Short answer: in the US, every Champions League match streams on Paramount+, and even its cheapest ad-supported plan (about $9 a month) includes them all. CBS shows a few big games free over the air, and Spanish-language coverage is on TUDN, Univision and ViX. The catch is the kick-off times: most games are played on weekday afternoons in the US, so for many fans the real question is how well Paramount+'s replays and condensed matches work, not where the games are.
At a glance
The Champions League in the USA, 2026-27
| Every match, English | Paramount+, any plan |
| Free over the air | Selected games and the final on CBS |
| Spanish | TUDN, Univision and ViX |
| Kick-offs | 12:45 p.m. and 3 p.m. ET, Tue-Wed |
| Final | 5 June 2027, Madrid |
Who has the US rights
Paramount (CBS Sports) holds exclusive English-language rights to UEFA's club competitions in the US on a deal that runs to the end of the 2029-30 season. That covers the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
For fans, this is about as simple as a major soccer competition gets in the US: one streaming service, every game. There's no split between a cable channel and a streamer, and no second service for the knockouts.
In Spanish, TelevisaUnivision's TUDN, Univision and ViX hold the rights for 2026-27. Reports indicate Spanish-language rights move to Telemundo from 2027-28, so Spanish-speaking viewers should expect a change next season.
How the tournament is shown in other countries is covered in our main Champions League viewing guide.
Which Paramount+ plan you need
Unlike some services, Paramount+ doesn't keep the soccer for its top tier. Every plan includes every match.
| Plan | Approx. price | Champions League | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $8.99/month | Every match | Ads on demand; may not include your live local CBS station |
| Premium | $13.99/month | Every match | Largely ad-free on demand; live local CBS; Showtime content |
Essential is enough for the soccer. Adverts during live matches appear on both plans, as they would on television.
Premium matters if you want CBS itself. The games CBS broadcasts are also streamed on Paramount+ in any case, but Premium adds your local CBS station for other programming, such as NFL games.
Annual plans are cheaper. The Champions League runs from September to June, so an annual plan often beats nine or ten monthly payments. Prices move, so check at sign-up.
The free options
CBS over the air. CBS broadcasts a small number of major matches, and the final, free to anyone with an antenna. That makes the final the easiest game of the season to watch for nothing.
Pluto TV. Paramount's free streaming service has shown a featured match per matchweek through its CBS Sports Golazo channel. Which match, and whether it continues, is Paramount's decision week by week.
Univision. In Spanish, selected marquee matches are on Univision, free over the air.
Free trials of Paramount+ come and go. If one is offered, timing it around the knockout rounds in the spring is the obvious use.
Watching in Spanish
Spanish-language coverage for 2026-27 is split across TelevisaUnivision's outlets.
| Outlet | What it is | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Univision | Broadcast network | Free with an antenna |
| TUDN | Cable sports channel | Cable or a live TV service with Spanish channels |
| ViX Premium | Streaming service | About $6.99/month or $39.99/year |
ViX Premium is the Spanish-language equivalent of Paramount+ for this competition, and it's cheaper. It's worth checking which matches it carries each round, as the TelevisaUnivision allocation isn't always every game.
Afternoon kick-offs, and how to cope
Champions League matches are played on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings in Europe, which is the middle of the working day in the US. The main slot is 3 p.m. Eastern (noon Pacific), with an early game at 12:45 p.m. Eastern (9:45 a.m. Pacific).
A few practical approaches:
Replays. Full match replays are available on Paramount+ soon after the final whistle. Turn off score notifications from other apps if you plan to watch later.
Condensed matches and highlights. Shorter versions let you catch up on several games in the evening.
Phones and laptops. Paramount+ runs on phones, tablets and web browsers, which is how many people follow a lunchtime game. Check your workplace's rules on streaming first.
