How to Watch Soccer at Home: The Ultimate Setup Guide

The big soccer tournament is finally returning to the U.S., and though many fans are trying their hardest to see their favorite teams in person, just as many are eager to stream the games at home. We're here to give you all the info you need to stream the games, and to give you some setup tips to make sure you don't miss even a second of the action.

How Can I Watch Soccer at Home?

Since Fox managed to snag the exclusive English-language streaming rights to all 104 tournament matches, both inside and outside of the U.S, you'll have to tune into Fox Sports to watch the games live. If you don't have cable, you can check out the matches on the Fox Sports app. You can also use a live TV streaming service that features Fox Sports like YouTube TV, Hulu, and others. Tubi will also be streaming some games, and the tournament's official site will stream certain matches for free. If you want to watch the games in Spanish, Peacock Premium members will be able to stream every game, and the Telemundo app will be doing the same.

What's the Best Way to Watch Live Soccer at Home?

Now that we've covered where to stream the games, we can get into building the best home theater setup for watching them.

TV

Naturally, your TV is the most important piece of the soccer streaming puzzle. Since the games will be streaming in 4K, you're going to want a 4K TV to see every detail on screen in high-quality. Motion blur can really mess with your viewing experience, so sure your TV has the right specs to avoid it. That usually means higher frame rates - 120Hz and above should do the trick - and motion smoothing settings to really make things clear.

Audio

The second most important thing beyond seeing the game is hearing it. The listening experience immerses you in the game with each kick of the ball, roar of the crowd, or announcers making second-to-second callouts to keep you on the edge of your seat. When immersion is your top priority, you're going to want surround sound, so a good soundbar or a home theater system with hi-fi speakers should have what you need. You can learn about the difference between those two setups by reading our blog: Soundbar vs. Home Theater System: Which Is Better for Your Space?.

Since the games may already be happening as you read this, let's talk about an all-in-one audio solution: soundbars. You're going to want a unit with a center channel. This channel is for game commentary to come through clearly without getting drowned out by stadium noise. You're also going to want that aforementioned surround sound, but if you want to take it a step further, a device with Dolby Atmos can immerse you even further in the action. You can learn more about that from this blog: Dolby Atmos: What Is It, and Is It Worth It?

Seating

With the tech out of the way, now we can talk about seating. If you plan on watching the games solo, you're absolutely going to want a comfortable chair that you can sink into and relax while the action unfolds. Getting a recliner is a good old-fashioned solution to your solo watching needs. If you're watching with a group, of course you're going to need a nice couch and plenty of nearby table space for drinks and food.

It's been a long time since the soccer tournament has come to the States. If you can't make it to any of the games, streaming them in the highest possible quality is definitely a nice alternative. So gather some friends, cook up some snacks, and enjoy the matches!