Group A favorite Germany is under pressure to improve as it takes on Northern Ireland in this crucial World Cup 2026 qualifier.
Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game as it happens, wherever you are in the world, and how to use a VPN if the match isn’t available where you are.
Julian Nagelsmann’s team slumped to a surprise 2-0 defeat to Slovakia in Bratislava on Thursday to start their 2026 World Cup qualifying in the worst possible way.
Justin Devenny and Shea Charles, meanwhile, scored their first international goals as an injury-hit Northern Ireland beat Luxembourg 3-1 to go top of the group. Michael O’Neill and his men will be confident of inflicting further pain on the hosts.
Germany takes on Northern Ireland at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne on Sunday, Sept. 7. Kickoff is set for 8:45 p.m. CEST local time. That makes it a 7:45 p.m. BST start in the UK and a 2:45 p.m. ET or 11:45 a.m. PT kickoff in the US and Canada. For viewers in Australia, the game gets underway at 4:45 a.m. AEST on Monday morning.
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann must lift his team after seeing his team suffer a rare World Cup qualifying defeat on Thursday in Bratislava.
Livestream the Germany vs. Northern Ireland match in the US
Today’s game is on Fox Soccer 1. If you don’t have the channel as part of your cable lineup, there’s a number of online alternatives, with all the major live TV streaming services carrying Fox Sports 1. You can also stream games broadcast on Fox with the new Fox One streaming app.
Fox’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service launched last month. Fox One costs $20 a month or $200 a year and gives you access to Fox’s complete TV portfolio, including sports-related channels such as Fox Sports, B1G, FS1, FS2 and local Fox stations.
Sling’s new skinny bundle costs $20 and includes local Fox, ABC and NBC stations in select markets, but doesn’t include FS1. This means you’ll need the additional Sports Extra add-on which costs a further $11 per month.
Alternatively, Sling also offers a Day Pass for $5, a Weekend Pass for $10, or a Week pass for $15. In order to watch FS1 via this method you’ll need to add the Sports Extra bundle, which costs $1 extra for Day Pass, $2 for Weekend Pass and $3 for the Week Pass.
For a more comprehensive selection of channels, Sling Blue with the Sports Extra add-on remains available at $57 a month. Read our Sling TV review.
Fubo’s main package costs $85 per month, but it has a new skinny bundle that includes Fox Sports 1. This new Fubo Sports plan costs $56 per month ($46 for the first month) and includes FS1 and FS2 along with ABC and CBS (but not NBC) in addition to ESPN and NFL Network. It also includes access to ESPN’s new streaming app. Click here to see which local channels you get in your region with Fubo. Read our Fubo review.
For $83 a month, the YouTube TV base plan will get you FS2 along with a wide array of channels.
Plug in your ZIP code on YouTube TV’s welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area.
All the live TV streaming services above allow you to cancel anytime and require a solid internet connection. Looking for more information? Check out our live TV streaming services guide.
How to watch the Germany vs. Northern Ireland match online from anywhere using a VPN
If you’re traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the World Cup qualifier action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming.
It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds, and can also be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, adding an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security.
However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN usage to access region-specific content. If you’re considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform’s terms of service to ensure compliance.
If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider’s installation instructions, ensuring you’re connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN usage is crucial.
Price $13 per month, $75 for the first year or $98 total for the first two years (one- and two-year plans renew at $100 per year)Latest Tests No DNS leaks detected, 18% speed loss in 2025 testsNetwork 3,000 plus servers in 105 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. Prices start at $3.49 a month on a two-year plan for the service’s Basic tier.
Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Livestream the Germany vs. Northern Ireland match in the UK For Free
The great news for footy fans in the UK is that free-to-air broadcaster BBC2 will be showing this crucial World Cup qualifier, which also means viewers in the region can stream the match for free on the network’s online platform BBC iPlayer.
Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. BST ahead of the 7:45 p.m. kickoff.
You’ll be able to watch the game online for free via the network’s on-demand streaming service, BBC iPlayer.
With an app that’s available for Android and Apple mobile devices, as well as a vast array of smart TVs and streaming boxes, all you need is a valid UK TV license to stream the game.
Livestream the Germany vs. Northern Ireland match in Australia
Football fans Down Under can watch this match on streaming service Stan Sport.
Stan Sport will set you back AU$20 a month (on top of a Stan subscription, which starts at AU$12). It’s also worth noting that the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial.
A subscription will also give you access to Premier League, Champions League and Europa League action, as well as international rugby and Formula E.
Livestream the Germany vs. Northern Ireland match in Canada
If you want to stream this game live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada.
A DAZN subscription currently costs CA$30 a month or CA$200 a year and will also give you access to the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League, plus EFL Championship soccer, Six Nations rugby and WTA tennis.
As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, there’s a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.
Quick tips for streaming international soccer using a VPN
- With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming soccer may vary.
- If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
- If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
- All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
- And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
