News flash: streaming services are entering the live sports ring and changing the game! But streaming sports live attracts the same challenges as streaming content outside of your home country.
For sports lovers across the globe, the limitations of geo-restrictions can be a real buzzkill. Imagine your favorite team is battling it out worldwide, but local broadcasting rights prevent you from catching the live action.
You have to wait for it to be shown in your country, and by this time, you will have already received all the updates and highlights of the match due to the ever-buzzing social media platforms discussing the latest NFL and soccer scores. All your excitement about the upcoming 2024 soccer season is marred.
Thankfully, no more.
Virtual private networks, or VPNs, as they are popularly known, allow you to virtually relocate and access geographically blocked content, including live sports streams. If you have been waiting to know how to stream sports live, here’s everything you need to know. This guide even mentions a few VPNs, along with their features, so you can choose the best VPN for streaming your favorite sporting events from across the globe.
Why use a VPN for streaming sports?
For sports fans across the globe, geo-restrictions are a common hurdle and cause much frustration. Here’s why VPN is used for streaming live sports action:
- Bypass geo-blocking
Broadcasting laws often restrict access to live sports streams based on location, affecting your ability to watch NFL and NBA games. VPNs help mask your location by routing your Internet traffic via a server in a different country so you can easily access geo-restricted content, such as live football and soccer matches.
- Unlock global sports coverage.
Using a VPN, you can virtually travel to countries with broader sports broadcasting rights and access a more comprehensive range of live sports, including NFL and NBA games and channels like Fox Sports. For instance, you can watch Sky Sports in the UK to catch Premier League action or access ESPN+ in the US to watch Major League Baseball.
- Better privacy
VPNs encrypt Internet traffic, making it cumbersome for third parties to monitor your online activities and location, ensuring your enjoyment of live sports like MLB and basketball remains private. This adds an extra layer of privacy while streaming sports live.
While VPNs help bypass geographical restrictions, checking the terms of service of the streaming platform you use, especially for sports apps, is critical. Some platforms restrict the use of VPNs, and if they detect you are going against their rule, they may ban or limit your access altogether, especially for popular sports like football and basketball. So, remember to respect copyright laws and prioritize the use of official streaming services.
How do you choose the right VPN for streaming sports?
VPNs are not created equal, but they are available in abundance. Hence, you must carefully consider the following factors to make an informed decision.
- Server network
When choosing a VPN, ensure it offers a vast server network. Its network must be available in countries well-known for extensive sports broadcasting, like the UK, US, and Canada, where you can catch NFL and MLB games. This will help you select the optimal server location for your desired sports stream.
- Performance and speed are crucial when streaming live sports, such as NFL and NBA games, to ensure you don’t miss any action.
Speed and performance are other primary factors to consider. Watching your favorite soccer team battle it out on the field, you would want to enjoy uninterrupted, smooth, and glitch-free streaming. Look for a VPN offering a fast connection for an enjoyable streaming experience.
- Encryption and security
Choose a VPN with robust security protocols like IKEv2 or OpenVPN to keep your online activity and data encrypted. At the same time, you enjoy streaming sports action, including the latest NFL and NBA games.
- Compatibility with various devices is essential for streaming apps that offer live basketball and soccer games.
The VPN service must offer applications for the devices you generally use for streaming, such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, smart TVs, etc.
- You can enjoy streaming NBA and NFL games on various devices simultaneously with multiple connections.
If you plan to stream on multiple devices simultaneously, ensure your VPN supports simultaneous connections for watching NFL and NBA games.
Top VPN options for streaming sports live
| VPN provider | Performance & speed | Server network | Encryption & security | Device compatibility | Simultaneous connections | Subscription fee (monthly) |
| NordVPN | Very Good | 60+ countries | OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Almost all known devices | 6 | $4.13 |
| Surfshark | Excellent | 100+ countries | OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard | Almost all known devices | Unlimited | $2.49 |
| ExpressVPN | Excellent | 94+ countries | OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Almost all known devices | 5 | $6.67 |
| CyberGhost | Good | 90+ countries | OpenVPN, IKEv2 | Almost all known devices | 7 | $2.75 |
Please note that the features and pricing may change over time. So, before making your final choice, you must visit the official websites of these VPN providers and then pay for their monthly subscription.
A step-by-step guide to using a VPN for streaming live sports
Are you ready to catch your favorite sports game? Before you can start watching it, here are the steps to follow to stream it live using a VPN:
- Choose your preferred VPN service and subscribe to it.
- Download and install the application on your preferred device.
- Launch the app and sign in or register to create a new account.
- Choose a server location in a country known for extensive sports broadcasting or the specified server location where you know your favorite sporting event is being held.
- Open the streaming platform you wish to watch the live sports stream on, verify your location, and enjoy!
Ran into trouble with the VPN? Troubleshooting tips
Although rare, it is not impossible. Keep in mind these troubleshooting issues to get back on track in an instant:
- Slow streaming speeds? Try connecting to a different server in the same country, or consider switching to a different VPN protocol.
- Cannot access the stream? Double-check to make sure your VPN is connected, and check the server location. If the issue persists, clear your browser cache and cookies and restart your device.
- VPN connection issue? Restart the VPN application or talk to the VPN provider’s customer support.
Also Read: How to Prevent Cyberattacks: Practical Tips for Companies
Important points to remember before streaming sports live using a VPN
- Please note that using a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions may violate the terms of service of some streaming platforms. Check the terms of the platform before proceeding.
- Streaming live sports can consume a lot of data. Make sure you are connected to the Wi-Fi or have a sufficient data plan.
- Never choose free VPNs. They come with limitations and are not as safe as you might think.
Final Thought: Stream sports live anywhere in the world!
No longer crib over geographical restrictions because your favorite sporting events will come to you, wherever you are, thanks to VPNs. Follow the steps mentioned above to stream sports live and cheer on your favorite team.
