First round qualifiers for the 2023–2024 Emirates FA Cup are happening now.
Need a way to watch the FA Cup for free? Live streams for the FA Cup are limited. Right now, you can only find them from broadcasters in the United Kingdom. Most other platforms abroad will charge a subscription.
Problem is, there are football fans scattered around the world who want to watch the FA Cup live. But while BBC iPlayer and ITVX both have free live streams, they block visitors from outside the UK.
Fortunately, there’s a fast and simple solution to bypass those blocks:
- Get Surfshark VPN. Right now, there’s a huge 82% discount with two months free.
- Connect to a VPN server located in the United Kingdom.
- Head over to BBC iPlayer when the football matches start. They’ll have all the FA Cup coverage up to May 2024!
Surfshark
Want to know more about live streaming the FA Cup free with Surfshark? We’ve covered everything in detail below, along with other information about the Emirates FA Cup!
The Emirates FA Cup 2023–2024 first-round qualifiers are underway, and ITVX and BBC iPlayer will stream FA Cup football matches for free. But if you’re not in the UK right now, you may find yourself unable to watch the competition. Those geo-restricted error screens always get our cheeks burning red.
So you’ll need a VPN. Whether you’re in a country without free FA Cup streams, or you’re just temporarily away from home, UK broadcasters will block you. But download a VPN and get a UK IP address, and you’ll have immediate access to free FA Cup streams.
Don’t risk missing your favorite teams going head-to-head this season! Get the best FA Cup live-streaming VPN, Surfshark. In minutes, you’ll be able to watch Emirates FA Cup football matches for free, thanks to the VPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee.
Best Free FA Cup Live Streams (2023)
Our best FA Cup free live stream is on BBC iPlayer in the UK. If you’re not in the UK, you’ll need to download a VPN to connect. Surfshark’s the best VPN provider to get you through the gates.
Free FA Cup streams are hard to come by. We’ve included the free streaming options, plus some alternatives below.
| COUNTRY | ONLINE BROADCASTER | STREAMS | REQUIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (Recommended) | BBC iPlayer | Full coverage of the FA Cup 2023–2024 | Free signup with email address and postcode |
| United Kingdom | ITVX | Full coverage of the FA Cup 2023–2024 | Free signup with email address and postcode |
| Australia | Paramount Plus | Full coverage of the FA Cup 2023–2024 | Subscription required ($5.99 per month) |
| United States | ESPN+ | Full coverage of the FA Cup 2023–2024 | Subscription required ($9.99 per month) |
| United States | Sling TV | Full coverage of the FA Cup 2023–2024 | Subscription required ($20 first month) |
| United States | fuboTV | Full coverage of the FA Cup 2023–2024 | Subscription required ($74.99 per month) |
| United States | Hulu + Live TV | Full coverage of the FA Cup 2023–2024 | Subscription required ($69.99 per month) |
How to Watch the FA Cup Free With a VPN
We’re lucky that there are currently two places to catch FA Cup live streams free in the UK. ITVX and BBC iPlayer are both completely free to create an account — you just need an email address. We’ll focus on BBC iPlayer, as the signup process is very simple.
- Get a VPN. Right now, we recommend Surfshark. There’s a limited–time 82% discount with two months free. Or, get a full refund within 30 days when the FA Cup is over. Just create an account by following the simple onscreen instructions.
SurfsharkDeal Save 82% + 4 months free and pay only $1.99 a month!From$ 1.999.0- Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
- 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
- Cheap with many extra options
- Download and install your VPN. It’s fast and simple. You can even watch the FA Cup free on your iOS or Android mobile device with Surfshark!
- Run the app and log in using your new account.
- Connect to a UK VPN server to change your IP address. You’ll instantly unblock websites in the United Kingdom.
- Go straight to BBC iPlayer to create an account. It’s free — you just need an email address and any UK postcode. There are no checks, so you can borrow one from Google.
