The 2024 NFL season begins on Thursday, September 5, and will run until January 5, 2025. All in all, there’ll be almost 300 games to look forward to before the playoffs and the match everyone’s waiting for: Super Bowl LIX. Here’s the best part: you can stream all of the action live online from anywhere (without cable too!). Take a look below to find out how.
Note that this post will only be recommending official NFL streams. These provide the highest quality video, and there’s no need to worry about the stream dropping out partway through. Besides, there are plenty of legitimate ways to watch the 2024 NFL season, which makes unauthorized streams effectively pointless.
NFL matches will only be shown on geo-blocked streaming platforms. This means that if you’re traveling abroad, you’ll need a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to regain access to your usual channels.
How to stream NFL games from anywhere with a VPN
VPNs enhance your privacy by encrypting your internet traffic, but they’re also great for accessing your usual region-locked streaming services while traveling. And they’re not difficult to use. Just follow the steps below and you’ll be watching games from overseas in no time.
Here’s how to watch the 2024 NFL season from anywhere:
- Start by registering for a suitable VPN. We recommend NordVPN, but Surfshark and IPVanish are strong alternatives.
- Next, download the VPN software, making sure to get the right version for your operating system.
- Decide which of the sources below you’d like to use. Note that most will require you to have a payment method linked to a local address, so this method is for those with a subscription who are traveling abroad.
- Connect to a server in the appropriate country. For example, you’d use a US server to unblock ESPN or a UK server for BBC iPlayer.
- Try loading content from the site. You should find that it loads almost instantly. If you’re still getting an error message, clear your cookies and cache, then reload the page and try again.
It’s important you attempt the steps above before the event you want to watch begins. This gives you plenty of time to contact your VPN’s support team should any issues arise without missing the start of the game.
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Where to watch NFL games live online
While the NFL is huge in America, it has fans all over the world. This means NFL coverage will be available in numerous locations. Take a look at our country-specific guides below to find out where you can watch all the action live.
USA
The good news is that in America, you can watch every NFL fixture live online. The bad news is that each game will be on one of six different networks. Once you memorize the schedule, however, it’s not that bad. Here’s a breakdown:
- Monday night games: ESPN
- Thursday and Saturday night games: NFL Network, 15 Thursday night games on Amazon Prime Video
- Sunday afternoon AFC games: CBS, Paramount Plus (Premium only)
- Sunday afternoon NFC games: FOX
- Sunday night: NBC and Peacock
- International Series: NFL Network
There’s one other thing of note: if a game is exclusive to the NFL Network or ESPN, it will also air on local TV stations in the regions that the playing teams are from. If you already get these services as part of your cable package, you’ll be able to watch at no extra cost.
However, if you don’t have cable, there are a couple of over-the-top streaming services that will allow you to watch. First, FuboTV carries all of the above channels and costs $79.99 USD per month. YouTube TV is cheaper, at $72.99 per month, and offers the exact same content as FuboTV.
The least expensive option, though, is Sling TV: the Orange and Blue subscription costs $55 per month and lets you live stream ESPN, FOX, NFL Network, and NBC . Better still, your first month is half off!
It’s worth noting that the channels above will only be providing English-language commentary. Spanish broadcasts are split between Universo, ESPN Deportes, and Telemundo Deportes. The first two of these channels as part of a standalone Spanish TV plan ($34.99/month) or as an add-on ($14.99) if you’re already subscribed to YouTube TV’s base plan. Alternatively, Sling TV has the same channels in its Latino plan which costs $10/month.
The games will be geo-blocked, so you will need a VPN to gain a US IP address and connect to your usual home streaming services while traveling abroad. NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.
UK
British NFL fans can stream all of the action live on Sky Sports. If you’re already a Sky subscriber, you can add the required sports channels and watch live on the Sky Go app. Additionally, Monday night games will be shown live at 01:00 BST on Channel 5, which you can watch using the free My5 service.
Want to watch the NFL without cable? The easiest way is with the DAZN NFL Game Pass. You can get a year’s access for £159.99, which can be paid in full or in four monthly installments. On the plus side, you’ll have access to every game, including the playoffs and Super Bowl.
You can also sign into Sky Sports with a Now TV subscription, but you’ll only be able to watch selected games from the NFL season instead of the full roster Sky Sports offers. This is also a fairly expensive way to watch, as a monthly pass costs £34.99 a month.
Finally, there’s ITVX which hosts The NFL Show, which airs every Friday evening. You’ll also be able to watch past seasons of Hard Knocks, Undiscovered, and A Football Life. ITV will provide live coverage of two London games: Jets vs Vikings and Jaguars vs Patriots. Super Bowl LIX will also air live on ITV.
