- Europa League channels
- Unblock channels with a VPN
- VPN installation and must-haves
- VPNs to avoid: free services
- Best VPNs for Europa League
- Final thoughts
The football season is well underway. September marks the return of the Champions League and Europa League, which means your entire sports calendar is now sorted out.
Weekends are for domestic competitions like the Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga. As for Tuesdays and Wednesdays, those are reserved for Europe’s premier tournament. And you conclude the games with some good old Europa League football on Thursdays.
The next few months are a great time to be alive if you’re a football fan. It’s just wake up, watch games, repeat.
The Europa League, in particular, will feature some quality entertainment in 2023. That’s because several top clubs are taking part, with a chance to lift the trophy and qualify for the Champions League.
But for those who will stream the games live online, I’m afraid I have some bad news. The channels broadcasting the event are only available inside their respective regions. Due to licensing agreements, streaming services are geo-blocked outside their coverage zone.
However, with a virtual private network, you can circumvent every online restriction and watch the games live from anywhere.
Content Overview
- Where to Watch the Europa League
- Stream the Europa League with a VPN
- How to install a VPN
- VPN Must-have Features
- Avoid Free VPNs
- Best VPNs for the Europa League
- About Europa League 2023/24
- Conclusion
Where to Watch the Europa League
The Europa League may not be as prestigious as the Champions League, but it’s certainly packed with quality football and entertainment. It attracts millions of viewers each year, which is why broadcasters enter a bidding war to acquire TV rights.
BT Sport, home of UEFA’s club competition, revealed that 6.3 million viewers watched the 2019 Europa League Final.
3.2 million people saw it on TV, while 3.1 million streamed it on digital platforms. Chelsea won the trophy after thrashing Arsenal 4-1 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
“Both finals were of huge interest with four English teams competing, which has never been done before in the history of both tournaments…”
Pete Oliver, MD of Marketing at BT’s Consumer division
In 2021, the Europa League Final harnessed over 48.67 million viewers worldwide. These numbers just show how popular the competition is.
Now, even though BT Sport is the exclusive Europa League broadcaster in the UK, it is not the only one globally. Here is a list of channels that will air the competition:
| Channel | Country |
|---|---|
| Sky Austria | Austria |
| TV2 Play | Denmark |
| Canal+ | France |
| Sky Italia/DAZN | Italy |
| ESPN | The Netherlands |
| ViaPlay | Norway |
| Movistar+ | Spain |
| BT Sport | The United Kingdom |
| DAZN | Canada |
| CBS Sports | The United States |
| beIN Sport | The MIddle East |
| Spark Sport | New Zealand |
| Sonyliv | The Middle East |
| SuperSport | South Africa |
Unfortunately, though, these services are only available inside there respective regions due to copyright issues.
Therefore, if you live outside these countries, there’s no way you’re streaming the Europa League. Perhaps you can follow live updates on live score apps, but that’s not the same as seeing live-action.
What About Free Channels?
Why pay to watch the Europa League when you can watch it for free? There are plenty of channels that offer complimentary streaming of the tournament. They include:
| Channel | Country |
|---|---|
| 6Play | France |
| RTL | Germany |
| RAI Play | Italy |
| Match TV | Russia |
| 9Now | Australia |
| Servus TV | Austria |
Now, just like the above channels, these are geo-blocked as well. And the only way to unblock them is with a virtual private network.
The Solution – a VPN
So as I mentioned earlier, VPNs are your only hope. Why? Because they can bypass Internet restrictions by spoofing your online location.
They allow you to connect to their secure servers and reroute your connection through the one you selected. Furthermore, VPNs change your IP address so that it matches the location of your server.
And to ensure total privacy and security, they engulf your traffic with an encrypted tunnel. As a result, ISPs won’t be able to track your online activity, and neither will hackers or government agencies.
To put it simply, you have to select a VPN server from the same region as your favorite channel. That means if you want to stream the Europa League on BT Sport, connect to a server from the UK. Or if you prefer SuperSport, choose one from South Africa.
And the best thing about it is that your VPN won’t just unblock the service that you want but also any restricted channel from that area. In other words, if you change your online location to the USA, you’ll have access to Univision, ESPN+, FuboTV, Hulu, American Netflix, HBO Now, and much more.
Is It Easy to Install a VPN?
The English language is full of idioms that allude to easiness and simplicity. “A walk in the park,” ” a piece of cake,” and “like taking candy from a baby” are just some of them. Well, in short, installing a VPN on your device is that easy.
That’s because VPNs have dedicated apps for the majority of operating systems. So no matter which smartphone, tablet, or computer you’re using, virtual private networks have your back.
- Subscribe to an elite VPN service by visiting the website and creating an account.
- Head over to your device’s application store to download the VPN app. The latter will automatically install.
- Open the app and sign in to your account.
- Now, connect to any server from the countries that I mentioned above. It depends on your favorite streaming channel.
- For example, if you wish to watch the Europa League on BT Sport, you must select a server from the UK.
- Then, open the streaming app or website and enjoy UEFA’s second-tier competition.
