How to watch NFL outside the US (the ultimate guide)

If you’re a football lover, nothing else would please you more than having uninterrupted streaming of your favorite NFL games all the time. But if you travel outside the US, you might have to miss out on the fun unless you know you can unblock NFL abroad.

Indeed, the action-packed National Football League (NFL) seasons have everything to keep sports lovers hooked. Perhaps, that’s why, despite all the delays, empty stadiums, and depleted rosters, the 2020/21 NFL season came back with a bang. It genuinely was excellent to see new records getting slated. And since then, nothing has stopped the show from going on as scheduled.

While the NFL season is one of the most popular sports in the US, it has gained an enormous following abroad.

However, sadly, you can’t watch the same action-packed content in most countries. So, if you travel or live outside the US, you will need a workaround like a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to watch NFL matches.

Interestingly, besides bypassing geographic restrictions, VPNs also safeguard your data, enhance your privacy, and ensure your traffic remains safe from interception by your internet service provider (ISP), hackers, or network administrators. Thus, using this tool to enjoy your favorite sports with better online security is a win-win.

Read on to find out how to watch NFL outside the US with a VPN, why you need a VPN to watch NFL, the best VPNs to watch NFL from abroad, and more.

How to unblock NFL Game Pass with a VPN | The quick guide

Using a VPN is an effortless way to unblock a geo-blocked service. Since the tool works out of the box on almost all devices, you only need to follow the steps below to stream NFL anywhere.

Want to take a look at all the best NFL VPNs? Or maybe you want to discover other methods to unblock NFL besides a VPN?

Read along to find answers to all your queries.

Why do I need a VPN to watch NFL matches?

The entire NFL season is not available on TV due to licensing and broadcasting restrictions. So you will still face blackout and miss out even if your local television stations show most of the games.

Although, the NFL’s streaming site (Game Pass International) is the best way to watch all 250+ games and playoffs. However, it is also not available everywhere. So, you’re likely to get errors (as in this screenshot) if you try accessing the platform from a region that isn’t available.

Nonetheless, a VPN will help you access the official broadcast no matter where you are. It will provide you with a new IP address and redirect your traffic to trick the streaming provider that you are not in a different country but the US. That’s how it enables you to bypass the geo-restrictions and watch whatever game you want.

Best VPNs to unblock NFL Game Pass from anywhere

Now that you know you need a VPN to watch the NFL abroad, you might wonder which service you should use.

Indeed, the abundance of VPN service providers has made it challenging to pick the right VPN. So, here is a quick review of some of the best VPN services that seamlessly unblock NFL anywhere.

1. NordVPN

It has a massive network of more than 5,200 servers in 60 countries. So, you will always get a reliable connection to stream from anywhere.

Its built-in SmartPlay technology makes it easy to watch NFL games. Precisely, NordVPN can bypass even the most stubborn geo-blocks while keeping you secure. We put it to the test and could access streaming sites such as DAZN, Fox Sports, beIN Sports, and BT Sports.

This VPN maintains your security and privacy with multiple high-level features. They include AES 256-bit encryption, perfect forward secrecy, automatic kill switch, DNS leak protection, and double VPN. Moreover, there is a WiFi protection feature if you are a frequent WiFi user.

It also comes with an ad blocker, an essential feature that eliminates ads and keeps you safe from malware, trackers, phishing scams, and online profiling. We tested its CyberSec suite for more than 3 hours and didn’t experience interruptions on any of the videos we streamed on different platforms.

NordVPN is one of the most affordable premium VPNs on the market, especially if you subscribe to the two-year plan.

The best part is, like a few other top providers such as ExpressVPN, you can try this service risk-free with the 30-days money-back guarantee.

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2. ExpressVPN

It has super-speedy servers so that you can watch NFL matches in high definition without interruptions. There is a Smart Location feature to help you automatically connect to the most optimal servers. It measures your latency and distance to give the fastest connection every time.

The VPN offers unlimited data and bandwidth for fast download speeds and high-quality streaming. Also, you can stream an NFL replay while browsing and downloading large files, even if you connect to an international server.

