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How to watch and live stream German Bundesliga soccer in the 2025-26 season

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ESPN+

Exclusive Bundesliga, as well as 2. Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup coverage.

Installation required: No

Simultaneous streams: 3

DVR capabilities: No

Monthly from

$9.99

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Generally regarded as one of the best leagues in world soccer, the Bundesliga often goes down to the wire with big names such as Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund battling it out for supremacy.

Bayern Munich snatched the crown from Bayer Leverkusen as Vincent Kompany won the league in his first season in charge. England striker Harry Kane ended his long trophy drought when he lifted the famous title. They finished 13 points clear of defending champions Bayer Leverkusen. Bayer were raided in the transfer market as their head coach, Xabi Alonso, left along with superstars Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong. Can Erik ten Hag guide his Leverkusen side to another title, or will it be too easy for Vincent Kompany? Bundesliga is also famous for its thrilling Champions League places race and the nerve-biting relegation fights.

If you're looking to watch Bundesliga soccer in the USA, then GOAL has you covered. This article will arm you with everything you need to know about how to stream Bundesliga action in time for the next matchday.

The German top flight has long been popular in the country, not least for the large number of US nationals that have made their name in the country, such as Christian Pulisic, Kasey Keller, Landon Donovan and most recently, Giovanni Reyna. 

Which channels have the rights to the German Bundesliga soccer?

The ESPN network currently has exclusive rights for streaming Bundesliga soccer at present, with games broadcast across ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN+ and ABC. Every single game of the Bundesliga is available to stream on ESPN+, with a minimum of four games per year shown on linear TV channels.

The network also has rights to 2. Bundesliga, with at least one match per week broadcast on ESPN+. Domestic cup competitions, the DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup, are also broadcast through ESPN.

Upcoming Bundesliga Schedule

The 2025/26 Bundesliga season will kick off on 22nd June with a blockbuster clash between Bayern Munich and Leipzig. Leverkusen host Hoffenheim in the first game week as Dortmund travel to St Pauli. Here is the schedule for the first game week.

DateFixtureKick-Off (ET)Streaming Service
08/22Bayern Munich vs. RB Leipzig14:30

ESPN+

08/23Bayer Leverkusen vs. TSG HoffenheimTBD

ESPN+

08/23Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Werder BremenTBD

ESPN+

08/23Freiburg vs. AugsburgTBD

ESPN+

08/23Mainz vs. KolnTBDESPN+
08/23Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. HambrugerTBDESPN+
08/23Union Berlin vs. StuttgartTBDESPN+
08/23St. Pauli vs. Borussia DortmundTBDESPN+
08/23Heidenheim vs. WolfsburgTBDESPN+

You can see a list of the upcoming Bundesliga games to watch in the table above.

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The best TV packages to watch the German Bundesliga Soccer in 2025

While you’ll only find German soccer on ESPN, there are several brilliant streaming packages available that offer the channels. Among the best options out there, so you don’t miss a moment of the action, include:

  • ESPN+Getty Images / GOALFind the best deals

    Naturally, it makes sense to begin with ESPN+. Subscribing directly with the network, will provide you with every Bundesliga game at a cost of $9.99, giving you plenty to live stream as well as all the brand’s on-demand content.

    It’s by far the cheapest way to watch Bundesliga content, but unlike all of the packages below, you are also limited purely to ESPN’s coverage of live sport outside of that division. However, you really can’t complain about the price for every Bundesliga game, as well as the English Football League and FA Cup, the Dutch Eredivisie and Spanish La Liga.

    Away from soccer, ESPN offer their subscribers to a wide-range of other sports including the NFL, NBA, college football, MMA and much more.

    RELATED: How to Watch Live Sports on ESPN Plus: Stream live soccer, MLB, NFL, NBA, and more

  • Fubo TV.Getty Images / GOALFind the best deals

    Streaming service fuboTV is one of the best ways to stream Bundesliga matches throughout the season, and also offers one of the best sports packages on the market for sports fans in general.

    It’s more on the premium side of your budget in comparison to ESPN+, but you do get what you pay. Not only will you receive the ESPN channels, but a host of other sport channels too, enabling you to watch just about any soccer league you wish.

    You don’t get ESPN+ with this, so will miss out on any Bundesliga action not broadcast on television, but you will be able to watch divisions such as Ligue 1, La Liga, Serie A and the Premier League.

    The Pro package, FuboTV’s cheapest package, will provide you with ESPN at a cost of $74.99 per month, alongside over 160 other channels. So you do get what you pay for with it.

    RELATED: How to watch live sports on Fubo TV: soccer live stream and more

  • DirecTV is slightly more expensive than FuboTV, and offers similar output. The Choice package, priced at $89.99 will give you access to the ESPN channels which games access to watch Bundesliga games live as well as a number of other soccer leagues. It does not, however, offer the ESPN+ platform.

    However, if you do wish to watch a large amount of soccer, and competitions such as the UEFA Champions League you may want to upgrade to the Ultimate or Premier packages, which are priced at $109.99 per month and $154.99 per month respectively. These will offer you anything you could possibly want from a live streaming sport package.

    RELATED; DirecTV is slightly more expensive than FuboTV, and offers similar output. The Choice package, priced at $89.99 will give you access to the ESPN channels which games access to watch Bundesliga games live as well as a number of other soccer leagues. It does not, however, offer the ESPN+ platform.

    However, if you do wish to watch a large amount of soccer, and competitions such as the UEFA Champions League you may want to upgrade to the Ultimate or Premier packages, which are priced at $109.99 per month and $154.99 per month respectively. These will offer you anything you could possibly want from a live streaming sport package.