Are All VPN Providers the Same?
Virtual private networks are like every other product on the market in terms of quality. You have premium, average, and poor programs.
To differentiate between all of them and avoid using the bad ones, you must make sure your provider offers the best features, including:
A Global Server Network
To bypass geo-blocks, your VPN provider must have servers in several countries and cities worldwide. The more, the better. These servers will help you unblock geo-restricted websites like streaming channels and banking services.
Therefore, it is crucial to sign up for a VPN that covers a lot of ground.
Military-grade Encryption
A VPN company cannot reach elite status if it does not use the most robust encryption in the business. That happens to be the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with 256-bit keys. It sounds a bit complicated, but what you need to know is that this protocol is impossible to breach.
Why? Because 256-bit means 2256 or 1.1 x 1077 possible combinations. In other words, that’s 115,792,089,237,316,195,423,570,985,008,687,907,853,269,984,665,640,560,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 combinations!
The US government uses AES 256-bit encryption, along with many other nations worldwide.
Zero-logs Policy
One of the core goals of a virtual private network is to respect and protect your privacy. That means it must not keep records or logs of your online identity, activity, or connection. And it certainly must never share such information with third parties.
Therefore, make sure you read the privacy policy of the VPN before you register. If you find it a bit shady or discover that it stores sensitive data, walk away from it.
Moreover, it’s better to select a service that is based outside the Five Eyes coalition. The latter is intelligence cooperation between five nations: The US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Nine more countries later joined this alliance to form the 14 Eyes.
What it means is that any company inside those jurisdictions must submit user data to the government upon request.
Now, a no-logging policy would prevent VPNs from providing valuable information because they don’t store such details. But it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Speedy Servers
Your internet speed drops when you connect to a virtual private network. That is due to the encryption that your provider uses. Furthermore, selecting a distant server from your actual location can also reduce your connection speed.
For that reason, you must subscribe to an elite VPN service. These brands make sure that the speed drop is so minimal that you won’t even notice it. They also have fast servers across their entire network so that you enjoy stable speeds.
As a result, you’ll be able to stream live Europa League games from anywhere without buffering issues.
Are Free VPNs Safe?
I never recommend free VPNs because they are simply not worth the risk. Whatever money you save on registration will be compensated in another way, usually by invading your privacy.
You see, these providers will store sensitive data that can reveal your online identity, location, and traffic. Then, they sell it to third parties like advertisement companies who use it for targeted ads. That is how most free VPNs make their money.
They also aren’t that efficient in protecting you from online snoopers due to their weak encryption. A recent study showed that the most popular free VPNs for Android contain malware. These apps have been downloaded more than 260 million times on Google Play Store.
There are, of course, free services that have excellent security and privacy features, like TunnelBear. The latter uses AES 256-bit encryption and follows a zero-logs policy.
But even TunnelBear tricks you into upgrading to its paid versions. The free service only offers 500 MB of data a month, which you can quickly consume if you’re a streamer.
Furthermore, premium subscribers don’t just benefit from unlimited data but from faster speeds as well. That makes the free version useless.
As a result, I advise you to ignore free VPNs and register with elite paid providers.
Best VPNs for Europa League
I’ve taken the liberty to round up four of the best VPNs to stream the Europa League live. I put several services to the test, and the below brands recorded the highest scores. Therefore, if you don’t have time to search for an excellent VPN, you can choose one from my list.
ExpressVPN
Remember the iconic goal that Maradona scored against England in the 1986 World Cup? No, I don’t mean the “Hand of God.” I’m talking about the goal that came four minutes later, which was voted “The Goal of the Century” in 2002.
Maradona took the ball from inside his own half and began his 60-yard, ten-second sprint towards the English goal.
He left four opposition players in his dust, got passed the goalkeeper, and scored to make it 2-0. Argentina came out on top with a 2-1 victory that day and went on to win the World Cup.
But what has that got to do with ExpressVPN? Well, it’s all about simplicity, genius, and efficiency. Maradona was untouchable when he scored that goal and was always a lethal striker who rarely missed.
ExpresVPN can bypass geo-restrictions with ease and protect your privacy and security whenever you go online. The only difference with Maradona is that it never misses its target. And here’s why:
- Vast server network: The company operates over 3,000 servers across 94 countries. That means you can stream the Europa League on your favorite channel no matter where you are.
- Top speed rates: You can forget about video buffering issues when you’re watching live games or shows in HD. I used EpressVPN to stream the final between Chelsea and Arsenal back in May, and I encountered no problems.
- Military-grade encryption: ExpressVPN uses the encryption I discussed earlier: AES 256-bit. No outsider will be able to view your online data and activity with that protocol protecting you.
- Zero-logs policy: This VPN won’t collect or share logs of your online activity or connection. They also have independent auditors come in to confirm essential privacy protections.
- High compatibility: The company has dedicated apps for the majority of platforms.
Pros
- Five simultaneous device connections per account.
- Apps for iOS, Mac, Windows, Android, Linux, and Kindle Fire.
- Compatible with Netflix and other streaming giants.
- Support for torrenting and P2P activity.
