SPORTS

FIFA World Cup 2018: Best ways to watch the World Cup live

Matt Moore Andrew Sharp
The News Journal
In this June 2, 2018, file photo, the roof of Mercedes-Benz Stadium is open as Atlanta United forward Josef Martinez celebrates his goal against the Philadelphia Union on a penalty kick while Miguel Almiron jumps on his back during an MLS soccer match in Atlanta.

The FIFA World Cup 2018 kicks off in Russia on Thursday, with Russia taking on Saudi Arabia on Fox.

If you’re looking to watch in the U.S. and in English, Fox is splitting its coverage between network TV and FS1.

Games shown in Spanish will broadcast on two Comcast-owned networks, Telemundo and Universo. 

If you don’t want to spring for a cable package, or head to a bar, and you want to (legally) stream games online, here’s a look at some of your best options.

Sling

Sling offers several packages and add-ons that you can customize. Sling Orange is the cheapest, but doesn’t include FS1. Sling Blue, however, is cheaper than many other streaming services and offers a $25 package that includes FS1. For $40 you can get Sling Blue plus Orange, which includes ESPN. Sling offers a free seven-day trial.

YouTube TV

While Sling broke ground in streaming inexpensive channel packages online, others, including YouTube, have jumped into the market. For $40 a month, it offers a wide range of sports channels, including FS1, ESPN, MLB Network and the Big Ten Network. YouTube also offers a free seven-day trial.

FuboTV

Fubo’s basic package (after a seven-day free trial) starts at $44.99 a month, and includes Fox and FS1, as part of a package of 90-plus channels. 

PlayStation Vue

PlayStation Vue’s basic streaming package includes FS1, and is similar in price to the other services: $39.99. There’s a free five-day trial.

Xfinity Instant TV

This is for Xfinity internet customers only, but those customers can now stream sports channels without cable. The $35 per month sports and news package includes FS1, and Xfinity offers a one-month free trial — good news if you’re watching the World Cup.

Hulu With Live TV

If you're already a Hulu user, then you can expand your subscription to include live TV, bringing the cost to $40 a month including soccer. But before you make the move, be sure to check Hulu's website to see if networks like Telemundo and Fox are available in your zipcode. If you're just giving it a try for the first time, Hulu Live also offers a free seven-day trial. 

DirectTV Now

AT&T's DirectTV Now offers local Fox channels and Telemundo signals for a large percentage of the U.S., carrying all of the channels you need to watch the World Cup, including FS1. For $35 a month you can also log into the Fox Sports app to watch on your phone. Like its competitors, if you're a first time user, you can try a free seven-day trial. 

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Contact Andrew Sharp at asharp@delawareonline.com and Matt Moore at mmoore@delawareonline.com