The 2020 Euros kick off at 9 PM CEST on June 11, with a hotly-anticipated match between Turkey and Italy. Of course, this is just the beginning; the following month will see a further 50 games, culminating in the Euro Cup Final on July 11. Because of the globe-trotting nature of this year’s competition and pandemic-mandated spectator limits, it’s harder than ever to attend in person. Don’t panic, though: we’re about to let you know how you can live stream the UEFA Euro 2020 and support your country’s squad from the comfort of your own home.

It’s hard to overstate how big a deal this tournament is, which means that unlicensed sources will likely be extremely common. We strongly advise against using these, though. There’s a good chance that they’ll be taken offline before the game is over, and even if they aren’t, third-party streams can’t match the video quality of official sources. Many networks are showing the Euros for free anyway, so there’s no need to resort to unreliable, unofficial sources.

Many of the broadcasters showing Euro 2020 matches are geo-restricted. This means that if you’re traveling abroad, you’ll likely need a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to watch on your usual streaming services. 

How to watch Euro 2020 from abroad with a VPN

VPNs change your IP address, making it look as though you’re browsing the web from a different location. As such, they can help you unblock geo-restricted services from abroad. Below is our guide to streaming the European Championship from anywhere in the world.

Here’s how to live stream Euro 2020 online from anywhere:

  • Start by deciding which VPN you’d like to use. We recommend NordVPN but Surfshark and ExpressVPN are both user-friendly, high-speed alternatives.
  • Next, download the VPN app onto whichever device you plan on streaming with. Most providers allow you to connect five or so devices at once.
  • Log in to the app and connect to a server in your home country. This will trick your usual streaming services into thinking you never left.
  • Visit your chosen streaming platform and try watching a video. It should load right away but if not, or if you see an error, you might want to clear your cache and cookies before trying again. Alternatively, ask your VPN’s customer support team for more assistance.

Euro 2020 matches will be broadcast live, so we strongly advise spending a few minutes making sure your VPN works properly ahead of time. After all, this tournament only happens every four years; you’d hate to miss the start of a fixture due to unexpected technical trouble.

How to watch Euro 2020 for free on UK TV

Football fans in the UK can stream the 2020 Euros for free since every game will be shown on either BBC iPlayer or ITV Hub (note that viewers in Scotland must use STV Player instead). Better still, while the BBC has previously aired Welsh matches on S4C and Scottish matches on BBC Scotland, it’ll be showing fixtures from all of the UK squads on BBC One this time around.

Both of these services are technically free to watch, although you’ll need a TV license to stream Euro matches live. There are no verification procedures in place to actually check if you have one or not. Users must also create an account before they can watch anything; this is free and only takes a second.

BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub are both region-locked. As such, you’ll need a VPN to access them from outside of the UK. Don’t have one yet? NordVPN offers a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to stream the entire tournament during your travels abroad.

Where else can I watch the Euro 2020 tournament online?

No surprises here: the 2020 UEFA European Championship will be shown all across Europe. However, did you know that there are over 200 official international broadcasters showing the tournament throughout the Americas, Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Oceania? Below we reveal your options for streaming Euro 2020 live online, wherever you are.

France

23 of the tournament’s 51 matches will be free-to-watch in France. Crucially, this includes the Euro 2020 final. These free games will air on either M6 or TF1, so all you have to do is create an account before kick off and log in. If you get tired of waiting between matches, M6 also has a dedicated channel on 6play that’ll be showing 50 classic matches from previous European Championships.

The remaining 28 fixtures are, unfortunately, only available on beIN Sports. This costs €15 per month and does not include any kind of free trial. However, you may already have access if you’re a Free or Orange customer.

All of the services above are geo-restricted. In other words, you’ll need a VPN to stream the Euros on them while traveling outside of France.

Germany

The majority of the 2020 European Championship (41 matches) will be broadcast for free in Germany. Matches will be shown on either ZDF or ARD, with a roughly even split between the two. Neither platform requires users to pay anything or create an account before watching. The remaining 10 matches will be exclusively available on MagentaTV, a paid streaming service that costs €10 per month.

These services are usually only accessible in Germany. That said, it’s possible to unblock them abroad by connecting to a German VPN server.