Set a DVR-style reminder. Paramount+ doesn't record in the way a cable box does, but following your club in the app puts its matches on the home screen and in notifications, so you can start a replay the moment you are free. Live TV services that carry CBS can also record the games CBS broadcasts.
The final is on a Saturday, typically at 3 p.m. Eastern, so it at least lands at a convenient time.
CBS Sports Golazo and the whip-around
CBS has built a strong studio around the Champions League, fronted by Kate Abdo with Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards. The pre-match and post-match shows have become a draw in their own right.
On busy matchweeks, Paramount+ also offers a whip-around show that moves between simultaneous games for goals and key moments. It's a good way to follow the final league-phase matchday, when every group finishes at once.
CBS Sports Golazo, the free soccer channel, carries news and highlights between matches and is available through Pluto TV and CBS's own apps.
Watching when you travel
Paramount+ is licensed for the US, and the Champions League rights are sold separately in every other country, so a US subscription generally won't show live matches abroad.
In Canada, DAZN holds the Champions League. In the UK and Ireland, TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video share it, with Prime taking the first pick of Tuesday games. Elsewhere, check the local broadcaster.
Using tools to appear to be in the US usually breaks Paramount+'s terms. For a trip, the local licensed broadcaster or a short local subscription is the straightforward route, and our main Champions League guide lists broadcasters by country.
The 2026-27 season calendar
The competition uses the 36-team league format introduced in 2024. Each club plays eight league-phase matches before the knockout rounds.
| Stage | When |
|---|---|
| League phase | September to January |
| Knockout play-offs | February |
| Round of 16 to semi-finals | March to May |
| Final | Saturday 5 June 2027, Metropolitano, Madrid |
Unlicensed "every channel" IPTV packages are sometimes sold on the promise of UK or Middle Eastern feeds of the same matches. They aren't licensed in the US, and with the whole competition available from about $9 a month legitimately, there's little case for the risk. Our sports streaming guide covers the licensed options by device.
The Europa League and Conference League
A Paramount+ subscription isn't just the Champions League. The same deal covers UEFA's two other club competitions, which is useful if your team plays in them or you simply want more European soccer.
Europa League matches are played on Thursday afternoons in the US, at similar times to the Champions League. Many Premier League, La Liga and Serie A clubs take part, and all matches stream on Paramount+.
Conference League matches are also on Thursdays, featuring clubs from a wider spread of European leagues. They're on Paramount+ too, with less prominence on the home screen.
Other soccer on Paramount+. The service has also carried Serie A and a range of other international soccer, so it can be the main soccer subscription for many US fans. Coverage of domestic European leagues changes between seasons, so check the current line-up before relying on it.
Setting up. Paramount+ runs on Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, Apple TV, games consoles and most smart TVs. Following your team in the app surfaces its matches on the home screen, which is easier than scrolling the live list on a busy matchweek.
For the Spanish league, which isn't on Paramount+, see our guide to watching La Liga in the USA.
Quick answers
What channel is the Champions League on in the US? Every match streams on Paramount+. CBS and CBS Sports Network show selected games, and Spanish coverage is on TUDN, Univision and ViX.
Which Paramount+ plan includes the Champions League? All of them. The Essential plan at about $8.99 a month includes every match.
Can I watch the Champions League for free in the US? Selected games and the final are on CBS, free with an antenna. Pluto TV has also shown a featured match each matchweek.
What time are Champions League games in the US? Usually 3 p.m. Eastern on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with an earlier game at 12:45 p.m. Eastern.
Where is the Champions League in Spanish? On TUDN, Univision and ViX in 2026-27. Spanish rights are reported to move to Telemundo from 2027-28.
How long does Paramount+ have the Champions League? Through the 2029-30 season.
When and where is the 2027 final? Saturday 5 June 2027 at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, shown on CBS and Paramount+.
Streaming prices, free matches and Spanish-language rights change between seasons, and individual kick-off times are confirmed round by round. Check Paramount+ before each matchweek. Checked September 2026.