- Enjoy watching the FA Cup 2023–2024 kickoff with your VPN connection!
Surfshark’s one of the best VPNs for beating geo–blocks. With the time-limited 82% discount and free two-month subscription, it’s our best choice for watching the FA Cup free right now.
Bonus!
Using Surfshark to get a UK IP address means you can access all UK football matches with ITVX, BBC iPlayer, and Sky Sports!
Want to learn more about using Surfshark’s money–back guarantee to watch the FA Cup live streams? Check out our guide on how to get a free trial with Surfshark.
Where Can I Watch the FA Cup in the US?
ESPN has exclusive rights to the FA Cup in the USA for 2023–2024. Subscriptions for the ESPN+ app cost $9.99 per month, or you can watch it on cable. Since ESPN is carried by other streaming services, you can also watch the FA Cup on:
If you’re away from the USA and can’t get into your streaming services, don’t panic. Just download Surfshark and get a US IP address. Then, log into your streaming devices as you usually would.
Of course, you can simply get a UK IP address with Surfshark and watch FA Cup matches free and live on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
How Can I Watch the FA Cup Live in the UK?
If you’re in the UK, watching the FA Cup live is as simple as heading to ITVX or BBC iPlayer. If you’re temporarily abroad, don’t miss out on the action. You can use a VPN to remote into your accounts and watch all your usual UK TV channels.
- Download Surfshark onto your phone or tablet.
- Connect to a UK VPN server to get a UK IP address.
- Go to ITVX or BBC iPlayer and sign into your account.
If you don’t have an account with those websites, simply create one. You just need your UK postcode and an email address – it’s free.
How to Watch FA Cup in France
In France, beIN Sports Connect will have FA Cup streams. But the service is pricey, at around $19.99 per month. If you have an account and you’re outside of France during a match, it’s simple:
- Get Surfshark.
- Connect to a French VPN server.
- Go to beIN Sports Connect and log into your account to watch the FA Cup.
Free FA Cup streams in the UK are still accessible to you as a French resident. Just use Surfshark to instead get a UK IP address. You can watch all the action on BBC iPlayer.
Watch the FA Cup Live from Australia
Paramount Plus will show Emirates FA Cup games in Australia from November 7, 2023. For around $9.99 a month, you can subscribe for full access to FA Cup streams. But if you’re blocked due to being outside of the country, just follow our quick guide:
- Get NordVPN. NordVPN’s our top choice for unblocking Paramount Plus in Oz.
- Connect to an Australian VPN server.
- Go to Paramount Plus to spectate all the FA Cup streams from November 7.
The Best VPN Providers for Watching the FA Cup in 2023
The FA Cup is one of the simplest events to watch entirely for free. Thanks to free UK FA Cup streams, all you need is a VPN with fast and reliable UK servers. Surfshark has those in droves — but there are other excellent VPNs too.
We’ve tested 10 of our preferred VPN providers to work out the best VPN for FA Cup live streams. All the details are below.
1. Surfshark: Our match champion FA Cup streaming VPN provider
We recommend Surfshark for FA Cup fans living in restrictive countries who want a cheap option.
Looking for a VPN that’s going to get you into the stadium without question? Surfshark’s unblocking capabilities are almost second to none. That’s especially true in regions with stringent internet restrictions. Surfshark’s going to get you the best seats in the house, with access to free FA Cup streams in the United Kingdom.
When we connected to a UK VPN server, we unblocked ITVX and BBC iPlayer with no trouble. This meant instant access to free FA Cup live streams and a full fixtures list to make sure we never miss a game. That’s not mentioning the full library of sports events hosted by these streaming platforms — and you can access it all with Surfshark.