    RELATED: How to watch live sports on DirecTV: soccer, basketball, football live stream and more

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  • HuluGetty Images / GOALFind the best deals

    Hulu+ Live TV is Hulu’s expanded package that will give you access to lots of live sport, and includes ESPN channels, but not ESPN+, meaning you can watch televised Bundesliga games. 

    There’s also access to the likes of CBS and Fox Sports, offering several more leagues. It costs $69.99 for Hulu+ Live TV, allowing you to stream, so it’s perhaps worth comparing to FuboTV and DirecTV options to see where you are getting the best value for the leagues you do wish to watch.

    RELATED: How to watch live sports on Hulu+ Live TV: soccer, basketball, football and more

  • ESPN+ is ultimately the best option for live streaming Bundesliga soccer. You can watch every game, and not just those that are broadcast on the TV channels, and priced at $9.99 per month it is also incredibly good value.

    Every Bundesliga fan should have this in their TV streaming armoury, where you can then look to the bigger packages to get your fix of soccer from elsewhere in the world.

    Bundesliga FAQs

    Where to watch Bundesliga soccer without cable TV?

    You are able to watch Bundesliga games without cable TV by downloading the ESPN+ app.

    You can also stream Bundesliga matches on ESPN via Hulu with live TV, YouTube, Spectrum TV choice, Fubo and direcTV Stream.

    How do I watch other soccer leagues?

    An ESPN subscription allows access to a variety of other major soccer across Europe including La Liga in Spain and the Eredivisie in the Netherlands.

    For soccer in Italy, fans of that division will need to look into getting Paramount+ subscription where you will also find coverage of competitions like the UEFA Champions League.

    Peacock is the home of the English Premier League, but ESPN does come with the advantage of carrying the domestic cup competitions in England.

    How do I watch Bundesliga teams in the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League?

    Coverage of UEFA competitions are available to viewers in America via Paramount+

    RELATED: How to Watch Live Sports on Paramount Plus: Stream live football, soccer, golf, and more

    Bayern Munich are the most successful team in UEFA Champions League/European Cup history having won the competition 6 times. Hamburger SV and Borussia Dortmund have also lifted the famous trophy on one occasion apiece.

    ClubEuropean Cup / Champions League wins
    Bayern Munich6
    Hamburger SV1
    Borussia Dortmund1

    Other success that German clubs have had in UEFA competition include wins in the Cup Winners' Cup from Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bayern Munich, Magdeburg and Werder Bremen.

    Bayern Munich are also two time winners of the UEFA Super Cup.

    ClubUEFA Cup / Europa League wins
    Borussia Mönchengladbach2
    Eintracht Frankfurt2
    Bayer Leverkusen1
    Bayern Munich1
    Schalke 041

    Can I watch the German Sky Sports in the USA?

    If you are a subscriber to the German Sky Sports, you can watch their service in the USA and elsewhere in the world with a VPN.

    RELATED: The best VPNs for streaming soccer and sports in 2023

    What Bundesliga games are on today?

    Bundesliga games are generally played on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday but some matches are also played on other days of the week throughout the season. The easiest way to find the next big game is on GOAL's Bundesliga fixture page.

    When does the German Bundesliga take place?

    The German Bundesliga kicks off in August and runs through to the end of May. Games are played across Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with a winter break also in existence around half way through the season.

    How does a team qualify for the German Bundesliga?

    Teams enter the Bundesliga by earning promotion from 2. Bundesliga. Each year the top two teams in 2. Bundesliga are promoted to the German top flight, with the bottom two teams in the Bundesliga relegated.

    The 16th placed team in the Bundesliga also takes on the third placed team in 2. Bundesliga at the end of the season, with the winner spending next season in the top league, and the loser taking a spot in 2. Bundesliga.

    What TV channel can you watch Bundesliga games live in Germany?

    You can watch the Bundesliga and other live sports on a number of different platforms in Germany. Along with DAZN, Bundesliga games are also available on Sky Sport Bundesliga and the free-to-air TV channels Sat.1, Das Estre and ZDF.

    DayPay TVFree TV
    Friday, SundayDAZNSat.1
    Saturday, Tuesday and WednesdaySky Sport BundesligaDas Estre

    ZDF

    When did the German Bundesliga start?

    In terms of the top European leagues, the Bundesliga is relatively new. That’s largely due to the political climate in the country, with many leagues regionalised prior to that and East and West Germany also having separate league systems.

    How do I watch the German Super Cup in America?

    Along with being able to watch Bundesliga games, ESPN subscribers will also be able to watch the other German soccer competitions including the DFL Supercup and DFB Pokal.

    In 1963 the Bundesliga was formed, a centralised division for West Germany, and following the reunification of the country East German leagues were merged into the system, creating the structure we have today.

    Which team has won the most Bundesliga titles?

    It’s perhaps no surprise to read that Bayern Munich are far and away the most successful team in the division's history, winning over 30 titles.

    Borussia Dortmund have challenged that most recently, while FC Nurnberg and Schalke 04 have also enjoyed relative success in the league.

    TeamNo. of Titles
    Bayern Munich33
    1.FC Nurnberg9
    Borussia Dortmund8
    Schalke7
    Hamburger SV6
    VfB Stuttgart / Borussia Mönchengladbach5

    How do I watch Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund?

    Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are generally seen as the two biggest clubs in German football.

    To find theirs and other Bundesliga games, you can navigate your way through GOAL's handy TV schedule links below:

    Augsburg | Bayer Leverkusen | Bayern München | Bochum | Borussia Dortmund | Borussia M'gladbach | Darmstadt 98 | Eintracht Frankfurt | Freiburg | Heidenheim | Hoffenheim | Köln | Mainz 05 | RB Leipzig | Stuttgart | Union Berlin | Werder Bremen | Wolfsburg