It’s a cold Tuesday night in January. You’re trying to find a replay of a Boreham Wood match because, for some reason, the magic of the cup has grabbed you by the throat. If you've ever tried to figure out the FA Cup on US TV, you know it’s basically a digital scavenger hunt. One year it’s here, the next it’s there.
Right now, the Football Association’s crown jewel—the oldest national football competition in the world—lives almost exclusively on ESPN+. It’s been that way for a bit, but the nuances of how they broadcast these games can be incredibly frustrating if you aren't prepared.
The FA Cup isn't like the Premier League. You can't just flip on NBC or USA Network and expect to see a giant-killing in progress. It’s fragmented. It’s chaotic. It’s glorious.
Why ESPN+ Controls the FA Cup on US TV Right Now
Money talks. Specifically, Disney’s money.
ESPN+ secured the rights to the FA Cup years ago, and they’ve largely done a decent job of putting the "big" games on the map. But "on the map" usually means behind a $10.99-a-month paywall. They broadcast everything from the first round proper all the way to the final at Wembley.
Honestly, it’s a steal if you’re a domestic soccer fan in the States. Why? Because you aren't just getting the Manchester City vs. Liverpool blockbusters. You’re getting the gritty, mud-soaked matches at places like Gresty Road or Highbury Stadium (the Fleetwood one, not the old Arsenal one).
The deal between the FA and ESPN ensures that over 79 matches per season are available to American viewers. That sounds like a lot. It is a lot. But don't expect every single qualifying round match to show up. The cameras usually start rolling in earnest when the professional clubs from League One and League Two enter the fray.
Occasionally, you might see a high-profile semifinal or the final itself bleed over onto the main ESPN linear channel or even ABC. But don't bank on it. If you want the FA Cup on US TV consistently, you need the app. You need the subscription. You need a stable internet connection.
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The Weirdness of Kickoff Times
Time zones are the enemy of the American soccer fan.
A 12:30 PM kickoff in London is a 7:30 AM start in New York. If you’re in Los Angeles? Forget about it. You’re waking up at 4:30 AM to watch a third-round tie.
There is something visceral about drinking a coffee while watching a non-league side try to tackle a Premier League superstar on a pitch that looks like a literal farm. That is the essence of this tournament.
Understanding the "Proper" Rounds
People get confused about when the tournament actually starts for US viewers. The "Qualifying Rounds" happen way before the cameras usually show up for international feeds.
- The First Round Proper: This is where it starts getting real on ESPN+. This is when the smaller pro clubs enter.
- The Third Round: This is the big one. This is the weekend in early January when the Premier League and Championship teams enter the hat. This is the peak of FA Cup on US TV viewership.
- The Replays: The FA has been messing with replay rules lately to ease fixture congestion. Traditionally, if you draw, you go back to the other team's stadium. For US fans, this meant more midweek afternoon soccer.
Critics argue that getting rid of replays kills the financial lifeline for smaller clubs. They aren't wrong. For an American viewer, a replay was a bonus—a chance to see a tiny stadium packed to the rafters on a Tuesday morning while you’re "working" from home.
The Problem with Multitasking
The ESPN+ interface isn't always the most intuitive. During the Third Round, there might be twelve games happening simultaneously. ESPN+ usually lists them all, but the "Multicast" feature is hit or miss depending on which device you’re using.
If you're watching the FA Cup on US TV via a Roku or Apple TV, you can sometimes split the screen. On a phone? Good luck. You’ll be flicking back and forth, desperately trying to catch the inevitable upset.
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The Magic of the Commentators
One thing US fans often overlook is the world feed. When you watch the FA Cup on US TV, you aren't usually getting the "ESPN crew." You’re getting the local UK commentators provided by the FA’s international broadcast partner.
This is a good thing.
You get the guys who actually know what the backup left-back for Shrewsbury Town did in his youth career. It adds a layer of authenticity that you just don't get with Americanized sports coverage. There’s less fluff. There’s more focus on the "pudding" of the pitch and the "bottle" of the players.
How to Handle the Blackouts and Tech Issues
Technically, there aren't "blackouts" for the FA Cup in the US because nobody else owns the rights. It’s not like the MLB where your local team is blocked.
However, tech glitches are a thing.
Sometimes the stream just dies. Or the audio is out of sync by three seconds, so you hear the crowd roar before you see the ball hit the net. It’s a nightmare. The best fix? Hardwire your streaming device. Wi-Fi is fine for Netflix, but for live sports coming from across the Atlantic, an Ethernet cable is your best friend.
Also, check your subscription status before the big Saturday morning rush. There is nothing worse than trying to renew your payment at 7:29 AM while the "Abide With Me" hymn is playing and the game is about to start.
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Is the FA Cup Losing its Luster?
Some people say the FA Cup doesn't matter anymore because the Premier League and Champions League are where the money is.
Those people are boring.
For a fan in the US, the FA Cup is a window into a different world. It’s not the sanitized, corporate version of the sport we see in the billionaire-owned Premier League. It’s the version where fans are two feet away from the touchline and the grass is uneven.
Watching the FA Cup on US TV is about seeing the struggle. It's about Wrexham's Hollywood-backed rise or a League Two side forcing a draw at Old Trafford.
Practical Steps for the 2026 Season
If you want to stay on top of the action, don't just wait for the app notifications. They are notoriously slow.
- Download a dedicated scores app: Something like FotMob or Forza. Set alerts for "FA Cup." These apps will tell you which matches are being televised long before the ESPN+ home screen updates.
- Check the "Upcoming" tab: On ESPN+, go to the soccer section and scroll through the upcoming live events a day in advance. Add them to "My Favorites" so they show up on your home ribbon.
- Social Media is your friend: Follow accounts like @FACup on X (formerly Twitter). They post highlights almost instantly, which is great if you can't sit through a full 90-minute slog between two teams you've never heard of.
- Invest in a good soundbar: The crowd noise in these old English stadiums is half the experience. The chanting, the groans, the whistling—it doesn't translate well through crappy TV speakers.
The FA Cup remains the most unpredictable tournament in the sport. While the delivery method in the US has shifted toward streaming, the soul of the competition hasn't changed. Just make sure your subscription is active, your coffee is hot, and your internet is fast.
The next giant-killing is always just one kickoff away. Whether it's a cold night in Stoke or a sunny afternoon at Wembley, having access to the FA Cup on US TV means you won't miss a second of the madness.
Next Steps for US Fans
To ensure you don't miss any upcoming ties, verify your ESPN+ login at least 24 hours before the Third Round weekend. Use a third-party schedule site like World Soccer Talk to confirm exact kickoff times, as the ESPN+ app can sometimes be vague about pre-game coverage windows. If you're planning on watching multiple games, set up a secondary device (like a tablet or laptop) to keep a "look-in" game running while you watch the main event on your TV. This is the only way to catch the inevitable late-game drama that defines the tournament's early rounds.