Unlocking NFL 2024: How to stream games from overseas

The 2023 NFL season begins on Thursday, September 7, and will run until January 7, 2024. 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 LVIII. 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 2023 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 2023 NFL season from anywhere:

1. Start by registering for a suitable VPN. We recommend NordVPN, but Surfshark and ExpressVPN are both strong alternatives.
2. Next, download the VPN software, making sure to get the right version for your operating system.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

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 five 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

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 $74.99 USD per month. YouTube TV is slightly 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 watch ESPN, FOX, NFL Network, and NBC live. 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 are available for an additional $34.99 per month as part of YouTube TV’s Spanish Plus add-on or in Sling TV’s Latino plan for an extra $10 a 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 £150.99, which can be paid in full or in four monthly installments of £37.75. 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 monthly passes cost £34.99 each.

Finally, there’s ITVX (formerly ITV Hub), 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. However, no matches will be available.

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: L’Equipe and beIN Sports. L’Equipe will show every Sunday game and playoff live, including the Super Bowl. 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 various 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 will 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 €19 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.

2023/24 NFL schedule

2023 NFL season – Key Games

The 2023 NFL season features several key matchups that fans are eagerly anticipating. Here are some of the top games to look forward to:

1. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Detroit Lions: The defending Super Bowl champions host the Lions in the season opener at Arrowhead Stadium in week 1.
2. Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns: The Battle of Ohio features two talented young quarterbacks: Joe Burrow and Baker Mayfield, in week 1.
3. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs: A rematch of Super Bowl 57, with Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes facing off again in week 11.
4. Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals: A game that brings back memories of the Damar Hamlin near-death medical situation and the Bengals’ blowout win over the Bills in an AFC divisional-round game. Week 9 sees this one.
5. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys: A classic NFC East rivalry with both teams competing for the division title.
6. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Jacksonville Jaguars: A matchup between two strong AFC teams, with the Jaguars looking to prove themselves against the Chiefs. Check it out in week 2.
7. New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles: A heated NFC East grudge match occurs on Christmas Day.
8. Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Chargers: A showdown between two playoff teams from the previous season featuring quarterbacks Josh Allen and Justin Herbert. Great football in week 16.
9. Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers: A historic rivalry between two storied franchises considered contenders in the NFC for week 5.
10. Indianapolis Colts vs. Carolina Panthers: A matchup between two talented teams with playoff aspirations for week 9.

Sources:
[1] https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-schedule-2023-the-top-10-must-watch-games-of-the-season-003147868.html
[2] https://www.nfl.com/news/2023-nfl-season-team-by-team-opponents-for-every-game
[3] https://www.profootballnetwork.com/ranking-best-nfl-games-2023/

Watching NFL games overseas: FAQs