- Smart DNS proxy service.
- No-logging policy.
- 30-day refund policy.
- AES 256-bit encryption.
- Fast servers.
- 24/7 customer service support.
- Vast server network.
- Kill switch and DNS leak protection.
- Located outside 14 Eyes jurisdiction.
Cons
- A pricey monthly subscription fee of $12.95.
NordVPN
Another brilliant VPN for Europa League nights, and for any Internet activity, for that matter, is NordVPN. This service shares plenty of similarities with my number one pick, including the same secure encryption, zero-logging policy, Smart DNS, and 30-day refund policy.
However, it does have a couple of unique features, like a double VPN. This provides two-fold encryption to your traffic, which means double protection. You’ll also benefit from CyberSec, an “advanced technology solution” that blocks annoying ads and malicious websites.
NordVPN is also located outside the dominion of the prying Eyes, taking Panama as its home. It also has access to every Netflix library you want, as well as other major streaming services like Hulu, HBO Now, and BBC iPlayer.
As for coverage, the company owns a massive network of 5,000+ servers in 62 countries, which should unblock any website you want.
Pros
- Military-grade encryption.
- Zero-logs policy.
- Double VPN.
- CyberSec.
- SmartPlay (Smart DNS proxy).
- Support for six concurrent device connections.
- P2P and torrenting allowance.
- Vast server network.
- Top-notch customer support.
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
- DNS leak protection and kill switch.
- High device compatibility.
Cons
- Some servers I tested were a bit slow.
BulletVPN
This up-and-coming VPN delivers some valuable services that you would think it is an industry veteran. BulletVPN takes excellent care of your online privacy and security by encrypting your traffic with the AES 256-bit protocol. It also doesn’t store your sensitive data.
Based in Estonia, this provider is most famous for the incredibly fast speed rates it offers to its subscribers.
That makes it ideal for cord-cutting Europa League fans. I observed stable speeds throughout the majority of servers, even distant ones.
BulletVPN’s only major drawback is its limited network of 58 servers across 31 countries. That is pretty standard for a relatively new VPN service on the market.
However, keep in mind that these servers are located in key areas and countries. That includes the US, Canada, Brazil, the UK, Germany, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, and Australia.
Pros
- 30-day refund program.
- Ready-made apps for Android, Windows, iOS, and Mac.
- 24/7 customer support via live chat.
- Five device connections at the same time.
- Kill Switch + BulletShield.
- AES 256-bit encryption.
- Fast speeds.
- No stored logs.
- Works with Netflix.
- Support for five VPN protocols (PPTP, L2TP, OpenVPN, IKEv1, and IKEv2).
Cons
- No browser extensions.
IPVanish
If you’re looking for a VPN service that offers top security and privacy features and access to Europa League channels, then IPVanish is a decent choice to consider.
It provides the best encryption, zero-logs policy, and excellent speed levels. It also has the cheapest monthly subscription on this list.
IPVanish operates more than 1,300 servers in 75+ countries, which makes it one of the largest networks in the industry.
It is famous for its connection speeds, with no complaints from users in that area. Additional features include a kill switch and DNS leak protection.
On the downside, the provider cannot unblock major streaming channels like Netflix and BBC iPlayer. However, some users reported that access to the US service is still possible, but only through select servers.
Another potential red flag is the company’s headquarters, which is located in the United States. As a result, IPVanish is forced to hand over user data upon the US government’s request. However, the strict no-logging policy it implements means no sensitive data will be compromised.
Pros
- Strongest encryption.
- Ten concurrent device connections.
- Decent server network.
- A kill switch.
- DNS leak protection.
- Top speed levels.
- No-logs policy.
- Kodi optimization.
- High compatibility.
Cons
- US-based.
- Limited access to streaming channels.
Europa League 2023/24 Facts
The Europa League is on its way, and we have more details to provide. If you want to know all the information about UEFA’s upcoming tournament, make sure to go through the following FAQ section:
When Will the 2023/24 Europa League Kick Off?
The 2023 Europa League will occur between 21 September 2023 – 22 May 2024.
Where Will the Final Be Played?
The final will be played at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
Can I Watch Europa League For Free?
Of course, you can. There are several streaming services providing free live broadcasting of the entire competition.
How Many Teams Are Participating in the Competition?
This year will mark the last time with the current format of 32 teams participating in the group stage:
Which Team is the Defending Champion?
The current defending champions are Sevilla FC.
Stream the Europa League Live – Final Thoughts
Football fans know just how big the Europa League is. It features the “best of the rest” sides in Europe and is an excellent way to stay busy if you’re obsessed with the sport.
Unfortunately, all the channels that are broadcasting the competition are geo-blocked outside their respective coverage zones. And the only way to circumvent these restrictions and avoid error messages is via a VPN.
This tool will give you access to your favorite channel no matter where you are. That way, you won’t miss a single match anymore.
So mark your calendars for Thursday nights to watch the Europa League 2023/24. Matchday two kicks off on the third of October, so hurry up and get a VPN.
Which side will win the Europa League this season? Leave your predictions in the comment box below.
