ESPN+ is the version of ESPN built for fans who want more than what free television offers.
Where the standard ESPN broadcast covers selected games and highlights, ESPN+ goes deeper: live matches from leagues that rarely appear on cable, a full statistical interface during every game, and on-demand access to a replay library that covers multiple competitions simultaneously.
For football fans in North America who follow European leagues, La Liga and the Bundesliga in particular, ESPN+ is one of the most important subscriptions available.
This guide covers what ESPN+ carries for football, what the app does beyond the live broadcast, what it costs, and how to get it set up on your device.
What Football Leagues Are Available on ESPN+
ESPN+ holds live football rights in North America across a wide range of competitions, making it one of the most football-dense single subscriptions available in the region.
European Leagues
- La Liga (extensive live coverage)
- Bundesliga (extensive live coverage, shared with fuboTV)
- Serie A (select matches)
- Eredivisie
- EFL Championship
- Scottish Premiership
- USL Championship
UEFA Competitions
- UEFA Nations League (select matches)
- UEFA qualification fixtures (select matches)
International Football
- CONMEBOL Copa América (select matches)
- CONCACAF Gold Cup (select matches)
- FIFA international windows (select matches)
Women’s Football
- NWSL
- FA Women’s Super League (select matches)
- UEFA Women’s Champions League (select matches)
| Competition | Coverage Level |
|---|---|
| La Liga | Extensive live |
| Bundesliga | Extensive live |
| Serie A | Select matches |
| Eredivisie | Extensive live |
| EFL Championship | Extensive live |
| NWSL | Full season |
ESPN+ does not hold Champions League or Europa League rights in North America.
Those competitions are exclusively on Paramount+.
Many North American fans subscribe to both platforms to cover the full range of European football they follow.
Key Features of the ESPN+ App
Deep La Liga and Bundesliga coverage
ESPN+ covers a larger selection of La Liga and Bundesliga live matches per season than any competing platform in North America.
For fans who follow either of those leagues closely through a full 34 or 38-matchday season, ESPN+ is the primary platform to build a setup around.
ESPN ecosystem integration
ESPN+ sits within the broader ESPN platform, which means the same app provides access to live streaming on ESPN+, ESPN news and analysis, real-time scores across all sports, and the full ESPN editorial and video content library.
You do not need a separate sports news app alongside ESPN+: the platform handles scores, previews, live streaming, and post-match coverage within the same interface.
Reliable stream quality
Stream quality on ESPN+ is consistently high during regular season matches and the high-demand rounds of La Liga and Bundesliga when the title race reaches its most competitive stage.
The platform handles simultaneous match windows reliably, which is the most demanding technical condition for any sports streaming service.
On-demand replay library
Every match broadcast on ESPN+ is available on demand after the live broadcast concludes.
Full match replays and highlight packages are accessible for an extended period after each fixture, covering the full season archive for the major leagues it carries.
Multi-device compatibility
ESPN+ works on iOS, Android, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation, Xbox, and most modern smart TV platforms.
The subscription is linked to your ESPN account, which carries across all devices automatically.
How to Download and Install the ESPN+ App Step by Step
ESPN+ is accessed through the main ESPN app, not a separate application.
You download the ESPN app and then sign in or subscribe to ESPN+ within it.
On Android
- Open the Google Play Store on your phone or tablet.
- Tap the search bar and type ESPN.
- Select the official ESPN app from the results. The publisher is ESPN Inc.
- Tap Install and wait for the download to complete.
- Once installed, tap Open.
- Tap Log In if you have an existing ESPN account, or tap Sign Up to create a new one.
- Register with your email address and create a password.
- Once signed in, look for the ESPN+ section on the home screen or navigate to Account and select Start ESPN+ Subscription.
- Choose your plan and complete the payment process.
- ESPN+ content is now accessible within the same app. Navigate to the Football or Soccer section to find today’s live La Liga and Bundesliga fixtures.
On iPhone or iPad
- Open the App Store and search for ESPN.
- Select the official ESPN app from the results.
- Tap Get and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple ID password.
- Once downloaded, tap Open.
- Tap Sign Up to create an ESPN account with your email address and a password.
- Navigate to Account settings and select Start ESPN+ Subscription.
- Choose your plan. Note that subscriptions purchased through the App Store are billed through Apple rather than directly through ESPN.
- Once activated, tap the Football or Soccer tab to access the live match schedule for today.
On a Smart TV or Streaming Device
- From your device’s app store (Samsung App Store, LG Content Store, Roku Channel Store, Amazon Fire TV, or Google Play on Android TV), search for ESPN.
- Install the ESPN app and open it.
- Sign in with the ESPN account you created on your phone or browser.
- Your ESPN+ subscription carries across all devices automatically.
- If you are signing in on a TV for the first time, the app may show an activation code. Visit ESPN.com/activate on your phone or computer and enter the code to complete the process.
Is ESPN+ Worth It
ESPN+ is worth the subscription for North American fans who follow La Liga, the Bundesliga, or any combination of the other European leagues it carries.
The volume of live football available in a single monthly subscription is among the highest of any single platform in the region.
The integration with the broader ESPN platform means you are not paying just for the football: news, scores, analysis, and other live sports are all included in the same subscription.
The main gap for football fans is UEFA competition coverage.
Champions League and Europa League matches in North America are exclusively on Paramount+, not on ESPN+.
For fans who follow both the major European leagues and the UEFA club competitions, ESPN+ and Paramount+ together provide the most complete North American football streaming setup available.
The combined monthly cost of both subscriptions is still typically lower than a traditional cable sports package, and neither requires a long-term contract.