Spain

Live streaming Euro 2020 matches is nice and simple in Spain. Every fixture will be broadcast live on Mitele, a free streaming platform with no registration requirement. Don’t worry if you have other plans either, as each match will be made available on-demand shortly after they finish.

Mitele is geo-blocked, so you’ll either have to be in Spain or using a Spanish VPN server to actually use this platform.

Italy

Italians will be able to watch 27 Euro 2020 matches for free, including every game that Italy plays in. Free-to-watch fixtures will be shown on RaiPlay; this platform doesn’t cost anything to use, although you will have to create an account beforehand.

24 fixtures will be exclusive to Sky Italia, however. If you’re already a customer, you can sign into the Sky Go app and stream them online at no added cost. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a way to watch Euro 2020 without cable, you can sign up for Now TV instead. A Sky Sports pass costs €14.99 per day or €29.99 per month.

These services are all geo-restricted. In other words, you’ll have to use a VPN to access them from outside of Italy.

Portugal

23 Euro 2020 matches will be available for free in Portugal. However, these will be shared between SIC, RTP, and TVI, so you may have to do some digging to find out exactly which one is airing a particular fixture.

All other matches will be exclusive to Sport TV. If you already get access to this channel via your cable provider, you can sign into the website and watch at no added cost. Failing this, you’ll have to purchase a digital pass. These cost €27.99 per month, with slight discounts for longer subscriptions.

All of these services are geo-restricted. As such, if you’re traveling outside of Portugal, you’ll need a VPN.

USA

ESPN will be broadcasting 46 of this tournament’s fixtures, with ABC picking up the remaining six. Both platforms allow you to watch online by signing in with your cable provider details, but it’s easy to watch even if you don’t have cable, since they each support multiple over-the-top streaming platforms.

For instance, it’s possible to sign in with a YouTube TV or Hulu with Live TV account. These services both cost $64.99 USD per month and offer both networks. If you don’t mind missing a few earlier matches, you could sign up for Sling TV instead; it only carries ESPN but is much less expensive, at $34.99 per month. FuboTV is also supported, but offers the worst of both worlds, as it’s $64.99 per month and doesn’t carry ABC.

As all of the above services are region-locked, a VPN is required to watch from abroad.

Canada

Canada has two broadcasters: TSN for English-language coverage and TVA for anyone who’d prefer to watch in French. TVA is completely free to watch, and if your cable package already includes TSN, you can watch it online at no added cost. However, if you don’t have cable, you can pay $19.99 CAD for a one-month TSN digital pass.

TSN and TVA are only available in Canada. Users in other countries can still watch on these platforms using a VPN, though.

Australia

Optus Sport will be showing each and every game of the 2020 European Championship. Existing TV subscribers will be pleased to know that they can sign into the website and stream matches live at no added cost. Looking to stream Euro 2020 online without cable? No problem: digital passes are available for $14.99 AUD per month.

Optus Sport is geo-blocked, meaning a VPN is needed to access it outside of Australia.

Other locations

Didn’t see your country above? Don’t panic: the Euro 2020 tournament is showing in too many countries for us to cover them all individually. Luckily, the organisers have provided an extensive list of international broadcasters, so you shouldn’t have to look too hard to find out where you can watch.

UEFA Euro 2020: full schedule

From here on out, the tournament follows a standard knockout format until there are only two teams left. These face off in the European Championship final, with the winner taking home the €34,000,000 prize money and, of course, the trophy. 

Instead, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, and Scotland will be filling their spots in the roster. This is particularly interesting since it’ll mark the first time that Finland and North Macedonia have ever qualified for a Euro tournament, and the first time that Scotland has reached the group stage since 1996. 

Here’s the full list of every country competing in the UEFA Euro 2020: 

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • England
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Hungary
  • Italy
  • Netherlands
  • North Macedonia
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Russia
  • Scotland
  • Slovakia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • Wales

That’s because the geographic restrictions in place are to protect copyright and licensing agreements. Fortunately, most streaming platforms won’t take action over VPN use (such as suspending your account). Any action taken is generally limited to blacklisting known VPN IP addresses.

Note: While it’s not illegal to stream the Euros online from abroad, VPNs are illegal in a handful of countries. Comparitech does not provide legal advice, and nothing in this article should be considered as legal advice.