Why we picked Surfshark:
- Powerful unblocking capabilities that can tackle practically any geo-block
- A 30-day money-back guarantee making it possible to watch FA Cup matches entirely free
- A simple and easy-to-use interface geared toward VPN beginners
- VPN servers in four UK cities, plus a vast network worldwide for other sporting events
- Low-cost subscription fees, an 82% discount, and two months of free use if you click through our deal below
We’ve tested Surfshark’s money-back promise. There’s no catch, and customer support doesn’t roadblock you. Getting a full refund couldn’t be simpler.
- Very user-friendly and works with Netflix and torrents
- 30-day money-back guarantee. No questions asked!
- Cheap with many extra options
2. NordVPN: Punts it into the back of the net with blazing-fast speeds
We recommend NordVPN for FA Cup fans who want the fastest possible connections for uninterrupted streaming.
NordVPN’s long been our choice as the fastest VPN provider. When we tested the service with BBC iPlayer and ITVX, it gave us our fastest speed test results yet. NordVPN sent those geo-blocks straight to the benches and let us stream unimpeded. Thanks to its lightning-fast UK servers, you won’t be hampered by lagging or buffering.
Why we picked NordVPN:
- Our fastest VPN provider speed test results
- Simple to install and navigate
- 440+ speed-bending servers with rapid-fire UK connections
- A kill switch and leak protection safeguard your cloaked location
Like Surfshark, NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Get a 64% discount below, or simply claim your money back before the month’s up for a completely free FA Cup streaming experience.
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
3. CyberGhost: Your man of the match for streaming sports from anywhere
We recommend CyberGhost for sports aficionados who want unrivaled live sports streaming capabilities.
CyberGhost offers streaming-optimized servers for enhanced live sports streams. We’ve tested CyberGhost with Premier League live streams, among other sports. Every moment is lag–free and served up in perfect quality with white-hot connection speeds. Meanwhile, you can use those same servers to unblock Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu, and a host of other streaming sites.
Why we picked CyberGhost:
- Streaming–optimized servers provide unrivaled speed and quailty.
- Low-cost subscriptions
- Unblocks sports streams and streaming platforms with ease
- Servers in the United Kingdom, plus 9,600+ servers in 90 other countries
Don’t drag your feet with CyberGhost — right now, you can get two months free, plus an undefeated 45-day money-back guarantee.
- Very user-friendly
- High quality for a low price
- Torrents and Netflix possible
Do I Need a VPN to Watch FA Cup Football Matches?
If you’re not physically located in a country with free FA Cup streams, you need a VPN. It’ll give you instant access to free streams, like those on ITVX and BBC iPlayer. Even if you’re usually a UK resident, you’ll be blocked from these services when abroad.
We think you need a VPN to watch the FA Cup if you find yourself in one of these positions:
- You live in the UK, but you’re on vacation abroad during a key football match.
- You’re a resident of a country where you have to pay for FA Cup live streams.
- There are no FA Cup live streams being broadcast in your region.
Why pay at all? With Surfshark’s 30-day money-back promise, you can use the best VPN for bypassing geo-blocks and watch the FA Cup with the rest of the UK fans. Get Surfshark for 82% off right now, and you can simply cancel before your month’s up if you want to!
2023 FA Cup Broadcasters
Not sure where you can find FA Cup streams in your country? We’ve listed all of the FA Cup broadcasters by region below.
| COUNTRY | BROADCASTER |
|---|---|
| Albania | Digitalb |
| Balkans (Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia) | Sportklub |
| Baltics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) | Viaplay |
| Belgium | Eleven Sports Network |
| Bulgaria | Nova |
| Denmark | Discovery/ Viaplay |
| Cyprus | CytaVision Sports |
| Czech Republic & Slovakia | Nova Sport |
| France | beIN Sports |
| Finland | Viaplay |
| Greece | Cosmote Sports |
| Hungary | TV2 (SpÍler tv) |
| Iceland | SYN HF |
| Israel | Sport1 |
| Kazakhstan | Megogo |
| Malta | Multiplus (GO Malta) |
| Moldova | Pro TV |
| Netherlands | Ziggo Sport |
| Norway | Viaplay |
| Poland | Eleven Sports |
| Portugal | Sport.TV |
| Republic of Ireland | Premiersports |
| Romania | Pro TV |
| Scandinavia | Viaplay |
| Turkey | DigiTurk/ Tivibu Spor |
| Stans (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) | Saran |
| Ukraine | Setanta |
Most of these platforms will require a paid subscription. You might also struggle to sign up, depending on your location. By far, the easiest way to watch the FA Cup live is with Surfshark and ITVX. It doesn’t matter where you’re located.
