Nowadays, it is relatively easy to watch soccer (or almost any event that is broadcast live) using our Internet connection. The options that we offer below usually work by broadcasting the signal of foreign channels, using their licenses for competitions such as the BBVA league, the Spanish Cup or the UEFA Champions League. Unfortunately, the payment alternatives to watch football online in Spain are scarce and expensive; are limited to GolStadium (without HD and at 8 euros per game) or subscriptions to Canal+ Yomvi (14.95 euros/month).
In the following article we take a look at the systems available to watch football for free over the Internet and we explain, step by step, what you should do to achieve the best possible image quality. To follow our practical guide it is only necessary to have a bandwidth of 3Mbps or higher and, although we focus on the Windows environment, many of the applications have versions (or equivalents) on Mac or GNU/Linux distributions.
Method 1: Stream
How does it work?
Using live video distribution platforms, some websites offer sports broadcasts. To view them, it is only necessary to have a browser that supports flash and wait a few seconds.
Where do I find the matches in streaming?
The best method is to resort to specialized websites such as Rojadirecta, LiveTV, Soccer TV Live or AtdheNET. which include the most reliable links. They usually show the list of available games and the quality (bitrate) they offer, expressed in kbps. It is convenient to choose the highest possible (especially if we have a fast connection) and leave it in a single window in the browser.
Why is the image sometimes cut off or does not work?
It depends on the number of people connecting at the same time. Most distribution platforms limit the audience and, if it is exceeded, the image may appear jumpy or not work at all. The alternative is to change the website or opt for a P2P TV solutionas we explain below.
List of sites that offer streaming football
Method 2: P2P TV
Peer to peer (or P2P) networks allow data to be distributed without the need to resort to a fixed server; all the computers that connect to it work as clients and servers at the same time. In practice and considering the issue at hand, this means a lot more stable emission than what streaming can offer and, normally, the possibility of sending video at a higher bitrate.
What do I need to watch matches via P2P?
Although there are many specialized programs for this task, we are going to highlight the three most common: Sopcast, TVUPlayer and TVAnts. With them we can watch almost any game available on websites like Rojadirecta, MyP2P or Adhenet.tv, among others. Once the programs are installed, it is only necessary to click on the link and authorize Windows to open the corresponding program when necessary.
How can I improve the image quality?
- Close any programs that are using the Internet connection
- Try to connect at least 20 minutes before the start of the match
- Disable the sound if you don’t need it
- Verify that the firewall and/or antivirus are not blocking P2P TV shows
- Check the Rojadirecta forums (or your favorite website) to find out which channel is the best
- If you use Sopcast, make sure you have port 3902 open on your router
- The P2P TV software is constantly updated. Make sure you have the latest version installed.
Can I put the audio in Spanish?
The usual thing is that the broadcasts are from foreign channels to avoid legal problems. If you want to synchronize the image with a radio channel in Spanish, the most interesting option is ClacRadio. Thanks to this software (you can find it in our download section) it is very easy to watch football with the audio of your favorite station. The average delay is usually around 30 seconds, although it is advisable to spend a few minutes making the adjustment as precise as possible.
List of sites that offer soccer by P2P