ExpressVPN successfully unblocks several sports streaming sites such as NFL Game Pass, Plus4, and ProSieben. With a network of more than 3000 servers in over 94 countries, you will be able to watch NFL games from anywhere.

Fortunately, you can try ExpressVPN services to watch NFL season outside the US risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee. We tested it and found it to be genuinely a no-questions-asked one.

It means you can get your money back upon request before the 30-days elapse. We tested this claim and were impressed to get our money within four days.

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3. Surfshark

Surfshark is an affordable option to watch NFL outside the US without restrictions.

The high-speed servers and unlimited bandwidth mean you can stream NFL games in high definition. You will get an ever smoother streaming experience if you activate the CleanWeb feature to remove the intrusive ads. It also blocks malware and trackers to keep you safe online.

With Surfshark’s Camouflage Mode, you can watch NFL games even in countries that prohibit the use of VPNs, like Russia and China. That’s because this feature makes your VPN activities look like regular traffic, so you remain anonymous.

Surfshark is compatible with all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux. The unlimited simultaneous connection feature allows you to use VPN on as many devices as you want with one subscription. You can also use the SmartDNS feature to connect devices that don’t support VPN, such as PlayStation and Xbox.

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4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is another super option to watch NFL where it is restricted, effortlessly.

Such a far-reaching network cannot get overloaded easily, so you get faster speeds and reliable connectivity.

The provider unblocks NFL Game Pass and other significant sports streaming platforms, including ESPN, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, Sling TV, and more. Notably, the VPN offers streaming optimized servers for high-quality and buffer-free streams.

You will be impressed with CyberGhost’s high speeds, especially if you connect to a nearby server. We were able to watch archived Super Bowls, browse and even stream videos in 4K without any lagging during our test.

This VPN offers a 45-days money-back guarantee so that you can try it risk-free. We signed up to check out whether the generous policy is legitimate and requested a refund. The request was approved, and we got our money within two working days.

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Best Servers For NFL Streaming

Although, the ideal server locations to get uninterrupted access to NFL streaming are in the US. Since most good VPNs (like those recommended above) have multiple US locations, you won’t face trouble while streaming.

Nonetheless, you can also use servers from the Netherlands and New Zealand. These locations work great to watch NFL Game Pass international when you’re somewhere outside the US.

Why you should avoid free VPNs to watch NFL abroad

While free VPNs may seem viable options to stay safe online, we strongly advise you not to use them. Especially if you are to use free NFL streaming websites.

First of all, they are not ideal for streaming due to intermittent connections, low video quality, and buffers. Also, some free VPNs limit the monthly data and throttle speeds. This means that with a free VPN, you cannot watch live HD NFL games as you’d like.

Another major issue with free VPN services is server congestion. Since many of them operate a small server network, you will be queued before connecting. Then, once connected, you might find the servers severely congested to stream anything.

Besides all these inconveniences, a free VPN is more costly in the long run compared to a premium VPN. Many free VPN vendors make money by gathering and logging users’ activities and data, then selling them to the highest bidder. Some also have a reputation for injecting malware, intrusive ads, and tracking cookies into users’ browsing sessions.

How to unblock NFL outside the US with Kodi

If you’re an avid streamer, you might be yearning to know if you can watch NFL on Kodi. Indeed, using a VPN with Kodi is the best workaround for uninterrupted and unrestricted streaming.

Thankfully, you can enjoy NFL streaming on Kodi as well, where many channels broadcast NFL games from OTA networks, letting you stay in action.

All you need is to install the right Kodi add-ons for it. You can try add-ons like SportsDevil, cCloudTV, Phoenix, and Oblivion streams to access NFL.

Once done, you can then be back in action on any sports streaming channel, such as,

• CBS
• ESPN
• Fox
• NBC
• NFL Network
• ABC
• NFC
• TSN
• Sports 1
• beIN Sports

Where to watch NFL games online

Although the NFL is an American sport, it is famous all over the world. Below is a country-specific guide to enjoying the action-packed NFL seasons.

