The cheapest way to watch the World Cup 2022 is Sling TV. This year’s football (soccer for those of us in the US) event is a little different to past tournaments, due to the games taking place at the end of the calendar year instead of during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer. While this will disrupt many domestic leagues and tournaments, including Premier League and Champions League, it does make for a soccer-filled November and December.
Officially, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is scheduled to start on November 20 and come to an end on December 18, 2022. The first game will see the hosts (Qatar) kick off Group A with a match against Ecuador on Nov. 20, and the opening game’s kickoff time is scheduled for 7 p.m. local (4 p.m. GMT, 11 a.m. ET, 8 a.m. PT). Following which, the next four weeks will see 64 games played in order to determine the winner of the 2022 World Cup.
For those based in the United States, World Cup 2022 will be broadcast live on Fox and Fox Sports, with Spanish-language coverage available on Telemundo. As a result, anyone looking to watch any or all of the games will need access to a live TV streaming service that includes both Fox and FS1. Luckily, these are fairly readily available channels, resulting in a choice of providers to pick from.
Before taking a closer look at the paid options, it may be possible for some homes to watch some of the World Cup action for free. Specifically, games shown on Fox will be available to watch over-the-air in homes that have access to an antenna and are within range of their local Fox station. In addition, Tubi has already confirmed that all of the World Cup 2022 games will be available to watch on-demand for free. Even though Tubi won’t make it possible to watch the soccer action as it happens live, it is a completely free service, making it a super cheap way to keep up with this year’s World Cup.
Cheapest way to watch World Cup 2022
Sling TV is going to be the cheapest way to watch the World Cup. Specifically, the cheapest way to get access to Fox and Fox Sports. While Sling offers two main plans to choose from, Sling Blue is the only package that provides access to both Fox and FS1. However, It is worth noting that Sling TV doesn’t currently offer Fox everywhere, which does mean that some homes may not be able to watch games shown on Fox. Therefore, it is worth checking local Fox availability before signing up.
Regardless of Fox availability in a select area, Sling Blue subscribers shouldn’t have any issues watching any of the games that are being shown on FS1. For those that are in a supported area, a $40 per month Sling Blue subscription is going to be the cheapest way to watch all of the World Cup 2022 matches live.
In addition to Fox and Fox Sports, Sling Blue subscribers also get access to more than 40 live TV channels including FX, NFL Network, TBS, and TNT. They also get access to the ability to stream on multiple devices at the same time (unlike with Sling Orange) and 50 hours of cloud DVR to record with. For those that want to record every World Cup 2022 game, there is the option to upgrade the DVR to 200 hours for an additional $5 per month.
Other ways to watch World Cup 2022
The next cheapest way to watch World Cup 2022 is going to be Vidgo. This live TV streaming service offers two main plans to choose from with Fox and Fox Sports included with both. Plus is the cheapest of the two plans, priced at $59.95 per month, making it the cheapest way to watch the World Cup through Vidgo.
YouTube TV costs a minimum of $64.99 per month and is another way to watch all of the World Cup 2022 games, thanks to the base plan unlocking access to both Fox and FS1. While YouTube TV is also one of the few options to offer an ability to watch sports in 4K, subscribers will need to add the 4K Plus add-on to their live TV package, increasing the monthly cost of a subscription in the process.
Otherwise, soccer homes can consider signing up to either fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, or DirecTV Stream. All three of these live TV services cost a minimum of $69.99 per month, making them the more expensive options for watching the World Cup.
For reference, each does come with benefits that can help make choosing between them a little easier. If going with fuboTV, it is possible to pay $79.99 per month for the Elite plan and unlock access to sports events in 4K, including some World Cup 2022 games. While Hulu Live TV doesn’t offer channels in 4K, Disney Plus, ESPN Plus and basic Hulu are bundled in with the live TV subscription at no additional cost. If opting for DirecTV Stream, upgrading to the $89.99 per month Choice plan will unlock regional sports networks, adding some additional value for sports fans.
It is also worth noting that many of the World Cup 2022 games will also be available to watch through the Fox Sports app and this can be a good way to gain access on additional devices when needed. However, the Fox Sports app is not free and will require the user to log in with a cable, satellite, or live TV streaming subscription.
Watch World Cup 2022 summary
World Cup 2022 games are due to be shown on Fox and Fox Sports 1. At $40 per month, Sling Blue is the cheapest and easiest way to gain access to these channels and stream World Cup 2022 matches. Considering Sling TV currently only offers Fox in select markets, homes should check whether they get access to their local Fox channel before signing up. If not in a Fox-supported Sling TV area, then Vidgo is the next cheapest option with its Plus plan priced at $59.95 per month, followed by YouTube TV at $64.99 per month. FuboTV, Hulu Live TV, and DirecTV Stream are all possible options as well, with their plans starting at $69.99 per month.
Even though it is possible to sign up to a variety of different services to watch the World Cup, homes may want to consider some of the more general limitations before making a decision based solely on price. For example, if a home wants to watch World Cup soccer in 4K, then fuboTV and YouTube TV are going to be the better option, although this will require upgrading to a more expensive plan that includes 4K support. Likewise, if watching to watch multiple games at the same time, and on different devices, then it is worth taking into consideration the simultaneous streams restrictions of these live TV streaming services before picking one.
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