What You Need to Know About the FA Cup (2023-2024)
The 2023–2024 Emirates FA Cup represents the 143rd anniversary of the longest–running football tournament in the world. Manchester City are defending champions after an explosive showdown with their longtime rivals, Manchester United, during the 2022–2023 FA Cup.
As a knockout league, the FA Cup sees 124 football teams from English leagues 9 and above compete through qualifying rounds. The two teams left standing by May 25, 2024, will compete head to head in the FA Cup Final.
Manchester City are fan favorites to retain the title after their 7th win in history last season. But Chelsea, Tottenham, and Arsenal could pose a tough challenge — particularly Arsenal’s Gunners, who’ve taken the title 14 times previously.
Wrap Up: Live Streaming the FA Cup for Free in 2023
Football fans from around the world annually tune in for the Emirates FA Cup. But with free FA Cup streams blocked in parts of the world, many fans are left out in the cold.
It doesn’t have to be that way. You can watch the FA Cup free from anywhere in the world in a few simple steps:
- Get a VPN like Surfshark to change your IP address.
- Connect to a UK VPN server to unblock BBC iPlayer.
- Go to BBC iPlayer to watch live FA Cup football matches for free!
Right now, Surfshark will give you 82% off and two months free. Their permanent 30-day money-back guarantee also means you can get a full refund before a month’s up if you want to.
While you’re here, why not see the full world of sports streams that you can unlock with Surfshark?
- How to Watch the FIFA World Cup Online for Free
- Watch the UEFA European Championship from Anywhere
- Watch the Copa América 2024 Abroad and Worldwide
Got questions about live streaming the Emirates FA Cup? Check out our frequently asked questions below.
In the USA, you can watch the FA Cup with ESPN. As the official broadcaster, ESPN’s coverage will be commuted to all the usual streaming platforms for online football fans. That means you can watch FA Cup live streams on:
- ESPN+
- Hulu + Live TV
- Sling TV
- fuboTV
- YouTube TV
- DirecTV Stream
Use BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom to watch free FA Cup live streams. Another option is ITV X, also being broadcast within the UK. If you’re not in the United Kingdom physically, you’ll need to download a VPN (Virtual Private Network) like our top recommendation, Surfshark. This will let you change your IP address and watch the FA Cup free without restrictions.
To watch the FA Cup live and free, just follow our quick guide:
- Get a VPN like Surfshark.
- Install the VPN onto the device you’ll use to watch the FA Cup live.
- Connect to a UK VPN server to change your IP address.
- Go to BBC iPlayer to watch the FA Cup live and free!
Since ESPN is the official US broadcaster of the FA Cup for 2023–2024, yes, Hulu + Live TV will show the Emirates FA Cup. You’ll need need their full live TV package that includes ESPN, or their regular on-demand streaming service bundled with ESPN+. If you need alternatives, you can also watch the FA Cup football matches on:
- ESPN+
- Sling TV
- fuboTV
- YouTube TV
- DirecTV Stream
For 2023–2024, ESPN+ is the exclusive broadcaster of the Emirates FA Cup. Since ESPN is available through other streaming platforms, you can also catch it on Sling TV, Hulu Live TV, and fuboTV. But none of these options are free. If you want to catch the FA Cup in its entirety for free, use Surfshark to get a UK IP address and head to BBC iPlayer. This VPN provider scored well for unblocking in our Surfshark review.