United States

Fortunately, you can watch the entire NFL fixture live online in the US, although each game will appear on one of the five networks. Just memorize the NFL schedule below to know when to start streaming.

• Monday Night Games – ESPN
• Thursday Night and Saturday Night Games – NFL Network, Amazon Prime Video, and FOX
• AFC Sunday Afternoon Games – CBS
• NFC Sunday Afternoon Games – FOX
• Sunday Night Games – NBC

It is good to note that if a game is exclusive on ESPN or the NFL Network, it will also air on the local TV station in the areas from where the participating teams come. However, you can only watch the games for free if your cable package includes these channels.

You can also watch NFL games with several other streaming services if you don’t have a cable subscription. Sling TV is the most affordable option, with the Orange and Blue subscription at only $45 per month, allowing you to watch FOX, ESPN, and NBC.

Remember, these channels are usually geo-blocked, so you need a VPN to watch NFL games outside the US.

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The United Kingdom

American Football fans in the UK can catch up with the NFL action in a few different ways.

You can watch the live games on Sky Sports if you already have a Sky service subscription. There is also an option to add other sports channels at an extra fee.

Would you like to watch the NFL matches without a cable in the UK? The NFL Game Pass is the easiest way to stream NFL outside the US. It provides access to the regular season, playoffs, and Super Bowl.

Now TV allows its subscribers to sign into Sky Sports. Unfortunately, you will only view select games instead of the entire catalog.

While the BBC iPlayer does not show any live NFL games, you can watch the weekly highlights on BBC2 and the Super Bowl.

If you plan to travel outside the UK, you need a reliable VPN like NordVPN to continue accessing the above services.

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France

beIN Sports and TF1 are the official NFL broadcasters in France. While TF1 only shows the Super Bowl, beIN provides access to every fixture live and previous games online. The channel also offers other major sporting events in different languages.

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Spain

In Spain, NFL fans can only watch the action on Movistar+, which has the exclusive rights to broadcast in the country.

All the NFL matches are available on Movistar Doportes. But you will have to subscribe to both the Movistar broadband and TV package.

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Can I use NFL Game Pass to watch NFL games in the US?

NFL Game Pass is a streaming service that allows you to watch various NFL programs from any of your devices. Specifically, due to the reasons such as blackouts, the NFL Game Pass is best designed for people living outside the US.

It will allow you to watch all the teams for the entire NFL season, follow up on your favorite team or subscribe to special events such as playoffs, Super Bowl, NFL London, etc.

What’s more, watching previous matches becomes a breeze with the NFL Game Pass.

It allows you to replay the games you might have missed as well as archived Super Bowls. Also, its live score facility updated in real-time keeps you up to date with the scoreline.

All these features and options are available on the basic subscription plan. But you can also upgrade to the premium plan that comes with added benefits, such as exclusive access to NFL RedZone, condensed NFL games, multiple viewing modes, and picture-picture mode.

Discount offer for students

While NFL attracts everyone, it’s absolute bliss for students to freshen up their minds after tedious study periods. However, the usual NFL Game Pass subscriptions may be too much for a student with a limited budget.

But that doesn’t mean you’ll be left out. DirecTV and AT&T have got you covered with special NFL student discounts.

Precisely, you can head over to the DirecTV official website and submit your details to check your eligibility for discounts.

And don’t worry about your location since you can also watch DirecTV anywhere globally, which means you can catch up on all the NFL fun simply by accessing DirecTV abroad. This detailed guide explains how to watch DirecTV outside the US.

Besides, you can avail tremendous discounts on NFL Game Pass with AT&T too. Specifically, university students can pay as low as $29.99 for NFL Sunday Ticket.

Bottom line

The idea of missing out on the ongoing NFL seasons is always terrifying. Sadly, most streaming services that show the NFL matches are inaccessible outside the US. That is why you need a VPN to bypass the restrictions and stream all the matches from anywhere.

For this, our top recommendation is NordVPN, as it offers high-speed servers to watch sporting events in high definition. It also has superior privacy and security features to keep your data and activities completely anonymous. But you can subscribe to any reliable VPN service that you trust for security and unblocking capabilities.

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