Brits traveling abroad will need a VPN to gain a UK IP address and resume watching these services when they are overseas.
France
France has two official NFL broadcasters: M6 and beIN Sports. M6 has obtained the free-to-air rights and will show 18 regular season matches live on its streaming service, 6play. This service is free-to-use, and its premium subscriptions aren’t necessary to stream NFL games.
beIN, on the other hand, will show every fixture live and allows users to watch previous games on-demand. Prices start at €15 a month, and unlike in previous years, this won’t lock you into a long-term contract.
beIN Sports regularly covers major sporting events in different languages and has several French-language channels. While there’s no guarantee that the NFL will have French commentary, it does seem likely. Once again, to access your home streaming services from abroad, you’ll need to use a VPN to gain a French IP address from abroad.
Spain
Movistar+ has exclusive NFL broadcast rights in Spain. Every NFL game will be available live, via Movistar Deportes, but unfortunately, you’ll have to have Movistar broadband and TV in order to watch anything. If you’re already a subscriber, you can add the sports package for an extra €24 per month, but new customers can expect to pay €90 minimum and will be unable to watch until their services have been installed at their home.
While there is a cable-free offering (Movistar + Lite), this doesn’t include the sports channels that NFL games are being shown on.
If you are traveling abroad, use NordVPN to gain a Spanish IP address and access your usual Movistar content.
Other locations
The mini-guides above are far from an exhaustive list of NFL sources. If your country isn’t mentioned, there’s still a good chance you’ll be able to watch live. Just check out the full list of international NFL broadcasters to find official sources in your region.
Remember that if in doubt, you can always try NFL Game Pass on DAZN. This sports streaming platform is available in most countries. However, it is known to have strict VPN blocking in place, which makes it difficult to stream content while traveling abroad.
Can I stream the NFL with a free VPN?
Although free VPNs may appear to be an easy way to stay safe online, we strongly advise avoiding them. First and foremost, they aren’t suitable for streaming: with more users than premium services yet fewer servers, you can expect intermittent connections and choppy, stuttering video, if it buffers at all. These problems only worsen with live HD video, which requires relatively fast speeds to watch. Also, some free VPNs impose monthly data limits, so it’s highly unlikely you’ll be able to watch as much of the NFL as you’d like.
There’s another issue: free VPNs have a history of misleading their users. For example, there are dozens of free Android “VPNs” that attempt to install malware and don’t encrypt any traffic whatsoever. We’ve also seen cases where a free VPN provider has abused the trust of its users, including one where users were unwittingly contributing to a botnet. To protect yourself and your personal information, we recommend using a reputable VPN that puts the privacy of its users first.
2024/25 NFL schedule
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 5 | 2023 season begins |
| January 5 | End of regular season |
| January 11 | Wild card games |
| January 18/21 | Playoffs |
| January 26 | Championship games |
| February 9 | Super Bowl LIX |
Read more NFL articles here:
Watching NFL games overseas: FAQs
Will I get penalized for watching NFL games with a VPN?
You’re unlikely to get into trouble for streaming NFL games using a VPN if you use one that is legal and reputable. That said, it’s always a good idea to check the terms of service of your chosen VPN provider before committing to any streaming activities. In addition, some providers may restrict certain content or activities you can access while connected to their services. So, ensuring you understand the rules beforehand is always a good idea.
When is the 2025 NFL Draft?
The 2025 NFL Draft will occur in Green Bay between April 24 and 26, 2025.
We don’t have many details at the time of writing. The plans are still being finalized, but the draft is expected to happen on Lambeau Field and Titletown campus.
We’ll update this article as the news progresses.
Can I watch the AFC and NFC Championship Games from overseas?
The good news is that, yes, you can absolutely watch the AFC and NFC Championship Games online from overseas.
For more information on how and where you can live stream these playoff games, visit our respective posts for the AFC Championship Game and NFC Championship Game. Note that there are ways to watch both of these games online for free!
Who is favorite to win the Super Bowl?
As we approach week 1 of the 2024/25 NFL season, the current favorites to win the Super Bowl are the reigning champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. It’s very difficult to see past experienced coach Andy Reid and his star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes has an almost telepathic connection with Travis Kelce, one of the greatest tight ends of all time. Furthermore, the Chiefs have given Mahomes some new weapons in the form of wide receivers Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy.
Still, if anyone is likely to challenge the Chiefs, it’s likely to be Super Bowl LVIII finalists, San Francisco 49ers. Don’t forget about the Detroit Lions however, an organization that’s turned around its fortunes in recent years, reaching the NFC Championship game in 2023.
