finder.com

Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our content.

How to watch 2020/21 UEFA Champions League matches live

The UEFA Champions League is back and all games are available to watch live in the US. Here's how you can tune in.

Avatar
Aaron McAllister

&

Avatar
James Dampney
Updated . What changed?
Fact checked

The UEFA Champions League (UCL) is one of the most prestigious tournaments in all of soccer. It determines which is the best club in Europe and is the trophy every side covets.

Bayern Munich are the defending champions heading into the 2020/21 tournament, defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the final of last season’s coronavirus-impacted competition for their sixth title overall.

Liverpool, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus, PSG, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid are among the teams that regularly compete for the crown. This year’s tournament was pushed back about a month due to last season’s delayed finish. The 2021 final will be at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul, the original venue for the 2020 decider before that was moved to Portugal.

How to watch every UCL match in the US

In July 2020, CBS Sports announced a multi-platform deal to become the exclusive English-language rights holder for the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Super Cup, plus the new UEFA Europa Conference League, a competition that was in planning for 2021.

Every Champions League match was shown live on CBS All Access, starting with the remainder of the 2019/20 competition through 2024. CBS All Access has since undergone a rebranding, now known as Paramount+ as of March 4, 2021. Paramount+ offers a wide range of sports, along with breaking news and entertainment. You can see a rundown of the content here.

Paramount+

Stream UCL on Paramount+

Watch Champions League live on Paramount+.

Go to site
on CBS All Access's secure site

Stream Champions League on Paramount Plus

Every Champions League match will be shown on CBS’s streaming service, Paramount+. The standard CBS television channel and CBS Sports Network will also show select games, but Paramount+ will be the place to be for European soccer fans.

There will also be additional programming, prime-time replays to suit a US audience and much more in an exciting development for CBS and American fans of the sport. Paramount+ is available with commercials for $5.99 or commercial-free at $7.99 a month. Both subscriptions get you access to a range of shows, movies and sports.

Best of all Paramount+ comes with a 7-day free trial. To find out more you can see our Paramount+ review.

Champions League schedule

Champions League tournament format

The tournament has several different preliminary and qualifying rounds, but the real fun begins in the group stage with 32 teams. Clubs are divided equally into eight different groups, with teams seeded before the draw. Each team plays its group opponents in a home-and-away, round-robin format.

The group stage is traditionally played from September to December and is held over six match days. Teams from the same nations are also split up to ensure parity. After the group stage, the UCL progresses to the knockout phase, which usually begins in February and is contested by 16 clubs.

The 16 teams who finished as the top 2 in each group advance and play matches over 2 legs. Those who finished in third place in their group enter the UEFA Europa League. The knockout phase begins with the round of 16 and sees the 8 group winners seeded against the 8 runners-up.

At this point, teams still can’t be drawn against clubs from the same country or who were previously in their group. Then from the quarter-finals onwards, there are no restrictions on who will play each other through to the semi-finals and final.

When is the UEFA Champions League final?

The final will be held on May 29, 2021 at Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul. This was the original venue for the 2020 final before it was moved to Estádio da Luz in Lisbon as last season’s tournament was completed in Portugal.

Image source: Kayo Sports

Latest streaming news

More guides on Finder

Ask an Expert

You are about to post a question on finder.com:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder.com provides guides and information on a range of products and services. Because our content is not financial advice, we suggest talking with a professional before you make any decision.

By submitting your comment or question, you agree to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and finder.com Terms of Use.

Questions and responses on finder.com are not provided, paid for or otherwise endorsed by any bank or brand. These banks and brands are not responsible for ensuring that comments are answered or accurate.
Go to site