apply. You can bypass these blackouts with a VPN by connecting to a location that’s out of market for both teams.

Some games are available through the ABC App or Fox Sports App, both of which require a cable subscription.

In addition to ESPN+, you could also watch games YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV, and Sling TV, which all carry ESPN, Fox, and ABC channels. We’d recommend using Sling TV, just because at $30 USD per month, it’s the least expensive option.

Games broadcast on Univision will also be live streamed on Twitter.

You should note that all of the services above are geo-blocked. This means that you’ll have to be in the US or connected to a VPN to use them. ExpressVPN comes with a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee, meaning you can try it out and claim a full refund if unsatisfied.

Canada

Canada has two MLS playoff broadcasters: one for English-language coverage (TSN) and one for French (TVA). You can stream TVA for free online, without any need to register, and if your cable TV plan includes TSN, you’ll be able to watch those games too at no added cost.

TSN also offers an online-only pass, allowing you to live stream the 2020 MLS playoffs without cable. Daily passes cost $7.99 CAD but you can purchase a monthly pass for $19.99.

Both TSN and TVA are geo-restricted. You can still use these services from abroad by connecting to a Canadian VPN server, though.

International streams

You can find a full list of the MLS’ global media rights here. Here are a few noteworthy streaming sources to consider:

DAZN is a live streaming service available in Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Brazil, and Canada (out-of-market only).

beIN Sports usually offers live streams alongside its standard broadcasts in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sky Sports and Premier Sports have the rights for Ireland and the UK.

MLS Cup Playoffs 2020 schedule

Here’s the Audi 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs schedule as it currently stands:

• November 20 at 9 pm ET – East Play-In: #7 Nashville vs. #10 Inter Miami
  • USA: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes
  • Canada: TSN 1/4, TVA Sports

   

• November 21 at 12 pm ET – Round One: #4 Orlando City SC vs. #5 NYCFC
  • USA: UniMás, TUDN
  • CAN: TSN 1/4, TVA Sports

   

• November 21 at 3 pm ET – Round One: #3 Columbus Crew SC vs. #6 New York Red Bulls
  • USA: UniMás, TUDN
  • CAN: TSN 1/4, TVA Sports

   

• November 22 at 4 pm ET – Round One: #1 Sporting Kansas City vs. #8 San Jose Earthquakes
  • USA: FS1, FOX Deportes
  • CAN: TSN 3/5, TVA Sports

   

• November 22 at 7:30 pm ET – Round One: #4 Minnesota United FC vs. #5 Colorado Rapids
  • USA: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
  • CAN: TSN 3/5, TVA Sports

   

• November 22 at 10 pm ET -Round One: #3 Portland Timbers vs. #6 FC Dallas
  • USA: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
  • CAN: TSN 3/5, TVA Sports

   

• November 24 at 6 pm ET – Round One: #2 Toronto FC vs. higher advancing seed from Play-In Round
  • USA: FS1, FOX Deportes
  • CAN: TSN 1/4/5, TVA Sports

   

• November 24 at 8 pm ET – Round One: #1 Philadelphia Union vs. lower advancing seed from Play-In round
  • USA: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
  • CAN: TSN 3, TVA Sports

   

• November 24 at 10:30 pm ET – Round One: #2 Seattle Sounders vs. #7 LAFC
  • USA: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
  • CAN: TSN 1/4, TVA Sports

   

• November 29 at 3 pm ET – Eastern Conference Semifinal #1
  • USA: ABC, ESPN Deportes
  • CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

   

• November 29 at 8 pm ET – Eastern Conference Semifinal #2
  • USA: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
  • CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

   

• December 1 at 9 or 10 pm ET – Western Conference Semifinal #1
  • USA: FS1, FOX Deportes
  • CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

   

• December 2 at 9 or 10 pm ET – Western Conference Semifinal #2
  • USA: FS1, FOX Deportes
  • CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

   

• December 6 at 3 pm ET – Conference Final #1
  • USA: ABC, ESPN Deportes
  • CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

   

• December 6 at 6:30 pm ET – Conference Final #2
  • USA: FS1, FOX Deportes
  • CAN: TSN, TVA Sports

   

• December 12 at 8 pm ET – MLS Cup
  • USA: FOX, UniMás, TUDN
  • CAN: TSN, TVA Sports